University senior Eddie May is spreading awareness of HIV and AIDS through pictures of smiling faces and happy children.
May spent last summer interning and volunteering in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at an orphanage where many of the children’s parents have died in the devastating HIV/AIDS pandemic.
The Family and Human Services major will be displaying his photo exhibit, “The Face of HIV/AIDS,” at the main branch of the Eugene Public Library at 100 W. 10th Ave. this month.
The photo exhibit, which has traveled to two locations in his home state of Washington and was previewed last December in the Erb Memorial Union for World AIDS day, pairs May’s photographs with information and statistics on the HIV/AIDS pandemic as well as his personal stories about his volunteer experience.
“My initial goal is provide awareness with what’s happening on a global scale with the HIV/AIDS pandemic,” May sad. “I wanted to give people insight on what it’s like to work with these children who are among the most resilient and compassionate people I have ever met. These kids are beyond amazing.”
May volunteered with Adoption Advocates International (AAI), a group that works to place orphaned children in safe homes around the globe. May worked mostly with the older group of orphans, who are often less desirable adoption candidates. For these children, he said, donations and sponsorships can help them get an education and survive in their own countries.
Rita Radostitz, who worked as the volunteer coordinator for AAI, said that May’s project really helps people connect to the individuals involved in the AIDS crisis. With huge numbers of orphans in Ethiopia alone, May’s exhibit shows the orphans as more than just a huge number, Radostitz said.
“It’s easy to think the AIDS crisis in Africa is far away and something we don’t think about. Eddie’s project really brings the idea home,” Radostitz said.
She said his exhibit makes the issue tangible and portrays the pandemic as more than a huge and intimidating number.
“There are faces connected to that number,” Radostitz said.
“In reality, there are so many pluses to giving people the opportunity to succeed where they are,” May said. “The sponsorship program allows them to do that.”
May said he did not originally plan on using his photographs as part of an exhibit to raise awareness.
“They were just for me,” he said. “But I realized how much these photos could show.”
All FHS majors are required to complete a senior project before graduating, and May’s pairs extensive research about AIDS in Africa with the images to share his personal experience. His project tells a story about the effects of HIV/AIDS in Africa and helps to break negative stereotypes about developing countries and AIDS.
“I connected the research with the faces,” he said. “If you don’t have a personal connection you lose emotional attachment.”
“This exhibit has allowed people to connect with these kids,” May said. “It’s just nice to know people are taking an interest in it.”
Field study coordinator in the FHS program Kelly Warren said that a project like May’s is important because it shows how one person can really make a difference.
“Of course it’s important to bring a spotlight to world issues, but Eddie’s project shows how one college student can really go effect change,” Warren said. “Especially with issues like the AIDS pandemic, people can feel paralyzed. Eddie’s project says, ‘As one person, this is what I can do.’”
Warren said she hopes May will donate part of his display to the College of Education so that it can continue to be displayed.
“The benefit of it staying on campus is that it will continue to live,” Warren said. “It’s going to be a constant reminder of one student’s activities.”
May plans to pursue a master’s degree in social work after graduating this spring and hopes to continue to do international social work. His photo exhibit will be on display in the Eugene Public Library until the end of the month.
Photos capture face of AIDS
Daily Emerald
March 6, 2007
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