mamaschalm-1

Jamaa (2011)

An emotive, authentic story about AIDS orphans in Africa.

Jamaa resonates with authenticity which I can attest to because I lived in Africa for 11 years. I also continue to be involved with two orphanages in Lesotho. The settings and characters in Jamaa ring true and unfortunately, the story is all too representative of reality for thousands of orphans. The film is a poignant representation of the challenges faced by young orphans and child-headed households when the oldest sibling is forced to take on responsibilities we can hardly imagine in the West. Jamaa also addresses their grief which is often overlooked. Another well-presented reality is the challenge to extended family members. Overall, this is an excellent film dealing with a subject many of us would rather not have brought home to us in such an emotional fashion. But it also offers the audience an opportunity for response through World Vision, one of the most effective and reputable organizations of its kind. Thank you for making this film.