Ladies and gentlemen of the press:

Never in Compassion's 52-year history have we encountered a disaster with the prospect of totally destroying the God-given potential of millions of the world's children. That is until now. The HIV/AIDS epidemic threatens not only the future but the very lives of millions of children today.

AIDS in itself is beyond tragic. But when you inject AIDS into the lives of children living in poverty, the results are nearly impossible to conceive.

Many of the 14 million AIDS orphans are homeless or financially desperate. Nowhere is their plight so visible as in sub-Saharan Africa. AIDS robs children of their childhoods. We have seen children as young as eight years old caring for themselves and their little brothers and sisters.

AIDS prevention through education and training is one piece of this puzzle. We also need to care for those already affected with medical care, supplemental nutrition, subsistence support, counseling and income generation — all parts of the holistic model that Compassion promotes. And since AIDS affects individuals, interventions must take place at the individual level. We must mobilize a massive grass roots movement and build capacity there in order for us to have a significant impact on this enormous problem.

In October, I was in Uganda and visited AIDS- affected families. I met one of our sponsored children named John. John had lost both of his parents to AIDS. What could have ended in tragedy for John didn't. Fortunately, an elderly aunt took in John and two of his six brothers and sisters. She is one of the many remarkable people doing their best to care for those around them who are suffering in this staggering crisis. But she needs help! Fortunately, the local church was able to use Compassion's program to keep these young ones in school and help her to provide food, clothing, shelter and a loving environment for these children who would probably otherwise be struggling on their own. She was doing her part and we were coming alongside her to help. Never have I witnessed such thankfulness as when this woman fell at my feet and let out a cry of joy at our visit. I needed to fall at her feet to thank her for the heroic work she was doing. This is a success story but there are millions of Johns who need to be helped just like this.

We recognize there is no magic bullet for solving the AIDS crisis. No one organization, no one government, no one strategy by itself can completely address the needs of those affected by AIDS. 
 
Every person, every organization and every government must address this epidemic and engage every resource we can. It is not insurmountable but must be approached with courage, commitment and total resolve. If we can harness the human ingenuity and resolve to send people to Mars, we can certainly meet this challenge.

Compassion applauds President Bush for his historic commitment to reach out to the global community affected by HIV/AIDS. Compassion doesn't currently receive any government money but we still  strongly urge the President and the Congress to release the full funding committed to in the global fight against AIDS. 

This epidemic is not about politics. It is about a child named John whose future was hopeless when both parents died of AIDS. But because people next door and on the other side of the world cared enough to do something, he now has a future and a hope.