Full Public AIDS Experience Gives Stirring Virtual Walk
NEW YORK - The AIDS Experience has gone to a full public venue for the first time, giving passers-by at the ever-busy Grand Central Station a walk through a life of living with AIDS.
The red arrow points people to the entrance of the "One Life Experience" - an audio tour and a virtual visit through a 3,000 sq. foot replica of an African village. In time for the 25th anniversary of the first reported cases of AIDS, the some 20-minute walk-through is opening the eyes of hundreds to a pandemic affecting millions and still without a cure.
"Every time I walk through the stories of the orphans like Beatrice, Olivia, Timothy or Steven, it still breaks my heart," said Princess Kasune Zulu, HIV/AIDS educator for World Visions' Hope Initiative and HIV-positive mother of two. "But it doesn't break my heart in a hopelessness situation because at the end of the day, it is the resilience of these young people that has kept me today. It is by God's grace.
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"I believe God can use anything."
Presented by World Vision, the AIDS Experience has manifested itself inside Vanderbilt Hall to educate the public of the impact of HIV and AIDS on the lives of people of the developing world. A sixth-grade class, a group of around 150 pastors and the everyday pedestrians passing through the train station have virtually worn the shoes of one of four African children since the exhibit's opening on June 20.
Over 800 people have so far experienced the life of an AIDS-infected child in the past three days. Many have stepped out of their world to enter the land of Africa where more people are infected and affected by the epidemic than anywhere else in the world.
"We want this exhibit to show how devastating and far-reaching AIDS has been around the world," said Richard Stearns, president of World Vision, in a released statement. "It has left behind a generation of orphans and vulnerable children. Unlike a hurricane or tsunami, AIDS is a constant, insidious disaster stalking the globe."
After viewing walls of photos and statistics, a participant walking in the shoes of Timothy from Malawi soon loses his father to AIDS. Then his siblings, other relatives and mother go with the "traveler" (AIDS virus), leaving him orphaned and facing the door of a health clinic. There, he's stamped with the disease - a red ink plus-sign mark on his hand indicating that he too is HIV-positive. As the participant of the AIDS Experience continues the walk, he enters a chapel where the walls are covered with black and white photos, most of which are stamped with the same red mark. Prayers seem to be the last hope. The walker then reaches the prayer wall where hundreds of white notes covered with written prayers have been pinned to the wall.
"Lord God our Father, Give comfort to those who suffer, Give relief to those in need ..." stated one prayer note. Another had the word "FAITH" boldly written on it.
One person indicated the impact that the eye-opening experience had on him:
"Thank you for the IMPACT! Truly amazing way of driving home the true effects this disease is having worldwide. We, too often, are desensitized to the whole truth. I hope that some relief will be brought to Stephen and his people. I pray for peace and hope and help."
As the stirring experience comes to an end, each walker picks up a bracelet adorned with six colorful beads, each representing a specific prayer topic to remind all who have experienced the virtual AIDS life to be in prayers.
The AIDS Experience was created in partnership with Youth Specialties last year and first presented to youth workers at the National Youth Workers Convention in September 2005. Since then, the African village replica traveled to a number of conferences, went semi-public in Seattle on World AIDS Day, and hit the Gospel Music Association Awards in Nashville two months ago.
According to Michael Yoder, director of Church Programs at World Vision, the strategy was to reach the influential persons such as the youth workers, music artists, pastors and such to help disseminate and leverage the story of the AIDS Experience.
World Vision's AIDS Experience will continue its exhibit at Grand Central Terminal until June 24.
