Virginio Bruni-Tedeschi/UNESCO Intiative on Supporting EDUCAIDS in Southern Africa

The Virginio Bruni Tedeschi Foundation and UNESCO are working to educate children on HIV and AIDS in Southern Africa.

Focusing on the region hardest hit by HIV and AIDS in the world – specifically the countries of Angola, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland, the initiative will expand and bolster UNESCO’s existing work on the implementation of the EDUCAIDS framework.

The Initiative aims:
• to enable UNESCO to increase significantly the scope of its programming on HIV
and AIDS, particularly the expansion of the Global Initiative on Education and HIV & AIDS, EDUCAIDS, in Southern Africa,
• to engender a living and lasting memorial to Virginio Bruni Tedeschi, and
• at its core, to provide greater hope for children in the region.

For each country, the Initiative's intended results are:
• up to 100 schools will be mobilised with improved policy guidance and systems support,
• up to 1000 pre- and in-service teachers will be reached with improved policy and programme guidance and educator training and support, and
• up to 100,000 school children will be reached with improved curricula, content and learning materials on HIV and AIDS, and participate in activities to increase knowledge and reduce stigma and discrimination.

In September 2008, a five day workshop in Windhoek, Namibia, was organised to increase the capacity of field and staff partners to implement the Initiative. It brought together UNESCO staff and UN agencies and partners in the response to HIV and AIDS in the region including the national UNAIDS Secretariat, UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF.

Click here for a more detailed description of the Initiative.

EDUCAIDS Country Snapshots exist for Angola, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland.

• Start date: 05-12-2007   End date: 31-12-2009
• Lead Organization, Sector or Office: UNESCO Windhoek