To see Freedom Foundation as a true self-help group where the treated help the newly diagnosed come to terms with themselves and live their lives to the fullest potential.

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Vision

It's only when you lose someone very close to you that the problem really hits you. For Ashok Rau and Karl Sequira, it was no different. The vision of Freedom Foundation was a result of personal loss. `They worked in various facilities after that, but found treatment in India was not what it should be. There was violence and intimidation, but no qualitative care in de-addiction programmes. They, therefore, decided to start a Centre with a heart, offering total care.'

Eight years down the line, the De-addiction homes are leading institutions in the country with a recovery rate of 48-50%. The Bangalore AIDS Centre, an extension of the De-addiction home, has also been credited as the ideal low-cost community home in the country for people afflicted by AIDS.

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The care and rehabilitation of the children of HIV infected patients, many of whom are HIV positives themselves, is another problem the Centre has to grapple with everyday. The number of Positive Children is increasing very rapidly in India. `Living in the shadow of death is hardly the environment for a child. We would like to have a separate Centre for them but again there is the problem of funds,' adds Ashok.

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But still, dreams are big at Freedom Foundation. They hope to have their own land and buildings someday, which would save enormously on rent. The foundation also plans to set up similar homes in other parts of the country and have income generating projects to aid the rehabilitation process.

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