john
abraham
has
signed
on
to
be
the
face
of
the
'I
Pledge'
campaign
organised
by
Smita
Thackeray's
Mukti
Foundation.
Says
John,
"She
messaged
me
asking
if
I
wanted
to
be
the
face
of
the
campaign.
I
immediately
agreed
as
I
found
it
credible.
Mukti
Foundation
has
been
doing
it
for
11
years.
Sometimes
there's
a
sense
of
discomfort
for
people
living
with
AIDS
or
HIV
affected
people,
so
Mukti
is
opening
up
special
counselling
centers
for
them."
The
actor
has
already
kick-started
the
campaign
by
shooting
a
commercial.
"I
will
come
wherever
they
call
me
to
talk
about
the
subject
and
propagate
safe
sex.
I
want
to
tell
everyone,
especially
the
youth,
that
we
need
to
have
safe
sex
and
wear
condoms.
As
a
public
figure,
I
felt
that
it
was
time
for
us
to
pledge
for
an
AIDS-free
life.
I
have
pledged
and
want
others
to
follow
the
same.
We
will
make
that
difference
with
our
commitment.
I
want
the
youth
to
pledge
to
practice
safe
sex,
to
be
faithful
to
partners,
get
tested
for
HIV,
spread
awareness,
use
new
syringes
and
not
visit
commercial
sex
workers."
Smita
Thackeray
says,
"john
abraham
seemed
the
perfect
choice.
I
wanted
a
youth
icon
to
take
the
same
pledge
I
had
taken
(to
eradicate
HIV)
and
encourage
our
youth
to
do
the
same."