5 Heroes of AIDS in Africa - web documentary and DVD


	5 Heroes of AIDS in Africa is a documentary in production scheduled to be released for the web in the summer of 2004. It explores the life and work of five individuals living in southern Africa who have devoted themselves to bringing health to their people in the midst of the African AIDS epidemic. The documentary is being created by Neil Halloran, who is a student in the Digital Media Design (DMD) program at The University of Pennsylvania. Neil returned from his 5 month trip in southern Africa in July 2002		The five heroes, briefly described below, come from different backgrounds, and are battling the epidemic on different fronts. They represent a large body growing within the continent that is working against HIV/AIDS. Their stories give testament to the fact that AIDS in Africa is not solely about suffering and despair. It is also where we can find great courage, hope, and an inspiring display of the human spirit. You can read more about these heroes below.


			Mandla, activist Mandla is the Western Cape Coordinator of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) in South Africa. TAC is committed to bringing a better healthcare system to all citizens and is currently battling the government and pharmaceutical companies for access to anti-retroviral drugs. Mandla helps organize events of protest and events aimed to reduce HIV stigma.

			Makazi, home based care Makazi is providing home based care for the people of her township Imizamo Yethu. She started studying for nursing certificates after a voice told her in a dream to care for the sick people of her community. HIV is a daily part of her job. Makazi nurses her patients, brings them to hospitals, and helps them with paperwork for disability grants.

			Dr. Roux, pediatrician & fundraiser Dr. Paul Roux runs a pediatric ward in the Groote Schuur hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. HIV is rampant in the surrounding area, and two-thirds of the children in the ward are HIV positive. Roux is also also actively fundraising for the organization Kidz-Positive, which provides financial support for HIV infected families.

			Juliet, public & positive Juliet is the first and only person to come forward publicly with her HIV-positive status in the small mining town of Jwenang, Botswana. She was near death, weighing only 24kg, before she started taking anti-retrovirals. Now she is healthy and full of positive energy. She has founded an HIV support group and is working against stigma.

			Adelaide, "mother of news" Adelaide founded a company called Malitaba, which she and her father are running in Johannesburg. Malitaba, which means "mother of news," equips companies and organizations with the skills and knowledge to survive in a city where 1 in 3 people are HIV positive. Adelaide is also a councilor and a trainer, working with numerous organizations in the AIDS field.


	AidsinAfrica.net
	The documentary is the major component of the website AidsinAfrica.net, launched in August 2003. The other components of the site include an interactive map showing the levels of HIV per country, animated charts that show HIV over time, and comparisons between AIDS and other diseases in Africa. Visitors will be able to make online donations to the organizations featured in the documentary using a credit card.		The documentary will be available for free to anyone with a high bandwidth internet connection. A low bandwidth version (much lower quality) will also be available. Visitors will be able to order the DVD or VHS cassette online. The proceeds will go to the organization in the documentary. To visit AidsinAfrica.net, click here.
	Other Formats
	5 Heroes of AIDS in Africa is primarily intended to be a web documentary, but it will also be available on DVD and video-cassette. The documentary is composed of still photography, narration, and a musical soundtrack. Still photographs require less bandwidth than streaming video, therefore the images will be bigger and crisper than what is typically found in web-based films. The use of still photography, with panning and zooming, also gives the documentary a unique style.		After the web version is complete, the documentary will be converted to DVD and VHS cassette. The DVD version will have enhancements to the web version, including greater image quality, smoother animation, and high-fidelity sound. The photographs, taken with a digital camera, are of such high resolution (4 million pixels per photo) that the documentary could conceivably be rendered in high-definition.
	Contact Neil
	Feel free to contact Neil with any questions using the methods to the right.		neil@highermedia.com 1708 W. 10th Street. Apartment B Austin, TX 78703 U.S.A.

AidsinAfrica.net is produced by Higher Media of Philadelphia