The statistics are startling: In Africa, a child is orphaned every 15 seconds by AIDS. That adds up to a staggering 6,000 children a day. By the year 2010, the number of children orphaned by the AIDS pandemic is expected to climb to 20 million.
Sound overwhelming? Wondering what little ol’ you can really do about it?
The good news is, Project AIDS Orphan makes it easy to help. A Paducah-based nonprofit organization, Project AIDS Orphan is dedicated to supporting children orphaned by the AIDS crisis in East Africa.
LowerTown residents Paul and Monica Bilak experienced firsthand the devastating affects of AIDS in Africa while living in Kenya several years ago. They became good friends with David Okong’o – both David and Paul worked together as nurse practitioners – and in 2004, decided to create Project AIDS Orphan.
Project AIDS Orphan provides food, clothing, health care and education to the 300 AIDS orphans living in Kandaria, Kenya. Okong’o serves as the Project AIDS Orphan country manager in Kandaria.
In the U.S., the Bilaks, their board members (Nathan Brown, Michelle Kenyon, Dr. Harvey Tilker and Dr. Polly Lebuhn) and volunteers raise awareness about the plight of AIDS orphans, educate us on how we can assist and raise funds for projects that make life better for the orphans. Check out the new video, below.
Let’s Pull Together T-Shirts
This holiday season, armed with cool new Let’s Pull Together T-shirts, the Bilaks and Okong’o encourage everyone to “buy one, give one free,” meaning for every T-shirt you buy for yourself, a new item of clothing will go to a child affected by HIV or AIDS in Kenya.
 |
| The new T-shirts feature the phrase, Let’s Pull Together, in various languages. |
World AIDS Day Walk
The T-shirts are just one of several ways we can make a difference on World AIDS Day this Saturday, December 1. From 4-5 p.m., the community is invited to participate in the World AIDS Day Walk, which begins at the Texaco Station and ambles through the LowerTown Arts District.
Adults and children alike will be fortified with free warm cookies before setting off on a short walk through the district. Walkers can stop by awareness-raising stations along the way – in and around the various galleries – including a card-making station, a coin collection jar give-away, a spot to send postcards to politicians and a candle-lighting service to honor the AIDS orphans. The new video will be playing, as well.
 |
| Project AIDS Orphan Country Director David Okong’o and his wife, Justine, coordinate the delivery of care to AIDS orphans in Kandaria, Kenya. |
From there, folks can head Downtown for the Holiday Parade.
“This will be the perfect opportunity for families to get that much-needed perspective before the holidays,” Paul Bilak says. “For our family, it’s a chance to focus on the true meaning of the season: love in the form of giving.”
So, bring your little ol’ self on down and show your support. (This could also include Christmas shopping at the galleries. Is all I’m sayin’.)
Art for Life Party, Benefiting Heartland CARES
At 7 p.m. that same evening, head to the Carson Center for the Art for Life Masquerade Ball, benefiting Heartland CARES. This organization, at 3025 Clay St., is dedicated to helping those in our own community who are affected by HIV and AIDS. The event is always great fun, with wonderful food, a cash bar, art auction and live entertainment. Ticket are $100. For more info, call Kelly Scruggs, 534.9294.
In addition, the Heartland CARES Youth Action Group’s Youth Art for Life exhibit continues at Etcetera Coffeehouse through December 15. Students from local high schools submitted their HIV/AIDS awareness-themed pieces for the competition, and folks have been stopping by Etcetera to vote for their favorites. The winners will be announced at 4 p.m., on Monday, December 3!
