Did you know that nearly a thousand children die from AIDS every day? No place in the world has been more affected by the global HIV/AIDS epidemic than sub-Saharan Africa. Just over 10 percent of the world’s population lives in this region, but more than two out of three adults and nearly 90 percent of the children who are infected with HIV/ AIDS worldwide live here. Unlike other world regions, the majority of people living with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa are women. Just as sad, two million children here are also infected and 12 million are AIDS orphans.

The numbers are staggering – and it’s shocking to realize that much of the problem is preventable. Most children with HIV/AIDS are infected through Mother-To-Child Transmission. Each year in sub- Saharan Africa more than 500,000 babies are infected with HIV during childbirth. They are infected due to lack of knowledge, inadequate education and poor behavior choices. Many African mothers simply do not understand the lifegiving resources available to them.

This is why Gospel Communications is called to create a life-changing film project to deal with this issue.

“My experience working on the film Starting Over with GCI changed me as an actor and a person. I really came to terms with the crisis that HIV/AIDS presents here in Africa. When I was asked to play “Lucas” in The Gift, I couldn’t wait to again help make a positive impact on the continent of Africa. I’m sure this new film is going to do a lot to change how people react to HIV/AIDS and at-risk mothers.”
— Norbert Young Nigerian Actor and co-star of The Gift

The new film The Gift addresses the prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission of the HIV virus. Shot in Africa, the film speaks in a language and style culturally relevant to this region of the world. Film is a universally powerful way to convey messages, but in sub-Saharan African settings, where storytelling and folklore have traditionally been used to educate and inform, it is simply the most effective way to communicate.

The Gift tells the poignant story of 27-year-old mother Onyinye, who discovers she is HIV-positive during the early stages of her pregnancy. Onyinye bravely deals with the trauma of this discovery and works toward having a healthy child. The story deals specifically with the cultural stereotypes that HIV-positive mothers must overcome. Onyinye eventually perseveres against stigma and fear and takes action to protect her child. The resounding theme of the movie is one of hope and inspiration – the audience is drawn into Onyinye’s emotional struggles and ultimate triumph of God’s love and forgiveness.

Save a child’s life — support our film ministry by becoming one of 1,500 people to contribute $100 each to produce The Gift — Donate today

Film director David Zeoli says, “To see
The Gift come to life is an amazing experience. When filming a project like this one in a remote part of the world, there are so many variables that could go wrong. You can’t control them; you have to leave them in God’s hands. I felt all of the prayers of the people who were praying for this film. Not one crew member got sick and we didn’t lose a single day to equipment failure or weather. In fact, it didn’t rain a single drop during the entire 19 days of shooting. Then the day after we wrapped there were torrential downpours! This project has truly been blessed and I’m excited to finish post-production later this summer.”

The Gift is the second film in our Gospel Response to AIDS Initiative (a.k.a. GRAIDS). Shown in rural villages across Africa including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia, its message will reach millions of people, and help thousands of families in crisis. The long-term impact will be astounding. Thousands of lives will be saved through the love of Christ. Filming for The Gift began in February and is currently in post-production. Our total budget for the film, from development to distribution, is only $150,000 – much more cost-effective than films produced in North America. More than 50 film evangelists are waiting to bring the film to the people later this year.

If you would like to learn more about production of The Gift, visit www.gospelcommunications.org.