The first person I interviewed was Princess Zulu at the One Campaign Event. I had the opportunity to talk with her after we made care kits there. She is a woman with personal experience dealing with HIV/AIDS as an orphan whose parents both passed away with AIDS. Now she lives in Chicago, where she is an advocate for supporting children in Africa so they have somewhere to turn if their parents are succumbed to the AIDS virus. She is not personally involved in politics, just purely here to get the word out through the ONE Campaign and World Vision organizations.
Because this was a political convention and it was semi-associated with the RNC, I asked her why she felt an event like this was so important to be represented at a time like this. She had mentioned that they had also done an event in Denver as well the week before. She stated that the American people say that they care, and with these organizations, One and World Vision, they have an opportunity to show they do. She was very pleased with the turnout of people who just wanted to make a difference and get involved in a non-partisan way. This campaign event during the convention was so unconventional in the fact that it was not about party affiliation, but coming together as Americans to help a cause. In this sense, regardless of who wins the White House in November, the organization can make sure that the President continues an initiative to fight malaria, HIV/AIDS, and other problems in Africa. I then proceeded to ask her what she wanted the young people in America and all over the world to really know about this particular organization and how they could impact the future, in politics and out. She responded by saying that young adults and persons could start as activists and just share with their friends and family. She said that it is important to get the word out at events like the RNC because those young people in attendance are already politically active. Even something as simple as making a care kit, as we were doing today, could impact so many lives.
In her own personal experience, her mother needed antifungal cream and they had to travel on foot for hours. By the time they returned to their home, her mother was dead. This death could have been simply prevented if her mother just had a local doctor or easier access to the cream. She then proceeded to tell me that there are stories out there much sadder than her own and this does not have to be the reality. Clean water, malaria, and poverty are all affiliated with HIV/AIDS and until these are conquered, HIV/AIDS will continue to be a huge problem.
Amazing, the story of her life. And amazing to see her advocating now.
Bless.
