PDI had implemented a Young People Community Peer Educators Programme in Thanjavur District during the period from September 2005 to October 2007. It was a collaborative effort of PDI, Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK), and UNICEF, Chennai. UNICEF provided the technical and financial support to the programme till October 2007. The training co coordinators of PDI, with the assistance of NSVs (National Service Volunteers) of NYK organized Community Meetings and sensitized the young population on HIV/AIDS issues. The Project Team identified Male and Female Peer Educators and trained them periodically. The Trained Peer Educators were given chance to share their experiences with their peers, Community Leaders, and their Parents and they have a monthly experience sharing meetings. The Peer Educators were motivated and capacitated to sustain the initiatives even after withdrawal of the programme and the project has taken efforts to form a cluster level Peer Educators Associations. As a result, a few of the young Peer Educators have taken effort to observe the World AIDS Day on their own with the local mobilization of resources.
Mr. M.Gopuraj, hails from the Village Kasavalanadu Pudur, of Thanjavur District, initiated the activity and made the following possible.
Mr. M.Gopuraj, a young graduate is one among the Peer Educators associated with PDI-NYK-UNICEF team and attended the Peer Educators Training Programme during 5th to 9th January 2006. He has been very active in his activities, since he joined the team of Peer Educators.He led the team of Peer Educators and observed the world AIDS Day Programme on 1st December 2007 in his village with the support of fellow Peer Educators belong to his cluster of villages. He organized a massive Rally with the participation of fellow Peer Educators, Women from the Self Help Groups, Community Leaders, and the Youths. The Local Body Representatives including their village president, Member -District Panchayat flagged off the rally and honored the programme. The Youth Peer Educators shared their experiences in the meeting. At the end, they have unveiled the HIV/AIDS Awareness Board in their village.
The Chief Guests distributed prizes to the students participated in the competitions organized by the Peer Educators. It is note-worthy to say here that the total cost for organizing these events were mobilized locally. 
Another important outcome of this meeting is that the Peer Educators have decided to launch a new initiative namely “Orthorum Vizhipunarvu” (Awareness to all Villages}. The Peer Educators formed a team on their own to visit all the villages in the district to raise the awareness level on HIV/AIDS and to create AIDS Free Villages.
Posted by Ila.Ambalavanan, Secretary, PDI
