“Light it up Blue” Campaign

As part of the “Light it up Blue” campaign, various city buildings – museums, banks, business centres, etc. – will be lit up blue on 2 April. The campaign was launched in 2005 by the organisation Autism Speaks, in solidarity with people with autism and their families, and in order to attract the attention of politicians and the general public to issues relating to autism. In previous years, famous landmarks and large buildings in major cities in the USA, Canada, Australia, China, Great Britain, Egypt and many other countries have been lit up. This year, Moscow, Lyubertsy, St. Petersburg, Voronezh, Belgorod, Kostroma, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg and other Russian cities have decided to support the campaign. The Light it up Blue campaign was initiated in Russia by Russian autism foundation “Vykhod” (“Way Out”). The project is being implemented with the support of regional administrations.   Want to get involved? Anyone can support the campaign in one or more of the following ways:

1. Dress in blue on 2 April and invite your friends, colleagues and relatives to do the same (it may just be a shirt, a scarf, a tie or any blue accessory).
2. Illuminate a blue lamp or fairy lights in your home or office
3. If you are not able to change your lighting, you can decorate the rooms of your establishment, school or office with blue decorations or posters
4. Tell you friends and family about the campaign on social networks (you could post a picture of yourself dressed in blue)

  Since 2007, World Autism Awareness Day has been celebrated worldwide on 2 April every year in accordance with Resolution 62/139 adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. In 2016, the Vykhod Foundation and the Naked Heart Foundation joined forces to prepare a whole series of joint events, the main purpose of which was to draw attention to the prevalence of autism and the problems faced by people with autism and their families. Click here to find out more about World Autism Awareness Day and other related events.   WHAT: Light it up Blue campaign WHERE: Worldwide WHEN: 2 April 2017