World Vision Raises Awareness of Global HIV/AIDS Crisis through Special Efforts
In an ongoing battle against the greatest humanitarian crisis for this generation, World Vision will be making its annual effort on Dec. 1 to bring the world's attention to the millions of people who live with HIV/AIDS today.
In an ongoing battle against the greatest humanitarian crisis for this generation, World Vision will be making its annual effort on Dec. 1 to bring the world's attention to the millions of people who live with HIV/AIDS today.
World AIDS Day calls for a day of reflection and action for the 6,000 children who are orphaned everyday by the devastating effect of the disease. With 38 million people affected today, 12.3 million children in sub-Saharan Africa alone have already lost one or both parents to AIDS.
World Vision is raising public awareness on the crisis with a number of events scheduled across the globe. A "12.3 million" event in the United Kingdom will gather participants in Northampton Town Center to launch hundreds of balloons, each attached with an information card telling people about the effect of HIV/AIDS on children, across the country. The launch will be followed by an evening concert with best-selling Christian authors Adrian and Bridget Plass and worship led by Andy Bromley and band.
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In the United States, the public will not only hear of the devastation of AIDS, but also experience its impact for themselves. World Visions' "AIDS Experience" is an interactive exhibit that will be presented to the general public for the first time this year.
The experience takes "ordinary people on a reverse vision trip," said Steve Haas, vice president of church relations at World Vision. Africa will be brought to the public for an over 3,000 sq ft experience. For nearly 20 minutes, participants will take on the persona of one of four individuals from Africa who has been impacted by AIDS. Through the utilization of technology, each person will virtually experience the devastated life whether they are sitting in a hut in an affected village or visiting an AIDS clinic.
"It's a chance to reflect and interact in a very tangible way," said Haas. "People have heard about the AIDS epidemic, but don't have a tangible way of understanding it. They hear great numbers that are affected, yet they can't put a face to it."
Through the AIDS Experience, "suddenly, it becomes incredibly real to them. It can be very emotional," he added.
The AIDS Experience had previously been presented at two major youth conferences with Youth Specialties and received rave reviews.
In opening the ears and hearts of the world to the humanitarian crisis, World Vision calls the world to be affected and to get involved this World AIDS Day.
