wfn.org | Updated Alert CWS, Tim Janis, South African Churches Address HIV/AIDS

["Carol Fouke" <carolf@ncccusa.org>]

National Council of Churches/Church World Service News
May 10, 2002

MEDIA COVERAGE REQUEST (UPDATED May 9, 2002)

"DON'T STIGMATIZE HIV/AIDS" IS MESSAGE OF MAY 10 AND 12 EVENTS
IN SOUTH AFRICA; U.S. MUSICIAN TIM JANIS JOINS SOUTH AFRICAN MUSICIANS

Concert, Ecumenical Service Support Church World Service, South African
Council of Churches' HIV/AIDS Awareness and Care Projects

"Don't stigmatize people with HIV/AIDS" is the message of two events-- a
benefit concert and an ecumenical worship service -- with U.S. composer and
instrumentalist Tim Janis and South African musicians, set for May 10 and 12
in Durban and Soweto, South Africa.

Janis' "Music of Hope" CD topped Billboard Magazine's Top Classical Albums
last year. His "music with a mission" is used by the Mayo Clinic in Arizona
and others in the medical community to help people through chemotherapy and
other treatments.  Janis travels to South Africa in May for the U.S.-based
global development, relief and refugee assistance organization Church World
Service (CWS).  The two performances grow out of his planned recording
sessions with South African artists for a CD to benefit HIV/AIDS projects in
Africa.

6:30 p.m. Friday, May 10: "Symphony of Hope," City Hall, Durban:

A gala dinner concert and benefit for the Sinikithemba HIV/AIDS Christian
Care Center, Janis and his instrumental ensemble will perform in Durban with
the Choir from the Sinikithemba HIV/AIDS Christian Care Center; the
KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra; soloists Stacey Almond, Pinkie Mtshali
and Derick Ellis; The Singers Company; Nateshwar Dance Company; Ukusina
Dance Troupe, and others.

3:00 p.m. Sunday, May 12: National Church Call to Condemn the
Stigmatization of HIV/AIDS Infected and Affected, Regina Mundi Catholic
Church, Soweto:

Janis and his ensemble join the Imilonji KaNtu Choir-- the Soweto community
choir that sang at Nelson Mandela's inauguration -- for this service of
music, prayer and commitment.  Local event organizer the South African
Council of Churches (SACC) is recognized worldwide for its involvement in
the struggle against apartheid. Regina Mundi Church is where many
anti-apartheid rallies and services were held. Church World Service, the
National Council of Churches and their 36 Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican
member denominations join with SACC in today's new struggles, including
efforts to destigmatize AIDS and extend compassion and services to HIV/AIDS
infected and affected.

Contacts: CWS, New York: Carol Fouke, (212) 870-2252/2227; news@ncccusa.org,
or Boston: Jan Dragin, (781) 925-1526, jdragin@gis.net. Soweto: Bernard
Spong, (011) (27) 11 726-7969 or mobile (011) (27) 82 345-3364;
bspong@pop.ibi.co.za. Durban: Sheelagh Antrobus, mobile (011) (27) 82
432-7446; sheelagh@netactive.co.za.  Janis/CWS Mobile: (011) (27)
82-858-9256.