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Documentary
filmmaker Philippe Talavera will talk about "Visually Fighting AIDS
in Namibia, Africa" through the use of documentary film in a special
presentation at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 in Yeager Recital Hall that is
being co-sponsored by the School of Communications.
An HIV/AIDS activist, filmmaker and head of the Red Ribbon campaign
in Namibia, Talavera is Elon's second Periclean-in-Residence as
part of Project Pericles, a national initiative that encourages
civic engagement and social responsibility among college students.
Talavera is
director of the Ombetja Yehinga Organization, which specializes
in the development of education material about HIV/AIDS for Namibian
youth. He has directed and produced several videos and short films
to help break taboos and discuss sensitive issues, including "The
Hyena's Disease," which makes use of songs and poems written by
teenagers in the Kunene region of Namibia.
Namibia, located
on the west coast of Africa, has been hit hard by HIV and AIDS.
One in four Namibians suffer from HIV infection or AIDS, one of
the highest rates on the continent. Elon staff member J. McMerty
and Elon faculty member Tom Arcaro spent two weeks in July traveling
to Namibia and working on another special Project Pericles-funded
mission. They spoke with many concerned Namibians, from leaders
of non-profit organizations to teachers with HIV. Their documentary
footage is being assembled into educational pieces about the AIDs
crisis. Their work ties in with what Talavera is doing.
Talavera will
offer two additional public presentations at Elon: at 7:30
p.m. Oct. 23 he will talk about "Empowerment and AIDS in Namibia"
in Yeager Recital Hall. This presentation will explore gender issues
related to HIV and AIDS; at 7 p.m. Oct.
26 he will present "A Night of Hope" in Whitley Auditorium - this
event to promote HIV/AIDS awareness is part of Elon University and
Alamance County community night.
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