By Todd Hatton
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkms/local-wkms-955857.mp3
Murray, KY – In the U.S., a dollar and a half is the cost of a casual trip to a vending machine. In Kenya, those same six quarters can change a school child's entire life. Nathan Brown of Project AIDS Orphan talks about helping Kenyans help themselves.
What you hear at the beginning of this story is the sound of schoolchildren at Segoti Primary School in western Kenya. The school used to have one of the lowest graduation rates in the country, around 55%. Now, they have one of the highest, almost 100%. That's thanks in no small part to the efforts of a locally-based non-profit organization, Project AIDS Orphan. They coordinate resources with community leaders in Kenya to help children affected by that country's AIDS crisis. Kenya has the fourth highest percentage of adults living with HIV/AIDS in the world, and has the 6th highest HIV/AIDS death rate on the planet. But despite these disturbing numbers, and despite the violence that broke out in the wake of Kenya's 2007 presidential election, the need and the work continue.
Nathan Brown is a board member with Project AIDS Orphan and he's recently returned from his latest trip to Kenya. He took an audio recorder with him, and shares the sounds of the country as well as the latest on the ongoing work there.
Support Project AIDS Orphan by supporting WKMS
Your gift always helps WKMS reach out. Now more than ever. The Cappock Family of Paducah has pledged to donate the cost of three meals a day for an elementary school child in Kenya for each gift you make towards our spring fundraiser goal. Project AIDS Orphan supplies the meals inspired by your support of WKMS. Thanks!
Click here for more information about Project AIDS Orphan and this partnership.