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It's been a long road since my first trip to Africa, the trip that totally changed my life. The direction of my life. And I was young and unsure of what I'd find, but I went there with a desire to learn and to understand. And I'll never forget the children there. I'll never forget the way that their mothers looked at me for answers. Really, it burned an impression in my soul. They knew that I could help them, and they... they... they expected me to. And at that point, I knew that I had to. So, I'll never forget the time that I spent talking with teenagers in Soweto, just gathered around, all of us chilling, you know, about their lives and the futures that they dared to dream of, in spite of the fact that they were AIDS orphans and that they didn't know where their paths would lead. I mean, it was so deep to see their determination and they were so full of just showing the world who they are going to be and who they have become and the love for each other. So, that spirit of Soweto shone through the tragedy. You know, you don't just shake it off, and I... I... I definitely couldn't.

Let's follow Alicia Keys...

It's been a long road / since my first trip to Africa, / the trip that / totally changed my life. / The direction of my life. // And I was / young and unsure of what I'd find, / but I went there / with a desire to learn and to understand. // And I'll never forget / the children there. // I'll never forget the way / that their mothers looked at me for answers. // Really, it burned an impression in my soul. // They knew that I could help them, / and they... they... they expected me to. // And at that point, / I knew that I had to. // So, / I'll never forget the time that I spent / talking with teenagers in Soweto, / just gathered around, / all of us chilling, / you know, / about their lives / and the futures that they dared to dream of, / in spite of the fact / that they were AIDS orphans / and that they didn't know / where their paths would lead. // I mean, / it was / so deep to see their determination / and they were so full of / just / showing the world who they are going to be / and who they have become / and the love for each other. // So, / that spirit of / Soweto shone through the tragedy. // You know, / you don't just shake it off, / and I... I... I definitely couldn't. //

Let's read...

So, when I think about Africa today, I think about its vibrant youth. I think about the fast-growing economies. I think about the rich culture and the talent and creativity. But there's something that's... that's not right in this picture. It's not right that the same people that first inspired me to join this movement and to join the fight against AIDS are still disproportionately affected and impacted by it. And it's not right that so many children do not have access to treatment. That's seven out of ten. You know, my sons could be one of those children. It's not right that AIDS is the number one killer of adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa. And it's definitely not right that girls are infected eight more times often than boys. So, for Africa to really have a chance to continue what it started, the futuristic Africa that we all hope for, we have to get HIV out of the way. And so, 12 years on, and our work in Africa continues, bringing us together in this room right now, with all a mission, with all a purpose, and all full of intention. And so, please enjoy the evening and the music and the company of so many incredible people. And please be as generous as you can, because the funds that are raised tonight are so critical in the work that we do and so critical to getting us closer to the end.

Let's follow Alicia Keys...

So, / when I think about Africa today, / I think about / its vibrant youth. // I think about / the fast-growing economies. // I think about the rich culture / and the talent and creativity. // But there's something that's... / that's not right in this picture. // It's not right / that the same people that / first inspired me / to join this movement and to join the fight against AIDS / are still / disproportionately affected / and impacted by it. // And it's not right that so many children do not have access to treatment. // That's seven out of ten. / You know, / my sons could be / one of those children. // It's not right that AIDS is the number one killer of adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa. // And it's definitely not right that girls / are infected eight more times often than boys. // So, / for Africa to really have a chance to continue / what it started, / the futuristic Africa / that we all hope for, / we have to get HIV out of the way. // And so, / 12 years on, / and our work in Africa continues, / bringing us together in this room right now, / with all a mission, / with all a purpose, / and all full of intention. // And so, / please enjoy the evening / and the music / and the company of so many incredible people. // And please / be as generous as you can, / because the funds that are raised tonight / are so critical / in the work that we do / and so critical / to getting us closer to the end.