GROVE CITY — Most people will never visit Africa, much less see first-hand how AIDS is affecting communities there.

But with help from East Main Presbyterian Church, part of Africa will visit the borough.

The free exhibit, "World Vision Experience: AIDS," will occupy 2,340 square feet of the Grove City YMCA October 12 through 15.

Put together by the Christian humanitarian organization World Vision, the simulated African village is slated to visit 80 cities during its national tour this year and next.

Grove City is the sixth stop on the East Coast tour, which beginning in January will occur simultaneously with a duplicate tour on the West Coast.

Currently, the exhibit is slated to return to Pennsylvania at two different times, said Jennifer Settle, a media spokesperson for World Vision. It will be in Beaver Falls in October of 2008 and in Philadelphia in November 2008.

Appealing to multiple senses, the display uses photographs, audio recordings and artifacts to catalogue the lives of four African chldren whose lives are affected by AIDS.

Authentic props are also used to recreate a clinic and other parts of communities where the children live.

"It's basically filling up the Grove City YMCA gym," said the Rev. Ian Noyes, associate pastor at East Main, which includes about 500 active members.

"As you go through the city you're introduced to the story of these children. You wear an MP3 player. There are pictures of them — things you can touch, genuine artifacts. ... At one point in the exhibit, you're invited to sit down on their bed."

With mostly larger cities selected as destinations, Noyes said he feels fortunate Grove City was chosen. But active participation in World Vision projects probably got the attention of the Washington-based agency, he added.

"This sort of came out of a unique story in the life our church," Noyes said, explaining a relationship with World Vision began in December 2005 when youths in his congregation set out to pay for a water well in Zambia.

Although the goal was to raise $12,000 for one well, the church raised $76,000 — enough for seven. By receiving matching funds from an anonymous donor, Noyes said the church was able to raise the funds, exceeding donations that typically come from larger congregations.

With input from church members who visited Zambia during the project, the East Main congregation was further inspired by needs overseas.

"We were basically trying to think of what we could do next," Noyes said. "I got the (application) to host this, potentially, on my desk the day it was due."

Although the church lacked sufficient space to host the exhibit on its own, the Grove City YMCA offered the gymnasium, cancelling some of its scheduled events and relocating others to the church.

"It's a real community partnership," Noyes said.

Although this AIDS exhibit is just beginning, it is based on a similar one hosted previously by World Vision.

Steve Gould, a 26-year member of the church, toured part of the previous version during a World Vision regional meeting in Pittsburgh.

Having also traveled to Zambia, Gould said he was taken by the authentic and compelling display.

"It was amazing, how I just felt I was back in Africa," Gould said.

"It was very realistic, very emotional. It was really an incredible experience — especially knowing it was the life of a real person."

AIDS, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, is an infectious disease of the immune system caused by HIV, or the human immunodeficiency virus.

According to World Vision literature, more than 90 percent of the world's HIV-infected children live in sub-Saharan Africa. By 2010, more than 25 million of them will be orphaned as a result of AIDS.

Literature will be available on site for those who wish to support World Vision.

Although exhibit admission is free, organizers ask that people request complimentary tickets online to help them manage the flow of visitors.

Reservations can be made by logging on to www.worldvisionexperience.org.

The exhibit will be open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Oct. 12 and 13, 1 to 11 p.m. Oct. 14 and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Oct 15.

<br>WHAT: "World Vision Experience: AIDS" exhibit, 2,340 square feet transformed to resemble African communities inhabited by four children living with AIDSWHEN: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Oct. 12 and 13, 1 to 11 p.m. Oct. 14 and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Oct 15.WHERE: Grove City YMCA, 543 E. Main St. Ext., Grove CityCOST: Admission is free, but tickets must be reserved by logging on to www.worldvisionexperience

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