VH1 Documentary Highlights Ashley Judd’s, India.Arie’s Visits to Africa, HIV/AIDS-Related Work
"Tracking the Monster: Ashley Judd and India.Arie Confront AIDS in Africa," a 90-minute documentary airing Tuesday on VH1, chronicles the artists' trips to Kenya and Madagascar, the New York Daily News reports. For the film, Judd, an actress and global ambassador for YouthAIDS, and India.Arie, an R&B singer and national ambassador for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, each worked as volunteers on local projects that receive funding from the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. According to the Daily News, Judd worked as a peer educator with local YouthAIDS staff in Madagascar to teach commercial sex workers and adolescents about HIV testing and prevention. India.Arie assisted community health workers at the Kenya Network of Women with AIDS, which provides food and medical services to 4,500 HIV-positive residents, including children who have had at least one parent die of AIDS-related causes. "There are some things that you don't understand unless you see. Once I got to Africa, I understood why I had to see it," India.Arie said, adding, "I know I have to help. ... I totally get it. It's profound already in more ways than I can possibly explain" (Guthrie, New York Daily News, 8/21). A photo gallery with images from the artists' journeys to Africa, public service announcements from the Global Fund, HIV/AIDS-related quizzes and links to related resources are available online on the VH1 Web site. The documentary is scheduled to air Aug. 23 at 8 p.m. ET (VH1 release, 8/23).
NPR's "News & Notes with Ed Gordon" on Monday included an interview with Judd and India.Arie about the documentary (Gordon, "News & Notes with Ed Gordon," NPR, 8/22). The complete segment is available online in RealPlayer. A video excerpt from the documentary is available online in RealPlayer.
