African Aids hits Aussies hard
2007-07-09 18:58
Special Report
Aids has now killed 25m people around the world, but the number of new infections is slowing sharply, the UN says.
Sydney - "You are about to step into Africa" promises the sign outside a white tent in downtown Sydney, just a walk away from designer boutiques.
World Vision last week launched "One Life Experience", an interactive walk-through exhibition that gives visitors the chance to experience life through the eyes of impoverished African children who have been affected by Aids.
Visitors are asked to imagine themselves in Africa, an experience that is far removed from the lives of many Sydneysiders, and which the exhibitors say is "full, but also hearbreakingly difficult".
The audio tour, which visitors listen to through individual music players, includes the voice of a narrator and sound effects to help them visualise themselves as one of three children.
Watching his parents
The exhibition is the first of its kind in Australia, and a departure from the traditional television advertisements placed by charities.
"You come out crying. I haven't seen anyone come out who isn't crying," said Australian actor and filmmaker Jeremy Simms, who has sponsored impoverished children around the world for 20 years, and who was one of the first Australians to walk through the exhibition when it opened in Sydney last week.
The tour prompts visitors to stop at information displays that explain the wider impact of poverty and disease in Africa.
"I guess you see it on TV all the time, but when you actually imagine it happening to you it's different," said Christian Charalambous, a volunteer worker at the exhibition.
Positive response
The original concept for the exhibition was introduced by the charity's American branch, and the photographs and props used in it travelled to Australia after spending a year in New Zealand.
"I've been astounded with the response - it's been really, really positive," said World Vision Australia's national events co-ordinator Eva Daly.
"I think it's because it's the first time anything like this has been done in Australia and we've literally brought Africa to the middle of Sydney," Daly said.
Although the exhibition relies heavily on word-of-mouth advertising, with e-mails being sent to Australian donors, it has so far averaged 150 visitors a day.
"There's so many massive statistics like a child dies every three seconds as a result of poverty, 30 000 children die every day and it kind of has got to a point where it's almost like water off a duck's back," said Daly.
Having a big impact
"So, to be able to put an individual face on the issues that these kids are facing in these countries is really important and it seems to be having a really big impact," she said.
The exhibition will stay in Sydney until Wednesday before moving to Australia's second-biggest city, Melbourne.
www.worldvision.com.au
- Reuters