The AIDS epidemic is often thought to be an affliction that only affects and infects the developing world, embedded in abject poverty. Such is not the case. AIDS knows no boundaries—geographical, economic, gender, age. Our teachers in the Bronx and Miami are as challenged by the plight of HIV and AIDS as their colleagues in classrooms in Kenya and Haiti and Indonesia.

And while there may be different strains of the virus and nuances to the socio-economic local stimuli, the results are the same and the prescription for fighting AIDS is the same.

AIDS kills. Once infected, an individual may follow certain treatment patterns and prescriptions for managing AIDS-related diseases but, in the end, it kills. There is no vaccine to prevent the infection or treatment to cure it.

The key to preventing HIV and AIDS is education. Education about how the virus is transmitted, education about behavior that puts a person at risk and education about the need to have a periodic HIV test in order to know your status. Knowing your status is at the heart of healthy living and preventing the spread of the infection.

AIDS education in the U.S.

Education about HIV and AIDS both in the union hall and the classroom has been AFT's goal since the disease was documented in the early 80's. For more than 25 years American teachers have been dealing with AIDS in schools. AFT has invested staff time and resources into educating its members about the risks of HIV infection, promoting early detection and treatment to prevent the culminating AIDS diagnosis. It supported and assisted in the development of curriculum to educate students and staff in the public schools about the transmission, prevention and treatment of the infection. It helped to formulate the Bloodborne Pathogen Standards adopted by the U.S. Occupation Safety and Health Administration.

AFT-Africa AIDS program

When teacher unions in Africa found that AIDS was decimating the ranks of their members and destabilizing schools and communities, they called on the AFT to assist in combating the scourge of AIDS in schools. AFT's members responded with contributions to the Africa AIDS Campaign and through this support, AIDS prevention education initiatives were launched with teacher unions and their members throughout Zimbabwe, Kenya, Swaziland and South Africa.

Former AFT Secretary-Treasurer Nat LaCour launches AIDS partnership in Pretoria, South Africa.	AFT vice president Marilyn Stewart addresses teachers, students and administrators in SOWETO, South Africa.

The AFT's officers participate on-the-ground in all of these efforts, as do AFT staff and technical teams. Working with its African union partners, AFT leadership has been successful in attracting financial support from the U.S. government for the Africa part of the program. The AFT is currently involved in soliciting government support for project activities in the U.S.

Only with integrated comprehensive global education can we counter-attack the AIDS plight. AFT Executive Vice President Loretta Johnson, meeting with the African union delegations at the 2008 AFT Convention said, "We need you as much as you need us - we must work hand in hand. While we appreciate the financial support of all of our governments in our efforts to fight AIDS, we as teachers know that we need to learn from each other about what has worked and has not worked in our classrooms, in our schools, in our communities... This is a plague that can destroy our education systems. For those most in need, who have no alternative, we must work together."

Connecting students across the globe

Following Johnson's mandate, AFT Vice President Laura Rico proceeded to link the faculty and students of Artesia High School in California's ABC school district with the faculty and students at Umlazi Technical High School in Durban, South Africa in an HIV and AIDS awareness and education project.

Students at Umlazi Technical High School in South Africa sing a 'praise song' in hearing the news of their school partnership.	Students at Artesia High School in Calif. prepare their submissions to be able to take part in the school partnership.

In October 2008 Laura and the students launched the project at the Umlazi school. Students learn from each other using e-mail for intra-personal research on the impact of AIDS in their communities and what they are doing to prevent the spread of the deadly disease. Included in the project will be student exchanges for site visits to each others schools and community teen education centers.

This web site provides information on the AIDS pandemic in the United States and Africa, its impact on education and tools that may be used in AIDS education campaigns and awareness projects.