October 13, 2007
Nashville church helps African AIDS orphans
Saturday, 10/13/07
By ANITA WADHWANI
For The Tennessean
When Melva Black and her fellow churchgoers first encountered the South African home for children orphaned by the AIDS/HIV epidemic, she says, she was astounded by the conditions she saw.
"There were 60 children living in a two-bedroom, one-bathroom house," Black said.
Even worse, the landlord was trying to evict the children along with their protector, a strong-willed woman named Zodwa Mquadi, who had single-handedly gathered the children — some of whom had simply been wandering the streets alone.
Since then, Black and fellow members of the Metropolitan Interdenominational Church have been aiding the Agape Childcare Center, providing the seed money for Mquadi to purchase a stable home for the children, purchasing additional buildings to house the children and returning each year to build showers and classrooms, make repairs and deliver donations of clothing and money.
Many of the children have thrived, Black says. Some of the children went on to form a choir. Musical industry superstars such as Bono and Alicia Keys helped them produce a CD. The children toured the United States, including a stop at Metropolitan Interdenominational Church in 2005. They were here when Hurricane Katrina hit and collectively decided to divert a portion of the money their music was raising for the orphanage to the disaster victims.
Now the story of the orphans is the subject of a documentary, We Are Together, which is being shown at the Belcourt Theatre next week.
British filmmaker Paul Taylor followed the Agape choir for three years, documenting their struggles to succeed and raise money for the orphanage — and to sing.
Black says that life has not been easy for children lucky enough to have been taken in by "Mother Zodwa," as she is known.
The film shows 12-year-old Slindile, one of six siblings taken to the orphanage by their grandmother. Like others in the choir, she waits in excited anticipation for her chance to tour the United States, only to be devastated to learn that her older brother Sifisio has AIDS. He was also in the choir. Sifisio died earlier this year.
Black says at least five children from the orphanage have died from the disease since she has been visiting the orphanage.
But the choir has also transformed Slindile and the other children, says Black, who cared for Slindile in her home when the choir finally made it to Nashville.
"I saw a lot of jovialness and playfulness when they were here that I never saw with them in South Africa," Black says. "It's always bittersweet for me. The sweetness is knowing that we are really doing something that makes a difference in this global community. The bitterness is knowing that children die."
Black says her involvement with the orphanage has made a big impact on her personally.
"My hope is that we will never let this issue of HIV/AIDS die. It's still real and we all have a responsibility to do something about it."
The film has already won an award at the Tribecca Film Festival in New York City. Black says that filmmakers are trying to show it as widely as possible to ensure it is eligible for an Oscar nomination.
Tags:
Adoption by State, Adoption General Information, Orphans and Orphanages
