On World AIDS Day 2010, Education International invites teachers and students around the world to spend "One Hour on AIDS". Building on the success of last year, EI hopes that the lesson proposed in the ‘One hour on AIDS’ activity kit will be taught in thousands of schools and union offices worldwide. The idea is simple, the message is clear: teachers have a central role in raising awareness about HIV and AIDS. World AIDS Day is an ideal opportunity to get involved. Start by taking one hour to talk about HIV and AIDS on 1 December!
Download the 'One Hour on AIDS' toolkit today!
Please click on the links below to download the toolkit, in PDF format, in the language of your choice.
What is World AIDS Day, and how can teachers make a difference?
World AIDS Day was initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1988, and is recognised throughout the world as a key day to mobilise resources to combat HIV and AIDS, increase awareness of the disease and fight stigma and prejudice. It is an opportunity to remember and express solidarity with those living with and affected by HIV and AIDS.
Teachers have a key role to play in the global campaign to reverse the spread of HIV and AIDS. With no cure in sight, education, the ‘social vaccine’, is crucial to prevention and to combating HIV/AIDS.
AIDS has had a serious impact on the education sector worldwide. It is essential that teachers stand together to fight the disease, to protect our colleagues, our children and our future.
Read about the World AIDS Day advocacy of teachers and their unions in 2007 and 2008:
What action does EI propose?
Education International encourages its affiliates to spend "One Hour on AIDS" on Wednesday 1 December 2010. To this end, EI has designed a 'One Hour on AIDS' activity kit for teachers to help them raise awareness amongst their students about HIV and AIDS on World AIDS Day which includes:
- "One hour on AIDS" lesson plan, to support participants to explore their knowledge and express their views on HIV and AIDS in the classroom and in union office
- "Take the Lead on AIDS" poster which suggests ways that teachers and students can take action.
Why Only One Hour?
The idea is not to restrict teachers teaching about HIV/AIDS to only one hour per year, but to use the slogan as a guiding theme and the activity kit designed by EI as a starting point for further activities throughout the year. Teachers unions also show great creativity in organising events to mark World AIDS Day in schools which often reach out to the surrounding community.
Tell us what you did!
Please send any photos, press cuttings or weblinks showing how your union got involved and how teachers are making a difference through HIV prevention education. You can send material or contact us at efaids@ei-ie.org.
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