Understanding people living with HIV through music

35 years of not letting go, holding hands is the theme of the music night organized by the Ho Chi Minh City HIV/AIDS Prevention Association in collaboration with other units, taking place on the evening of August 21, at Ben Thanh tea room (Ho Chi Minh City).

The activity is part of a communication campaign in response to the National Action Month for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control and 35 years of Vietnam's response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Communicating HIV knowledge through music

Mr. Nguyen Anh Phong - Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City HIV/AIDS Prevention Association, head of the organizing committee - shared with Tuoi Tre Online that this is the first time a fundraising music night for the community living with HIV has been organized in a tea room space.

“Our goal is to help audiences both inside and outside the community living with HIV access and learn about HIV prevention and better understand people living with HIV.

Above all, I hope for everyone's companionship, accepting to pay the extra fee to watch the music is also a way of committing, being ready to support, and standing with the community of people living with HIV.

The extra revenue is used to fund health insurance and medicine for people living with HIV," added Mr. Nguyen Anh Phong.

The Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City HIV/AIDS Prevention Association said that at first, when he shared the idea of ​​organizing a music night at a tea room, many people objected because it was difficult to sell tickets, but he thought there was always a first time for everything, so he decided to organize it.

Because music is a way of communication, integrating messages that are easily understood by many people.

Accompanying Nguyen Anh Phong over the past 10 years are photographer Pham Hoai Nam, director Ngoc Duyen, singer Phuong Anh Idol, and musician Ho Tien Dat.

Director Ngoc Duyen shared with Tuoi Tre Online : “The important thing we do is to reduce stigma and connect love. Because only when we are no longer afraid of HIV can we love.

When staging the program, Duyen incorporates real stories, transforms them softly, emotionally, and touches the audience. Because only when touching can the audience pay attention, linger, think, and then act.

We try not to make the audience feel like they are attending a meeting or a discussion, but to make them want to listen and hear the story.”

35 years of not letting go of the hand that has been held

The music night " 35 years of not letting go" featured singers associated with the community of people living with HIV such as: Pham Hoai Nam, Phuong Anh Idol, Ho Tien Dat.

Especially with the participation of two guest singers, Ung Hoang Phuc and Vuong Anh Tu.

35 years of not letting go has three parts expressing the despair of not accepting when knowing that one is HIV positive, discrimination through songs written specifically for the community composed by Phuong Anh Idol, Ho Tien Dat such as: Lonely, Mom, Which Way to Love, Hope.

After the torment of not accepting, each individual rises thanks to the sharing of the community of people living with HIV. Love is the ray of light, the source of motivation for them to continue living and contributing.

All are connected by music through the compositions: Sorry, When love begins, Only love remains, Warrior...

The combination of Phuong Anh Idol's powerful voice with the passion of Pham Hoai Nam and Ho Tien Dat creates a colorful picture, adding new energy.

“Through the concert, I call for love, understanding, and care for people living with HIV. To sympathize with people in the community, there needs to be programs like this. People living with HIV have the right to live and work equally, without discrimination,” photographer Pham Hoai Nam confided.

The total amount of money raised after the fundraising concert to help people living with HIV was more than 100 million VND.