In the city of Mamelodi, South Africa the American embassy helped establish a program to generate more reading and AIDS/HIV awareness among citizens. The opening and dedication of project is set for later October or November of this year, 2008. Citizens can choose from a library of 800 math and science books, 1,700 general American studies books, and 60 magazines. There are also five computers containing databases about health and HIV/AIDS prevention. Televisions are also made available in one of the three rooms occupied by the project. The televisions broadcast information and lectures about HIV/AIDS prevention. Organizers of this effort are also sponsoring essay contests and poetry readings to bring awareness to the program and get local citizens and students involved. The location of the project is ideal, having six or seven high schools totaling some 8,000 students, within walking distance.
Programs such as this combat two global problems head-on: HIV/AIDS pandemic and illiteracy/lack of information. Not only making the information available, but allowing citizens to do their own research and explore health reports for themselves makes the information for realistic and personal. I believe that support for programs such as this should be raised and that cities all around the world would benefit from a program such as this.
http://www.allafrica.com/stories/printable/200810090823.html
2 comments:
I think its great that the American Embessy is implenting new programmes. This effort seems like it will really help out parts of South Africa.
I also think its a great thing that the American Embassy is trying to promote healthcare through reading. By helping to educate people, hopefully they can prevent the spread of this disease.
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