In June of 2000, four members of Denver-based
The Children's Legacy, a non-profit group founded in 1987
embarked on a tour of orphanages and villages from Nairobi
to Maasai Mara, Kenya. The trip was undertaken to build a
bridge across cultural differences and acknowledge the human
need for connection, forgiveness and love.
As in America, secrecy and shame surround the AIDS disease,
creating a stigma and therefore loneliness and isolation for
those who suffer from the virus. Despite the facts that this
pestilence has no regard for race, gender, age or education,
those afflicted have become modern-day lepers, preferably
to be dispatched from mind and sight.
During their travels christened "Project Africa,"
the four witnessed story after story, learning of a different
culture through word, song and dance. They were amazed that
those with so little were willing to share whatever they could
to participate in this informational project. Participants
hoped that by doing so, the would help countless others by
sharing their knowledge and experience to prove that the scourge
of AIDS is global and must be dealt with on a global level
with inexpensive, generic drugs (those which have prevented
the spread in the United States) available immediately to
all affected.
Honored by the fact that hundreds trekked miles to be photographed
with their children asking only for food and medication for
them, the Legacy group listened, took copious notes, snapped
endless pictures and became the voice of the victims.
Tribal chieftains and community leaders who attended the
shoots admitted "they did not realize the magnitude of
the problem until then" and "knew the truth on the
ground." Another acknowledged that project Africa was
helping his people de-stigmatize AIDS and begin to talk about
it. "The shame of identifying with AIDS is reduced,"
they said. "The story will be different now."
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