World AIDS Day: Lesson for Life 2005 (1 December 2005)

Summary: This year, on World AIDS Day, millions of children around the world will take part in a 'Lesson for Life': a 'lesson' on HIV, AIDS and the effect of the crisis on children. So far, 46 countries are involved, and an estimated 4 million children are taking part in the Lesson, organised by the Global Movement for Children, and supported by the World AIDS Campaign and the Global Call to Action against Poverty.

News from the Lesson for Life 2005

The Lesson for Life, the ‘lesson’ on children, HIV, AIDS taking place simultaneously on 1 December 2005, is taking off around the world! 46 countries so far are involved, and an estimated 4 million children are so far taking part in this Lesson, organised by the Global Movement for Children and supported by the World AIDS Campaign and the Global Call to Action against Poverty (The Lesson for Life, the ‘lesson’ on children, HIV, AIDS taking place simultaneously on 1 December 2005, is taking off around the world! 46 countries so far are involved, and an estimated 4 million children are so far taking part in this Lesson, organised by the Global Movement for Children and supported by the World AIDS Campaign and the Global Call to Action against Poverty (http://www.gmfc.org/hivaids).

During the Lesson for Life 2005, children will be learning about and planning how to take action in their communities on HIV/AIDS and children’s rights. From putting on a play to contacting the media, supporting a local family to conducting a survey of the community, children all over the world will use the Lesson for Life to take the crisis in to their own hands. To contact your country co-ordinator and find out how you can join in see the GMC website at this address: http://www.gmfc.org/index.php/gmc6/content/view/full/642.

Read on to find out news from four countries involved in the Lesson for Life!

In Malawi the Lesson for Life has already begun! The launch of the campaign took place in September at a Lesson for Life involving four schools and the local community. Songs, plays, poems and music ‘spiced up’ the Lesson, which was covered by the national TV station and a radio station, as well as community TV. Malawi is planning to engage 1,000 secondary schools and 500,000 young people in the Lesson for Life this year. They also hope to reach more children through community out-reach activities before, during and after 1 December 2005.

In Northern Ireland the Lesson for Life coalition is inviting young people to join them in a special poverty and HIV/AIDS briefing day for politicians from all the political parties in Northern Ireland. During the day they will be briefed by organisations on their view of the progress that has been made in 2005 on fighting poverty. They will then meet representatives of each of the parties, and put together a briefing sheet for each one. Students will have an opportunity to experience at first hand how a political party works, and how it is possible to lobby politicians to make sure that child rights issues are protected.

The Sri Lanka Lesson for Life programme is continuing throughout this year after a successful launch of the campaign in 2004. Posters and leaflets have been translated in to local languages – Sinhala and Tamil. The group has worked with young people to lead the project, who are communicating with their peers through drama, drawing and debates. These children are working with other children on the content of the Lesson for Life on 1 December: from organising a creating writing campaign, to having a dress-up or dress-down day, sponsored games, releasing balloons and organising radio and media coverage of the day.

Children involved in the Lesson for Life in Tanzania have been lobbying candidates campaigning for the 30 October general election about children’s issues, especially HIV/AIDS. They have worked with representatives on the Tanzania Junior Council who have prepared a ‘Voices of Children’ document that summarises eleven children’s issues, HIV and AIDS being on the priority list, which they want leaders/politicians to address.

So far, the Lesson for Life is happening in: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Benin, Brazil, Burundi, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, DRC, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Indonesia, Kenya, Kosovo, Laos, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Peru, Poland, Russia, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkmenistan, UK, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam and Zambia.

Some great stories have already been sent in from a few countries. Let us know what you are doing by emailing [email protected]!

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 as part of the World AIDS Campaign and the Global Call to Action against Poverty.