Discussion Guide for

“Circle of
Friends”
After viewing “Circle of Friends,” use this guide to research the global HIV and AIDS crisis,
reflect on how the video impacted you, recall what you learned, respond in tangible ways, reach
out in life-changing ways, resolve to follow God’s Word, and rely on His goodness and power.

Research
» HIV (H UM A N IMMUNO DEFIC IENC Y V IR US) uses white blood cells as hosts.
When those cells are destroyed, the body’s immune system begins to fail and AIDS
(acquired immune deficiency syndrome) sets in. From this point on, opportunistic
illnesses such as tuberculosis and pneumonia are able to infect the body with virtually
no resistance, eventually leading to death. Antiretroviral drugs do not cure HIV and
AIDS, but reduce suffering and can prolong life.

» HIV A ND A I DS DESTA B ILIZ E families and entire societies. Families lose income
when breadwinners die or become too ill to work, resulting in lack of food, medicine,
and other basic needs. Children are forced to work and as a result may forfeit their
education. Countries or regions lose a large percentage of their working population,
which results in lowered food production and fewer professionals in vital roles such as
education and medicine.

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» A N E S T IM AT ED 33 MILLIO N people were living with HIV in 2007. Every day
nearly 7,400 people become infected with HIV and more than 5,400 people die from AIDS.

» C H IL DR E N O R PHA NED or made vulnerable by AIDS are at risk of malnutrition,

illness, abuse, child labor, and sexual exploitation; these factors, in turn, increase their
own vulnerability to HIV infection. They also suffer the stigma and discrimination often
associated with HIV and AIDS and may be denied education, work, housing, and other
basic needs as a result.

» S IN C E T H E B EGINNING O F T HE EPIDEMIC , 25 million people have died from

AIDS-related causes.

» S UB-S A HA RA N A FR IC A remains the region most heavily affected by HIV, accounting

for 67 percent of all people living with HIV and for 75 percent of AIDS deaths in 2007.

» W O M E N A CC O UNT for nearly half of all people living with HIV worldwide, and more
than half of HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa.

» Y O UN G P E OPLE, A GE 15-24 Y EA R S, A C C O UNT for an estimated 45 percent of

new HIV infections worldwide.

» GL O B A L LY T HE NUMB ER O F C HILDR EN younger than 15 years living with HIV

increased from 1.6 million in 2001 to 2.0 million in 2007. Almost 90 percent live in sub-
Saharan Africa.

» E S TA BL IS H ED IN 2003, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)

is the largest international health initiative dedicated to a specific disease. The three
goals of PEPFAR are to treat at least 3 million people, prevent 12 million new
infections, and care for 12 million people, including 5 million orphans and vulnerable
children, by 2013.

(The above statistics are from the UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic, 2008)

Reflect
IM A GINE Y O U F O U ND out you were HIV-positive. How would you respond? Where would
you go for support? What practical effects would this news have on your daily life and your future
plans?

HO W W O UL D Y O U C HA R A C T ER IZ E the general attitude where you live toward HIV and

AIDS and those it affects?

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A F T E R WAT C HING T HESE ST O R IES of tragedy and resilience, how has your attitude
changed toward those living with HIV and AIDS? Toward those whose family members are living
with or have died from HIV and AIDS?

Recall
C H IL DR E N IN NT H O NDO , MA LAWI , dream of becoming doctors, teachers, pilots, and more.
Why is going to school so important in communities like Nthondo? What obstacles to getting an
education arise when they or a family member are living with HIV and AIDS?

L IK E BE NS O N A ND B ENWELL, whose father died from AIDS, millions of youth have lost
“their guide, their leader” due to HIV and AIDS. Using examples from the video, discuss the many
paths a young person’s life could take after losing a parent or primary caretaker.

T H E V IDE O M A K ES C LEA R that awareness and openness about HIV and AIDS can create
positive change in any country. Using the following examples of World Vision programs, discuss
what made people want to get involved, what they do, and the effect it is having.

In Malawi – peer education, support groups, home-based care, childcare centers for orphans
In Romania – Kids’ Club

W H AT C O NC E R NS DO ES Georgiana from Romania have about telling her friends she is HIV-
positive? What do people risk when they are open about their disease? What is being and needs to be
done to break down the walls of fear and discrimination in Romania and other countries?

Respond
W E S AW IN T HE V I DEO how resources, support, and friendship give individuals hope in the
face of HIV and AIDS. For example, Kunthata makes donuts with friends to earn extra money,
orphans now attend school with the help of World Vision funds and volunteers, and Mihai finds
encouragement going to Kids’ Club summer camp. What can you do to give someone hope? In your
neighborhood? In another country?

IM P R O V IN G H IV A ND A IDS EDUC AT IO N is crucial to not only slowing the spread of the

virus but also breaking down stigma and discrimination against people who are HIV-positive. How
will you contribute by sharing accurate information about HIV and AIDS with your family, peers,
and community?

