Experiencing AIDS through victims' stories

For the next five days, visitors to the World Vision AIDS Experience Tent at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach can not only learn more about these children — and many others throughout Africa — but virtually step into their lives as they meander through the 20-by-60-foot structure.

"We wanted to bring awareness of the issue of AIDS in Africa," said Laurie Jaworski, director of global outreach at the church. "This is a good opportunity for our congregation and the community to understand the devastation caused by AIDS and poverty and so forth."

Each guest is given an MP3 player that provides the narrative for the 20-minute audio tour through the life of one of the three children, and photographs and displays reveal the millions of lives that have been and are affected by the devastating disease.

The three life paths end in a pseudo-medical clinic as each child receives the results of his or her HIV examination, and the tour concludes in the clinic chapel, where visitors can take time to reflect or write a prayer or thought to be delivered to families in Malawi.

"These are very real life stories and situations of those affected not only by AIDS and HIV, but also poverty and injustice," said Lauren Alevy, tent exhibit producer.

The traveling exhibit was originally crafted by a church in San Diego, based on a series of similar experiences offered by World Vision, a Christian relief and development organization assisting children worldwide.

After visiting Malawi last summer, Alevy wanted to find a way to share with others the effects the trip had on her life.

"Even though they are materially poor, the people there are the richest people I have ever met because they are rich in spirit and family and faith," she said.

The tent began its tour in September, visiting several universities and churches in the San Diego area. Gathering donations from more than 12,000 visitors, the organization was able to sponsor 150 children and raise about $40,000 to supplement development projects in central Malawi.

St. Andrew's sponsors about 600 children through World Vision and maintains a Malawi task force. The church is holding a sponsorship drive in conjunction with the tent exhibit with the goal of sponsoring 425 more children.

"It's heart-wrenching to see the number of people who are dying from this disease," Jaworski said. "We hope this tent will have an effect on people."