A trip to Africa on an MP3

August 27, 2006

Onyinye Oyedele

precious.words@...

Ontario, Canada

…. A " One Life Experience " at the International AIDS Conference

(IAC), Toronto 2006.

With the recent luggage restrictions, fear and chaos for air

passengers, a trip on an Mp3 player was quite an innovative idea!

And guess what! It is free! The destination is Africa ---Malawi,

Uganda and Zambia. The purpose of your trip is to visit one or more

of four young children: Beatrice, Olivia, and , whose

lives have been devastated by HIV/AIDS. This unique journey is a

3,000-square-foot exhibit presented by World Vision Canada, at the

International AIDS Conference held from 11th -18th Aug. World Vision

is a Christian Humanitarian organization with its head office in

Mississauga, Canada. The " One Life Experience " is an audio tour on

an Mp3 player into the heart of some African villages, giving the

public an opportunity to be in the shoes of one of these children

and to experience a year in their lives.

The exhibit was draped with African fabrics, maps, photographs,

trees and scenarios that depicted a typical village setting in

Africa. It gave me a nostalgic feeling of home and also a shocking

reality of this disease " the ominous traveler " that is wiping out

generations and changing the family structure. Beatrice, a

courageous 9-year-old single-handedly raising her 2-year-old niece

in an AIDS-ravaged village in Zambia. Olivia, a 17-year-old Malawian

girl who is sexually assaulted twice by the same man. , a 4-

year-old in Malawi who watched his parents die due to AIDS, and now

wonders about his own future. a 13-year-old abducted by

rebel soldiers in Uganda and forced to kill his own people, are some

of the heart breaking stories of children struggling to survive the

blow of AIDS. With an Mp3 player and a headphone, you are taken on

an audio tour into a different world and the effect on your life

might never be the same.

The exhibit also had two powerful rooms: a chapel and a prayer wall.

In the chapel, there are pictures of those who have died from AIDS;

children, women and men of all ages. This room literally sent

shivers down my spine and I could not stay in there for long. It was

as if the faces were looking at you and saying, " you have to do

something to help others " . The wall of prayer is another powerful

place to see, as many written prayers were pasted on the wall. It

looked like a sea of white sheets. It was moving to see hearts

knitted as one for a common cause.

Participants signed petitions with their thumb prints and signature

so that world leaders can take action and make more contributions to

fight this enemy that is wiping away some African villages from the

face of the earth. To also care for the children and women who are

obviously the most vulnerable people. Individuals can also make a

commitment to sponsor a hope child through World Vision by making a

monthly donation. This will go towards fighting and helping to

prevent the disease on a community level and also to provide the

basic necessities for the children affected by HIV/AIDS and living

with the stigma.

Some facts about AIDS……….Do you know that

40 million people currently are infected with HIV. Of these 95% live

in developing countries.

15 million children worldwide have lost one or both parents as a

result of AIDS.

More than 3million people die as a result of AIDS each year.

Two children die as a result of AIDS every minute

Uganda's HIV prevalence rate was reduced from 21%(in 1991) to 5%(in

2003). Largely thanks to community based approach to prevention.

For more information on how you can help the global fight against

HIV/AIDS go to www.Worldvision.ca

* * * *

AN AFRICAN CHILD.

From the coasts of West Africa

To the desserts of North Africa,

The voices of children cry out.

They cry against hunger, injustice,

Neglect, poverty and abuse.

Why does the world not hear their cry?

Yes, I am an African child

Give me my attention.

From the rivers of East Africa

To the vast lands of South Africa,

I hear the echoes of tiny voices

Crying out for papa and mama

Oh the sting of death!

AIDS has snatched them away!

Why this disease?

I feel like punching AIDS right in the face!

How can I face tomorrow?

With no one to inspire me.

The burden on my shoulders is too great for me.

I am an African child.

Give me my dreams.

From America to Asia,

From Europe to Australia,

Hear the voice of the African child.

To the great leaders of the world,

The African child clings to your round table.

Why do I have to be last on the mind of the world?

I am an African child,

I need to stand on equal ground.

I can speak and I can read,

I am smart and I am courageous,

I am bold and I am beautiful,

I can be a strong leader,

I can dance and play,

I can laugh and cry,

I can dream of great things,

I am not dumb and backward.

I am an African child

You must hear my voice.

Please give me your ears.

I will keep crying even if I lose my voice,

My bones will play the drums in your ears.

You will see my picture everywhere you go.

I am an African child.

I am not asking for your world,

I am inviting you into mine.

When you see it, you will know that

I am strong, tough and courageous.

I am not all that you think I am,

I am an African child.

Please give me a place in your heart.

August 27, 2006