First US Screening of Prince
Harry's documentary film
"THE FORGOTTEN KINGDOM"
Premiere
of documentary film was a
successful
fundraising event for
AIDS
orphans in Lesotho, southern Africa.
Featured
Guest Speaker Lesotho's Ambassador
Her
Excellency Mrs. Molelekeng E. Rapolaki
The first US screening
of the documentary film, "Prince Harry and the Forgotten Kingdom"
was premiered on Monday, May 16th at 7:30 PM at the Coolidge Corner
Theatre in Brookline as a fundraising event to support SHARED's
programs to help AIDS orphans in southern Africa. The Ambassador
from Lesotho, H.E. Molelekeng Rapolaki was the guest speaker.
Elizabeth Ziemba, President
of SHARED, began the evening talking about the AIDS epidemic in
Lesotho where more than 100,000 children are orphans in a country
of about 2 million people. "There are more than 2 AIDS
orphans in Lesotho for every person living in Brookline:, she said.
"We can make a difference in their lives, here, tonight, right
now". Ms.
Ziemba's introductory remarks.
Ms. Ziemba read from a letter addressed
to the audience from The Most Reverend Desmond M. Tutu,
Anglican Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town. In his letter,
Archbishop Tutu painted a picture of a world where children grow
up without adults and asking that we share compassion, caring and
belief in helping these children."I want you to make God smile
tonight". Archbishop
Desmond Tutu's letter.
To draw attention to the
plight of AIDS orphans, a cause close to his late mother Diana's
heart, Prince Harry has made "The Forgotten Kingdom",a
documentary about children in the AIDS-stricken southern African
country of Lesotho. The then 19-year-old prince spent eight weeks
in Lesotho, working at children's orphanages and throughout the
film showed how deeply moved he was by the children in Lesotho,
especially four-year-old Mutsu Potsane, a "really special kid"
thought to be HIV positive. The two become virtually inseparable
during the Prince's stay.
 Prince
Harry is also filmed cradling 10-month-old Liketso, a baby girl
raped by her mother's boyfriend, and sitting on the beds of women
with full-blown AIDS as doctors check on them. Around 40% of Lesotho's
two million people are thought to be infected with HIV or AIDS.
"I visited Liketso
in October last year and you will be relieved to know that she continues
to thrive and grow, running and playing" reported Ms. Ziemba
at the movie showing. "'The Forgotten Kingdom' was shown
in England and has raised more than $3 million for the British Red
Cross".
Following the movie, Ms.
Ziemba introduced Her Excellency Mrs. Molelekeng Rapolaki, Ambassador
from Lesotho to the United States, who discussed her government's
response to the AIDS epidemic with an emphasis on the devastating
effect on children in Lesotho. She provided the audience with
a no-nonsense report of the ravages of AIDS and the toll it has
taken on her country's workforce where adults are sick or dying,
leaving children to be cared for by grandmothers or left on the
streets.
At the conclusion of the
Ambassador's remarks, members of the audience were invited to ask
questions. At the end of the evening, Ms. Ziemba thanked the
Ambassador for participating in this fundraiser and for being an
engaging and articulate voice for the children of Lesotho.
After the movie, Ambassador
Rapolaki talks with members of the audience including
Boston University student,
Lauren Babich.
Funds raised from this
event will be used to purchase medicines, medical care and medical
equipment for orphaned and abandoned children in Lesotho through
our partner organizations, Beautiful Gate and Maluti Hospital.
To add your support to
our efforts, please make your fully tax-deductible donation
today. To pay by check or money order, make your
check payable to "SHARED" and send it to: SHARED, One
Harvard Street, Suite 303, Brookline, Massachusetts 02445-7923.
Make sure to include your name, address and telephone number with
payment to ensure receiving a tax receipt for the donation.
If you have any questions, please contact SHARED directly by calling
(617) 277 - 7800.
A special
"Thank you" to Prince Harry, Buckingham Palace, and
Granada International TV1 London for making this event possible.
|
