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July/August 2003 Conscious Media
African Journal - a child’s continent

by Chellie Kew

It is said that it is darkest before the dawn, a metaphor for hope glimmering within the shadows of despair. Chellie Kew’s stunning new book – African Journal, a child’s continent – reflects this metaphor in the story of African children of AIDS that she presents in a collection of beautiful photographs tied together by a deeply personal narrative.

The dark side of the story is quickly sketched with a few stark statistics:

"In sub-Saharan Africa 470,000 children die every year from AIDS."
There are "11 million AIDS affected orphans in sub-Saharan Africa; 11.8 million children live in the United Kingdom."
"By 2010, African orphans may exceed 40 million."

But it is the light side, shining from the narrative and from the eyes of the children on every page, that makes this book so special and uplifting. It is the story of how one person, a wife and mother of two, answered an inner call to make a difference in the face of such tragic reality. More importantly, it is the story of the children themselves – their vitality as they carry on with their lives and their undimmed capacity for love as the older ones protect and care for the younger ones.

Mass education is necessary to prevent tragedies like little Angel, pictured here. She fell victim to the common belief that sleeping with a virgin is a cure for AIDS. Massive help is needed with the task of supporting and educating these children. All proceeds from the sale of Chellie’s book go to the "Q Fund", the charity she founded to help make a difference. To lift your spirits and help the orphans, buy the book.

For information on how you can help, go to: www.qfund4aids.org, phone: 503-706-1590 or e-mail: info@qfund4aids.org.

---Miriam Knight