A Picture of Compassion
World AIDS Day Prayer Service

The Ribbon Tree Activity
Raising Awareness of Global HIV

Candlelight Vigil of Hope
Evening Prayer Service

Ring the Bell
AIDS Awareness Activity
Ring the Bell Handout

Advocate for the Poor Overseas
Ten Ideas to Get Started

Start the Presses
Tips on Getting the Media to Your WAD Event

In Nigeria, Helping Orphans Help Themselves
Tells the story of Ene and Abel, two teenagers that have been orphaned because of HIV.

Ugandan Teacher Thankful for Support
Ugandan Teacher Doreen Arinaitwe Kahilga talks about the effect that CRS has had on her life

Lesotho Orphan: “My Life Changed”
Letima Ikheletheng talks about how CRS made a difference in his life and his dreams for the future.

Faith, Hope and Treatment:  the Catholic Church and Global HIV and AIDS

For individual segments of this video go to the HIV and AIDS section of the CRS youtube channel

Quick Facts

  • Thirty years into the pandemic, UNAIDS estimates that 33.3 million people globally are living with HIV. This number includes an estimated 2.5 million children under the age of 15 years.
  • The number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy in low- and middle-income countries has increased thirteenfold since the 2004, to more than 5 million. However, only 35 percent of people in need of treatment are currently receiving it. Roughly 10 million people cannot get the medication they need.
  • Catholic Relief Services began supporting its first HIV project in Bangkok, Thailand in 1986. Today, CRS and our partners directly support more than 4.8 million people affected by the epidemic.
  • Through the AIDSRelief Project, CRS helps provide lifesaving antiretroviral therapy to more than 220,000 people living with HIV in nine countries; more than 18,000 are children.  

Stories From the Field