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HIV&AIDS exhibit raises awareness amongst Korean youth
By Heisun Cha on 12 Jun 2007
World Vision Korea hosted ‘One Life Experience’, a walk-through exhibition, to raise HIV and AIDS awareness in Seoul. The exhibition was conducted from June 1-3 at the third Korea National Youth Exposition in a popular area in the booming southern part of the city.
It was the first time that the plight of orphans and vulnerable children has been exposed to the public through an interactive exhibit as part of public education and advocacy efforts in Korea.
More than 1,200 students, youth and adults visited the 100 square-meter tent and experienced the life of a 13-year old HIV-positive Malawi boy named Romoy, while listening to his story on an MP3 player.
“My heart was aching to experience the life of Romoy. I earnestly hope and pray that he will have hope for tomorrow,“ wrote one youth visitor in a post-it note.
“The strong prejudice and fears that public have against HIV and AIDS relentlessly drive the patients to fight the loneliest battle in the world,” said Sam Park, World Vision Korea’s Executive Director.
World Vision Korea was the only international non-government organisation participating in the exhibition. Event organiser, The Government Youth Commission, invited World Vision Korea to use the biggest booth at the exposition venue, the result of a close relationship with the Commission since 2006.
World Vision Korea plans to display the exhibit at 24-Hour Famine in October 2007, for volunteer training, global education schools and on World AIDS Day. World Vision United States has provided support and enabled the exhibit in Korea.
In Korea, with a low prevalence rate of 0.01%, HIV and AIDS has been highly stigmatised and feared. As of March 2007, official statistics show that 4,755 Koreans of a 49 million population, are infected and 864 patients have died since the first case reported in 1985.
World Vision Korea has taken a leading role in educating students and helping to reduce stigma by participating in ‘Lesson for Life’, an HIV and AIDS prevention and awareness-raising campaign among youth organized by Global Movement for Children, held each World AIDS Day since 2004.
Also, World Vision Korea challenged the conservative Korean church leaders and pastors to reduce stigma by inviting Rev. Christo Greyling, Advisor, HIV/AIDS & Church/FBO Partnerships, from WVI, and his wife, Liesel, to speak to Korean churches and media in November 2006.
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