Noah' Story

Mushimiyimana Noah's life has been anything but easy. Born in Rwanda in 1994, during the year of the genocide, Noah lives with five other AIDS orphans in a one-room house outside of Kigali. Today, Noah is 15 and the eldest of the children in his household, helping his grandmother pay rent and school fees for the others.

Noah has lived through rejection and stigma from his peers due to his HIV status, but hopes that through his music, he can educate others about HIV, helping to dismantle the stigma surrounding the disease, and bringing hope to all those who have gone through similar experiences. Today, Noah is a leader and an inspiration, but his journey towards inner strength was difficult. When Noah found out he was HIV positive, he understood his status to be a death sentence, and planned to quit school. He thought that since would die so soon, that school was pointless. Also, he didn't want to face the severe ostracism present at his school.

Today, with the help of lifesaving anti retroviral medications from Keep A Child Alive, Noah feels good, but it's still extremely hard for him to talk about his HIV status in Rwanda. Noah explains that "If I say I'm HIV positive, my friends will think I'm dying right away, and that will contaminate them, so they say 'Don't touch me' and kick me out of the group." Noah hopes that through his own success, he will show that HIV is only a death sentence if we let it be.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• keep a child alive
• noah
• american idol
• kca
• the black ball
• text alive
• give $5

[keepachi]

Thanks Queens2philly! Noah is the world's greatest! : )

[keepachi]

thank you all for your support!!!

[keepachi]

Thanks!

[keepachi]

You can find the song that Noah Performed on American Idol on Itunes. The name of the song is the "World's Greatest." All the proceeds from this song will also help children and families living with HIV/AIDS in Africa.

[DQ007]

Wow, awesome story and very inspiring!  It's great that he got to record... is there going to be some way to purchase the song (and hopefully more from him in the future)?

[weruleyc]

I love this kid! He is so amazing, his spirit and smile makes my heart flutter! Loved him on A.I. He will make it, may God bless him and his family!

[Swe3tkokanati]

LoVE you LOve you love you Noah may God bless and your family and best of luck with tah future...... you do have a great talent and also a great VOICE.... you are a fighter and a survivor and you do inspire me alot..........God bless you

[mangarason]

keep up Noah .

[Sydneymina]

He is amazing he wrote that song in one night!

[sugerbuger411]

i am friends wit keepachi and man so sad

[JackieSorenify]

sucha amazing boy aww!

[TheRStard]

oh dang, i feel sorry for him, it is time i move my ass and donate 5 dollars to this, i am so glad that there are founds like these to help families like him, you go noah:D you inspired me!!

[chaseatelier]

50 cent should sign him

[anaivanovicsfan]

When I heard him listen, i was about to cry

[georgiabulldog96]

he has one album sold when it comes out

[yhart01]

Why didn't I-Tunes have the video of this song and only the audio? I purchased the audio, but I would love to purchase this video through I-Tunes t o support Noah