Katarina Vardanyan and Rannveig Ø. Dale, youth delegate from Norway

The day after the big event, which took place in Paronyan theatre, ms Vardanyan is sitting in her office reflecting about the concert. She is proud that she and the many Red Cross volunteers managed to gather some 650 people to see ten famous Armenian artists and many dancers, all of them free of charge. Many Armenian TV-channels also showed up.

Armenian dance initiated by the volunteers 

This pop/folk-concert was the last of four events about aids that the Armenian Red Cross Youth have had within their “Time for choice”-project this year. The Youth department also had a stand in the theatre hall, with different information leaflets, posters and questionnaire. In addition, film cuts and speeches were held from the stage to inform about the disease.

Only 14 people had everything correct on the hiv-quiz

- What do you want people to do after being at this concert, Katarina?

 – The aim with this concert was to gather famous people and give serious information to show the public our concerns and fight against aids. We invited both our partners, such as World vision and National Aids Centre, as well as representatives from the government, students, tourists and volunteers, says Mrs Vardanyan.

She believes the concert makes a solid foundation for further cooperation with their partners, performers and people in general. Her hope is that all the participants and guests will tell their relatives and friends how aids is transmitted and how many who are transmitted in Armenia.

- Although official statistics shows that some 400 people are living with hiv in Armenia, National Aids Centre estimates that as much as 3 000 people actually are transmitted with the disease. They could be one of the neighbours or colleagues of people from the crowd. This fact makes the aids-issue near, and we should all fight against it, Mrs Vardanyan urges.

Rannveig and Marianna at the quiz-stand

Out of the 80 people who answered the questionnaire, only 14 of them had all the answers correct. This shows Ms Vardanyan that her fears were right; many people know only a little about hiv/aids. 

- When we told the crowd that 3 000 have hiv in Armenia, they would not believe us. I heard sighs from the crowd, and I had to confirm the fact to some of them afterwards, Mrs Vardanyan tells. - And the disease is unfortunately increasing in Armenia.

People could write their names to show their support 

With this concert, The Red Cross Youth Department has started to wake up people to tell them about aids and how to fight it. Now they hope that more people will join them to fight. They have already started planning more concerts during this year, a classical one, and several at discos around Armenia. Their goal is to reach all kinds of people. Because, as Mrs Vardanyan says repeatedly:

  - Aids concerns us all.