World Vision to Support HIV, AIDS Project on Valentine's Day

World Vision Canada will celebrate Valentine's Day this year with 40 florists, as they support HIV and AIDS initiatives in Tanzania through the organisation with the sale of every long-stemmed rose.

For every dozen roses sold for Valentine's Day, participating growers, wholesalers and retailers will donate approximately $3 to World Vision's Share Love, Give Hope campaign.

Share Love, Give Hope was founded by Glenn Hofland, president of John G Hofland Ltd, after he saw the impact of HIV and AIDS on children, their families and communities during his trip to Tanzania with World Vision in 2005.

About 15 per cent of Tanzanians are infected with HIV and AIDS and prevention awareness of the disease is low. Youth are highly vulnerable, with about 60 per cent of new infections in Tanzania occur among those aged 15 to 24.

Funds raised by Share Love, Give Hope will support a World Vision project in Samuye, Tanzania, a rural community that is home to 33,250 people.

The project aims to provide public education campaigns to inform people about HIV and AIDS prevention, train the youth to become peer educators about HIV and AIDS. In addition, it hopes to support people living with HIV and AIDS by providing medicine, clothes, food and livestock, promotion of voluntary testing and counselling.

"The Canadian floral industry has been very supportive of Glenn's idea to help the people of Africa impacted by HIV and AIDS," says Linda Tripp, spokesperson for World Vision Canada. "Roses on Valentine's Day are the quintessential symbol of love and hope - they are the perfect fit for this campaign."

For more information on the Share Love, Give Hope campaign, go to www.worldvision.ca