AirAsia has just announced a collaboration with not-for-profit organisation RED in a bid to help prevent, treat, and end HIV/AIDS within South East Asia
RED began the fight when Bono and Bobby Shriver launched the company in 2006, in an effort to drive big companies to join in the active fight against AIDS education, prevention, and treatment originally only within Africa.
AirAsia has not only pledged proceeds from its “free seats” promotion to go towards RED, but have also declared that they will be co-operating with 88rising (an Asian music label) in the creation of a culture, music, and arts festival in 2019. The festival aims to raise awareness and funds for the cause.
Sean Miyashiro, 88rising CEO and founder, stated that he and the label are absolutely over the moon with the idea of a music and arts festival in ASEAN that empowers a young audience to save lives. “All of 88rising will put all of our creative minds together to make this experience one of a kind, while creating massive awareness and engagement to a globally minded audience.”
Asia has the largest HIV/AIDS-related death toll outside of Africa. Some speculate that, in the future, epidemics could escalate to the extent of rivalling those in some parts of Africa.
Currently 400 hundred new born babies a year are born with HIV/AIDS throughout the world. AirAsia hopes that with this partnership they can do their part to raise not only funds, but to educate and inform people about the tragedies of these viruses.
CEO of AirAsia, Tony Fernandes says that “This is just the beginning. We have many more things planned with RED. Watch this space.”
