International AIDS Candlelight Memorial 2025

The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day is a globally recognised annual event dedicated to honouring the memory of those who have succumbed to AIDS-related illnesses and to demonstrating solidarity with those living with HIV. It is a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle against this epidemic and an opportunity to educate communities about HIV/AIDS prevention and care.

The theme for the 2025 International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is "We Remember. We Rise. We Lead.". This empowering slogan encapsulates the spirit of resilience and leadership within communities affected by HIV/AIDS. It calls for a collective effort to honour lives lost, uplift those living with HIV, and inspire leadership in advocacy, education, and support.

WIN commemorated International AIDS Candle Memorial Day with a private morning candle vigil. Organised by WIN’s team, this gathering included individuals supported by the charity, many of whom have lost parents and grandparents to AIDS.

Later in the day, our members joined a larger event coordinated by a collective of organisations, including WIN. This public candlelight vigil, which began at YMCA in Civil Lines, Nagpur, took the form of a parade, serving as a poignant reminder to Nagpur’s residents of the countless lives claimed by AIDS in the city.