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Reach Out
Consider making a difference in the following ways:

» S P O N S O R A C HILD living in an AIDS-affected community for just about $1

a day through World Vision. You’ll provide your sponsored child with access to critical
basics, such as clean water, improved nutrition, healthcare, and education. Your gifts
will provide hope to your sponsored child and his or her family and community as they
face the daily reality of HIV and AIDS. For sponsorship information, visit
www.worldvisionresources.com and click on the “sponsor a child” icon.

» B E C O M E A N A DV O C AT E for children affected by HIV and AIDS. Urge Congress

and the Administration to respond to the crisis by increasing U.S. funding to combat the
global HIV and AIDS crisis and ensuring children and their needs are not overlooked.

» E NC O UR A G E Y O UR C HUR C H or other group to host a Caregiver Kit assembly.

These kits are given to World Vision volunteer caregivers in Asia, Latin America, and
Africa who are caring for people living with HIV and AIDS. Each kit equips caregivers
with a year’s worth of the practical materials they need to improve and prolong lives
while preventing further infection. For more information go to
www.worldvisionresources.com, and click on the “programs and events” icon.

» V IS IT T HE WO R LD V ISIO N EXPER IENC E: A IDS. This interactive, walk-through

exhibit gives you a glimpse into the life of a child affected by HIV and AIDS in Africa.
Visit www.worldvisionexperience.org for dates and locations near you.

Resolve
»

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

— J O H N 15: 12

» Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and
oppressed.
— PS ALM 82: 3

»

But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the
parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts
should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with
it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ,
and each one of you is a part of it.
— 1 CO RI N TH I A N S 1 2 : 2 4 - 2 7

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» For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and
awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the
fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.
— D EU TERO N OM Y 1 0 : 1 7 - 1 8

»

God sets the lonely in families …
— PS ALM 68: 6

Rely
Pray that:

» T H E Y O UNG PEO PLE we met in the film, and others living with HIV and AIDS, will
not be consumed by fear and anxiety for the future but receive opportunities to find joy and
peace in Jesus. Pray also that they will not feel alone but find someone who provides them
with support and friendship.

» FA M ILY M EMB ER S A ND FR IENDS caring for loved ones with HIV and AIDS will be
strengthened and find the support they need.

» GO D W IL L CO NT INUE to use young people like Yosofati as leaders to educate

others about prevention, transmission, and treatment of HIV and AIDS, diminish ignorance
and discrimination against those living with the virus, and create positive change in their
communities.

» T H E M IL L IO NS O F PEO PLE suffering without medication will be given access to the

antiretroviral drugs and other medications they need, and that leaders, policymakers,
doctors, and others involved would find solutions to the problems associated with HIV and
AIDS.

The Scripture in this resource is from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright ©
1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

During the preparation of this resource, all citations, facts, figures, Internet URLs, and other cited information were
verified for accuracy. World Vision Resources has made every attempt to reference current and valid sources, but we
cannot guarantee the content of any source and we are not responsible for any changes that may have occurred since
our verification. If you find an error in, or have a question or concern about, any of the information or sources listed
within, please contact World Vision Resources.

Copyright © 2010 World Vision, Inc., P.O. Box 9716, Mail Stop 321, Federal Way, WA 98063-9716,
wvresources@worldvision.org. All rights reserved.

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 About World Vision
W O R L D V IS IO N is a Christian humanitarian organization
dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities
worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of
poverty and injustice. Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, World
Vision serves alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of
God’s unconditional love for all people. We see a world where each
child experiences “fullness of life” as described in John 10:10. And we
know this can be achieved only by addressing the problems of poverty
and injustice in a holistic way. That’s how World Vision is unique:
We bring 60 years of experience in three key areas needed to help
children and families thrive: emergency relief, long-term development,
and advocacy. And we bring all of our skills across many areas of
expertise to each community we work in, enabling us to care for
children’s physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Partnering with World Vision provides tangible ways to honor

God and put faith into action. By working, we can make a lasting
difference in the lives of children and families who are struggling to
overcome poverty. To find out more about how you can help, visit
www.worldvision.org.

About World Vision Resources

E NDING GL O B A L PO V ERT Y and injustice begins with education:
understanding the magnitude and causes of poverty, its impact on
human dignity, and our connection to those in need around the world.

World Vision Resources is the publishing ministry of World Vision.

World Vision Resources educates Christians about global poverty,
inspires them to respond, and equips them with innovative resources
to make a difference in the world.

For more information about our

resources, contact:
World Vision Resources
Mail Stop 321
P.O. Box 9716
Federal Way, WA 98063-9716
Fax: 253-815-3340
wvresources@worldvision.org
www.worldvisionresources.com

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