Cary, NC – Last Thursday, The YMCA of the Triangle hosted a kickoff for The World Vision Experience: Step Into Africa, a traveling exhibition that will come to the Cary Y this Spring. The exhibit, modeled after the Holocaust Museum experience in Washington DC,  runs here May 9-16.

The Exhibit

The World Vision Experience: Step Into Africa takes us into an African village to personally experience the lives of children and young adults affected by AIDS.

Visitors put on a headset and follow the life of one of four real people effected by the epidemic.  The tour ends at a health clinic where you learn of the health status of the person you followed.

In 2005 the first prototype of the village was created and since then, the 2500 square foot Village has traveled around the country reaching thousands of Americans and sponsoring 25,000 children through their program.

Education, Care and Advocacy

Nicole Forbes, of World Vision, described how they focus their efforts around the world to help children and their families out of poverty.

It was during the 1980s that their efforts seemed to slip backwards in Africa. The reason: the AIDS epidemic was orphaning an entire generation. Without parents, children were leaving school to raise siblings and slipping further into poverty and risk of infection themselves. With “Step Into Africa” the aim is to ” Educate, Inspire and Motivate” citizens to respond to the challenge facing Africa amidst the AIDS epidemic.

Tracy Howe, Senior VP of Operations for the YMCA of the Triangle, states there are 3 goals: That “everyone matters, to reduce the stigma of AIDS, and to be a catalyst of hope and change in the Triangle.” He adds “If they could bring Africa here, folks in America would understand” the humanitarian crisis we all face. Thus their aim is to bring the mission work here, or create “missions in reverse”.

World Vision’s Hope Initiative is focused on:

• Prevention of the disease, with education particularly aimed at children 5 to 15
• Care for people infected and affected by AIDS, especially orphans and vulnerable children
• Advocacy on behalf of those affected by AIDS

Walk in Their Shoes

Sub-Saharan Africa is home to two thirds of the HIV-AIDS cases in the world. The largest concentration of the disease exists there. yet they lack the resources and education to fight the disease effectively. The exhibit aims to focus on the needs of the children and to create empathy through “walking in their shoes.”

Tickets are free. The recommended minimum age is 10. Get tickets to the exhibit.

Volunteer

The Triangle YMCA organization will need 300-400 volunteers at each location: folks to build, lead tours, and host staff. They also have a goal of 4000 attendees- so they need help spreading the word about the free exhibit. The goal is to have 4000 visitors during the week it is here. The final goal is to get  sponsors for children.

Volunteer to help at the World Vision exhibit at the Cary YMCA.