Chanda's Secrets

I hope I'm not biased, but most Africans seem to have low moral standards when it comes to matrimony and commitment. When their spouse is dead, they instantly get married to another person. (Maybe it's because women don't have jobs and totally depend on men.) Most people are depicted as promiscuous, and thus AIDS prevails. What is worse is that they don't want an AIDS patient to be around them since the sick person brings stigma to the community. There's no difference even though the patient is their family member or relative.
Poverty and short life span are likely to cause orphans. Parentless kids have no means to make their living but to go to the streets. I'm just grateful of not being born in Africa. There, but for the grace of God, go I.

Chanda's mother get married three times to different men. Otherwise, she can't earn her living with her young kids from previous marriages. The second stepfather rapes Chanda. The last stepfather never takes care of his family and enjoys himself at a local bar. Chanda's little sister dies from unknown disease and then her mother gets gradually weakened. Chanda's best friend, Esther gets infected with AIDS from her prostitution. Chanda is worried about being HIV positive because of the rape.
Bright Chanda can't concentrate on studies at school because she has to take care of the sick people close to her. Other people in the community are callous and turn their back on Chanda's family and Esther. Her mother leaves her family to die somewhere else, but Chanda brings her mother home and helps her rest in peace.
The last scene where Chanda stands up for her mother/Esther is really touching. "If Mama's going to die, she's going to die at home, surrounded by family who love her. I'm tired of lies and hiding and being afraid. I'm not ashamed of AIDS! I'm ashamed of being ashamed!"