When President Bush left office in January, his press secretary, Dana Perino, had her next venture lined up. It wouldn’t be a speaking tour, or writing a book, or starting a consulting firm. She would go to Africa to volunteer and see how a group of Christians are bringing hope to people affected by HIV and AIDS.
Perino spent two weeks with Living Hope (http://www.livinghope.co.za) in Cape Town, South Africa. She recently appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union with John King” to discuss her experiences. “You know, over the years at the White House, you become kind of hardened,” Perino told King. “And I had felt that way, a little bit, but it wasn't my true heart. And when we went to Africa in February of 2008 with President Bush, I realized that this is what I want to do. I want to come back and try to help in some small way.”
Perino showed video clips of Living Hope’s Children’s Club, an after-school program that gives kids a time of fun and learning in a safe environment. She also told the story of Khumi Morare (http://www.livingway.co.za/khumi.html), a woman who, after nearly dying of HIV-related complications, now runs a successful sewing business and is training other women in her craft.
The entire CNN clip can be viewed at http://edition.cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2009/04/13/sotu.dana.perino.cnn?iref=videosearch.
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