Spring Break
Exhibit educates on AIDS
Jessica Cline
Issue date: 10/10/08 Section: News
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The national exhibit, "World Vision Experience: AIDS -- Step Into Africa," tours the U.S. in an attempt to spread awareness of the preventable AIDS disease.
The free exhibit lasts from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. today through Monday and is sponsored by World Vision, a "Christian humanitarian organization" with programs in more than 60 countries, according to the organization's Web site.
"We encourage people to come to the exhibit, because people are changed by this exhibit," said Jennean Heric, the tour manager for World Vision. "What we are hoping is that this is a chance for Americans to step out of their lives and into the life of an African child that has been affected by AIDS."
Mary Zenzen, the project manager for the exhibit, said the exhibit is displayed like a "maze," with four pathways representing the lives of four different children.
The children -- Babirye, Mathabo, Kombo and Emmanuel -- all have different stories to tell, and everyone visiting the exhibit will be able to listen to one of their personal stories while walking through a re-enactment of what their lives are like.
World Vision now provides for the four children. They inspired the exhibit because their stories show unique aspects of the effects of AIDS, Heric said.
"The exhibit is literally bringing Africa to us: it is designed to look, smell, sound and feel like Africa," Zenzen said. "The exhibit serves to put a face to AIDS, in order to help bring more awareness to the AIDS pandemic in Africa."
Heric said World Vision planners aim to bring the exhibit to 70 cities this year.
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