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Surafel Eshetu statement
(5th grade student at ECF)

Danny Glover statement

Kenenisa Bekele statement

Berhane Adere statement
NEWS

25 November 2004
Danny Glover, Berhane Adere and Kenisa Bekele encourage students to fight HIV and AIDS.

Alelitu, Ethiopia- Yesterday Danny Glover, Berhane Adere and Kenisa Bekele went to a school supported by the Ethiopian Children’s Fund to discuss HIV/AIDS and how students can raise awareness and slow the spread of the disease. This was the official launching of the Lessons for Life Campaign in Ethiopia. This year more than 150,000 students will discuss HIV/AIDS and how they can help to prevent the spread of the disease. The discussions will be held in more than 300 schools throughout Ethiopia on 1 December 2004 to commemorate World Aids Day.

The celebrities helped launch the campaign and discussed with children about how they could make an impact on the future of their communities and Ethiopia as a whole. Actor Danny Glover and Olympic Gold Medallists Berhane Adere and Kenisa Bekele are Good Will Ambassadors for UNICEF and committed to making children a priority now and in the future. Danny Glover emphasized that children need discipline, concentration, passion, faith in oneself and perseverance to deal with the HIV/AIDS pandemic. He mentioned that we have to “respond” to HIV/AIDS and that “our history will be determined by how hard we fight HIV/AIDS.” Athlete Berhane pointed out that girls and women were more affected by the virus. Therefore, a concerted effort needs to be made to empower girls and women and educate men and boys about HIV/AIDS. She advocated for children to take part in the Lessons for Life campaign as one means to fight the disease.

Throughout Ethiopia, children will mobilize to educate their peers, families and community about HIV/AIDS. The Lessons for Life campaign is a joint initiative between The African Child Policy Forum, Christian Relief and Development Association (CRDA), HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office (National and Addis Ababa branch), Hope for African Children Initiative, Plan International, Save the Children, UNICEF and World Vision.