“If this epidemic is to be halted, people must get the information they need to protect themselves, and those infected must have access to treatment. Our project focuses on both aspects,” says AFT president Edward J. McElroy.

Over the past three years, the AFT and its members have raised more than $185,000 to support union-led prevention and treatment efforts throughout sub-Saharan Africa. More than 15,000 African teachers have participated in AFT-sponsored training courses.

The South Africa project includes training on HIV/AIDS prevention and healthy standards of living for 7,500 representatives of South Africa’s teachers unions. It aims to eliminate stigma in the workplace based on misinformation about the disease.

The project also will encourage regular testing and treatment, and provide anti-retroviral medications to 2,300 teachers and their spouses through private physicians who are members of the South Africa Medical Association.

Funded by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the South Africa project earmarks $1.9 million for training and $1.5 million for anti-retroviral treatments.

Tax-deductible contributions to the AFT-Africa AIDS Campaign should be sent to AFT Educational Foundation, 555 New Jersey Ave. N.W., Washington, DC 20001. Checks should be made out to the AFT Educational Foundation.

A study by the RAND Corporation backs up the AFT’s contention that high-quality early childhood education programs have long-term benefits for both children and society. In January, RAND issued a study which found that effective early childhood programs return more to society in benefits than they cost, including enabling youngsters to lead more successful lives and be less dependent on future government assistance.

Well-designed programs for disadvantaged children age 4 and younger can
produce economic benefits ranging from $1.26 to $17 for each $1 spent on the programs, the study says.

The RAND study focused on early childhood programs that are typically considered intervention programs and target primarily children living in poverty or in a single-parent household. It found that early childhood programs can keep children out of expensive special education programs; reduce the number of students who fail and must repeat a grade in school; increase high school graduation rates; reduce juvenile crime; reduce the number of youngsters who wind up on welfare as adults; increase the number of students who go to college; and help adults who participated in the programs as children get better jobs and earn higher incomes.

The study, “Early Childhood Interventions: Proven Results, Future Promise,” can be ordered from RAND by sending an e-mail to order@rand.org or calling toll-free 877/584-8642.

Educating students about career opportunities and the contributions of the labor movement is the primary aim of the “Labor Education in the Schools” project.

In December, working closely with the Washington Teachers Union and the D.C. Public Schools, the project invited seniors from Washington, D.C.’s Ballou and Anacostia high schools to the AFL-CIO headquarters. In addition to touring the federation’s headquarters, the students heard presentations from AFL-CIO staff and labor leaders, such as Fred Mason, president of the AFL-CIO’s Maryland State Federation, and Washington Teachers Union president George Parker. They also received information on internships and apprenticeships.

“This is a great opportunity for students to expand their education beyond the walls of their schools,” says AFT president Edward J. McElroy.

“Labor Education in the Schools” is a joint project of the AFT, the NEA and the National Black Caucus of State Legislators’ Labor Roundtable.