BLOODLINE: AIDS and Family

The AIDS epidemic that came to light in the 1980s still rages today across Africa, killing 1.4 million people and infecting another 1.9 million in 2008 alone.

The disease does not discriminate, infecting educators and corporate professionals, as well as the poor.

As a concerned documentarian, Kristen Ashburn went to Africa to address this crisis after being struck by reports of the numbers of those dying. What she found — and what she relates in her deeply moving work — are human beings who are desperate for their story to be understood by the larger world.

Through her work we come to know these people, and to see the larger implications of the disease, as it snakes through whole villages, threatening people's livelihoods, intensifying the effects of poverty, and threatening the economic stability of the whole region. Lack of education, awareness, and access to medical care have made the problem seem insurmountable. Through Ashburn's efforts — and possibly our own — come some glimmer of hope toward a solution.

Published: November 28th, 2006

Get Involved

Raising Malawi is dedicated to bringing an end to the extreme poverty and hardship endured by Malawi's one million orphans.

The organization uses a community-based approach to provide immediate direct physical assistance to create long-term sustainability. It supports education and social programs, and builds public awareness through multimedia and worldwide volunteer efforts. As part of its activities, Raising Malawi distributes financial support to grassroots organizations, and has already provided tens of thousands of vulnerable children with nutritious food, proper clothing, secure shelter, formal education, targeted medical care, and emotional support. It does not create or manage its own programs in Malawi; rather, it supports dedicated organizations on the ground.