FORWARD PLANNING NOTICE 1 DECEMBER 2006

15 MILLION TO JOIN GLOBAL LESSON TO FIGHT HIV/AIDS

Who? An estimated 15 MILLION children from across the world

What? will take part in the Lesson for Life, a 'lesson' taking place in schools and youth groups around the world on HIV, AIDS and the effect of the crisis on children

When? On World Aids Day, 1 December 2006

Where? In 60+ countries - from local communities and schools in Azerbaijan and the UK to youth groups and church groups in India. SEE TABLE BELOW FOR A SAMPLE OF COUNTRY AND REGIONAL LAUNCH DETAILS AND CONTACTS.

Why? Children are at the heart of the HIV and AIDS crisis and are also at the centre of the solution to it. The Lesson for Life gets children and their communities working together to give children affected by HIV and AIDS hope for the future.

The Global Movement for Children (GMC) is a worldwide coalition of organisations and groups that include children. It has worked with the World AIDS Campaign to create the Lesson for Life, a unique opportunity for children to engage in the response to the spread of HIV and AIDS and the support of those affected by the pandemic.

For more information contact:

GMC Executive Co-ordinator: Miquel de Paladella on +34 677 755 745 or mdepaladella@gmfc.org

Acting GMC international media officer: Mr. Jan Butter, jan_butter@wvi.org, Cell: +1-626-623-9449, Dir. Line: +1-212-355-4596 (GMT -5)

For national media contacts please see table below.

Notes to Editors

1. The Lesson for Life is an activity initiated by CARE, ENDA, the Latin American and Caribbean Caucus, NetAid, Oxfam, PLAN, Save the Children, UNICEF and World Vision in support of the GMC and as part of the World AIDS Campaign. See www.lessonforlife.org.

2. The following is a small sample of Lesson for Life launch activities happening around the world. For a full list of countries involved see the website: http://www.gmfc.org

COUNTRY EXAMPLES OF ACTIVITIES CONTACT

Ecuador The Lesson for Life Nacional Coalition is a permanent body defending the rights of children affected by AIDS and promoting prevention initiatives. It has led a campaign on vertical transmission together with the ministry of Health. In addition to organising Lessons for Life permanently throughout the year, the coalition is developing a guide for carers of HIV positive children addressed mainly to parents and families. They will also produce a video with testimonials from families and carers as well as a summary of the legislation in place to protect the rights of children affected Ximena Abarca ximena.abarca@plan-international.org +593-2-2444941

Georgia On December 1 local authority staff, teachers, medical personnel and community members will be invited an event where nine youth peer educators (age 15 - 18 years) will discuss HIV and AIDS transmission stigma, prevention methods and advocacy. There will be an interactive Q&A session conducted by peer educators. There will be a play about HIV and AIDS and a painting competition Gerardo Fernandez gerardo_fernandez@wvi.org

Tiko Suladze tiko_suladze@wvi.org +995 32 43 35 49/50/51/52 +995 77 45 17 80

Ghana Children will be guided to develop and present key messages to policy makers including Chiefs, women groups, and representatives of District Assemblies and Ghana Education Service among others. All of these will be invited to the National durbar on 1st December 2006. A night procession and a Christian and Muslim prayer session will be organised in Winneba. Gloria Odei Gloria.odei@plan-international.org +233 243 178009 (mobile)/ +233 21 773370

Malawi The national school system will organise lessons for life all around the country, promoted through the District Education Managers. In addition, the National Youth Council will mobilise out-of-school young people to conduct Lessons in their communities. It is expected to engage over 200,000 children. Kennedy Warren +265 01 770 770 kwarren@unicef.org

Paraguay A large coalition of NGOs and government agencies coordinates activities for adolescents and youth mainly focused at preventing transmission and the integral care and support for those affected. 130 children presented their initiatives in August to the National Parliament, organised a rock concert and are now meeting with the appropriate parliament commissions to ensure the necessary budget allocations for the fight against AIDS in the country and the support to affected children. Adolescents are also creating a network of sexual health and life skills trainers to reach out hundreds of thousands of children and youth all along the country. These young trainers (approximately 5,000 expected) will continue to train others and run Lesson for Life in schools, churches, and informal spaces. Cristina Guillen cristina.guillen@plan-international.org +595 21 615174

Peru In Peru, a coalition is creating a network of young trainers and young community leaders to run Lessons for Life around the country. These trainers not only organise Lessons for children but also for decision makers and opinion leaders. A Lesson is being organised in the Congress of the Republic. Children can also participate in the Lesson for Life via an online lesson, and at a fair being organised on December 1st in Lima. Sandra Contreras Sandra_Contreras@wvi.org, Tele-faxes (511) 5136500

Senegal Led by the CONAFE, the Senegalese coalition will organise Lessons for Life engaging over one million children in schools and non-formal education centres such as Coranic schools, or 'Formation Coin de Rue' which are lessons delivered on the street to children not attending any school. Cheikh Amadou Bamba Diaw, bambadiaw@yahoo.fr + 221 867 40 30

Sri Lanka Programmes are planned with the participation of children, policy makers of Ministries of Education & Health, Nation programmes for prevention & control of STD,HIV AIDS & religious leaders. Silicone bands have been produced saying: 'I am responsible for my behaviour' as well as metal badges with red ribbons. These events will be taken place in schools, children's homes belonging to the Department of Probation & childcare services, prisons, and police stations for the police officers. Genita Perera Genita.Perera@plan-international.org +94-112-588185

Swaziland In Swaziland, the Lesson for Life is considered the key empowerment tool for youth and children on the response to AIDS. In co-operation with the World AIDS Campaign and UNAIDS, Lessons for Life are being promoted within the national school system and with tens of NGOs working with the informal sector. Ncamsile Tfwala Ncamsile_tfwala@wvi.org +268 4221665

UK Kingsbury High School in North West London will be holding Lesson for Life classes across a week in the run up to World Aids Day and on the day itself. The age group of children involved will be 11-14. They have 300 pupils in each year and there are roughly 38 classes that will be affected across the whole week. Esther Williams esther.williams@worldvision.org.uk +44 (0) 1908 244418 +44 (0) 7876 503978

Vietnam The Vietnam National Coalition will cooperate with Vietnam Television to organise a Forum at National Level in which children, young people and policy makers will be invited to share the progress on HIV/AIDS prevention, review the achievement of government commitment toward treatment for children with HIV/ADIS and look back how stigma on young people especially on children infected and affected with HIV/AIDS decreased or not. The Forum will provide an opportunity for children to question policy makers about their commitments by raising questions written on the HIV/AIDS red ribbons. At the provincial, district and commune levels, the coalition will collaborate with schools, Young Media Clubs, Health Departments, Commune Councils to organise the Lesson for Life (LFL). Prior to the LFL, children and young people will work in groups to discuss and plan activities, set up messages to be sent to policy makers. The National Coalition will develop a follow-up mechanism to monitor the government's policy and commitment on HIV/AIDS issues. t on HIV/AIDS issues. t on HIV/AIDS issues. t on HIV/AIDS issues. Nguyen Thuy Hang +84 4 8220661/Ext.23 Hang.nguyenthuy@plan-international.org

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