How can we save the AIDS orphans?

As the many of you out there who have read Melissa Fay Green's There is No Me Without You know, the horrible statistics surrounding AIDS in Africa and the number of orphans produced by it are unimaginable and frankly ridiculous. The notion that there are enough parentless children in a few countries alone to inhabit Norway four times over is one that is so beyond comprehension that we feel powerless to make the slightest difference, no matter how much we are willing or able give.

But there are some ways to make a difference.

For starters, Gap and other companies are having the (Product)Red campaign, in which clothing items, red-colored iPods, etc. are being sold on behalf of women and children with AIDS in Africa. Just yesterday I bought a red t-shirt from the Gap that reads "Inspi(red)", and while in the store I noticed a sign that said that half of all proceeds go directly to Africa to financially aid those afflicted. For more info and to order online, please visit http://www.gap.com/browse/category.do?cid=20856

Another way to help is by donating to AHOPE, an orphanage and school for children with AIDS in Ethiopia. Just by browsing the site and watching a short but heart-wrenching video on it (http://ahopeforchildren.org/video/ahope_movie/_hr.wmv) I've decided to devote my Senior Interest Project to raising materials through my school and/or starting a club for students to write letters individually to the children there. Aside from that though, anyone can donate items/money by clicking the Donate option on the website at http://www.ahopeforchildren.org.

It's so hard for us to feel like we're making a difference when the magnitude of the impact of AIDS is so utterly beyond our control, but hopefully all the little things will accumulate to make a world of a difference to at least some of the people affected by this horrible pandemic.