The Potter’s House partners with World Vision to bring interactive exhibit to the public for a journey into an AIDS-affected community in Africa, as seen through the eyes of four children

Dallas, TX — Bishop T. D. Jakes is bringing the nationally touring, interactive Step Into Africa AIDS Exhibit to The Potter’s House to raise awareness about the effects of the AIDS pandemic on children in developing countries. The free exhibit will be open to the public beginning Wednesday, November 28, noon to 7:00 p.m., Thursday and Friday, noon to 9:00 p.m. The exhibit will continue until Saturday, December 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

"We are honored that World Vision is partnering with us to provide our community with an opportunity to see, hear and experience in a personal way the lives of these African children whose worlds have been devastated by AIDS, said Bishop T. D. Jakes. "The AIDS pandemic is possibly the greatest medical, social and economic challenge our world as a whole now faces, it is imperative that we step up and obliterate this disease not only in our community but around the world," continued Bishop Jakes.

Visitors to the 2,600 square-foot exhibit will walk though a replica of an African village while listening on headsets to a personal audio track telling the story of a child whose life has been affected by AIDS. The stories profiled in the exhibit are those of four real children touched by the work of World Vision, and are based on true events. The children are: (names have been changed to protect their privacy)

1. Beatrice, a courageous nine-year old orphan from Zambia, single-handedly raising her 2-year old niece in an AIDS affected village in Zambia.
2. Timothy, a four-year-old from Malawi, who watches both his parents die due to AIDS, and now wonders about his own future.
3. Olivia, a 17-year-old Malawian girl who is assaulted twice by the same man.
4. Stephen, a 13-year-old abducted by rebel soldiers in Uganda and forced to kill his own people. Will he escape? And even if so, will his family take him back. 

 "AIDS is the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time, and it is also one of the greatest opportunities in history for Christians to demonstrate God’s love and compassion," says Richard E. Stearns, President and CEO of World Vision, US. "This exhibit enables people to gain a greater insight into the effects of the pandemic by exploring the lives of four people who have been devastated by AIDS as well as offering ways for each visitor to help those in need," continued Stearns.

Through the Step into Africa AIDS Exhibit, Bishop Jakes hopes to put a face to the statistic. Behind the facts and figures, lies a real disease that infects and affects real people. According to Dr. Nicole McCann-Cross, Director of Counseling Services for The Potter’s House, "For most, to see is to believe," said Dr. Cross. Ultimately, we rely on the old adage "when we know better, we do better" to deepen our level of understanding based on the foundation of HIV/AIDS education and mobilized by our willingness to help all mankind, continued Dr. Cross.

For tickets to the virtual AIDS exhibit please visit the World Vision website at www.worldvisionexperience.org.

World Vision

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, please visit www.worldvision.org.