Nepal’s Blue Diamond Society (BDS) has been awarded a grant of £25,000 by the Elton John AIDS Foundation.  The money means that the BDS will be able to continue its work with those suffering from AIDS for a further year.

“This is exceptionally good news for us,” said Sunil Pant, the director of BDS who is currently in England.

In the general scale of things, £25,000 might not seem a lot of money – in the UK it would hardly “buy” an outreach worker for a year.

But in Nepal, the same amount of money will go a lot further.

“It will fund two AIDS centres and a specialist doctor,” Pant said.

Ron Beadles of the Elton John AIDS Foundation in London said that the Foundation was delighted to help the Blue Diamond Society and the vulnerable people in Nepal who are often marignalised.

“While the grant money will help to provide much needed help, there is the add-on benefit of letting the people of Nepal know that someone cares,” he said.

The Blue Diamond Society is Nepal's only gay human rights group.  It also plays a key rôle in HIV/AIDS awareness and support.

■ In a traditional Nepalese ceremony, the gift from the Elton John AIDS Foundation was “blessed” in the Blue Diamond Society’s Kathmndu headquarters.  (Photo courtesy Blue Diamond Society)