(RED)UCATION

Big Day! The first (RED) Student Ambassadors have been chosen from the applications we received from across the United States. This weekend these six young leaders completed two days of training and brainstorming on how they plan to spread (RED) on campus.

Even after one day, it was clear that they are already fired up with ideas on how to inspire, empower and connect with their peers to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. In a sense, (RED) is harnessing their creativity and influence on campus in much the same way that we’ve harnessed the creativity and market reach of our brand partners.

We invited our great friend Rocky Dawuni to come by and share stories of the impact he’s seen first hand from visiting Global Fund (RED) money at work in Ghana. “Travel there through me,” he said “you will all be warriors for Africa…I want you to see the good (RED) consumers are doing on the front lines.”

“Let’s do it!” was Rocky’s closing call. Watch this space for reports on exactly how our (RED) Ambassadors Do the (RED) Thing!




Meet the six (RED) Student Ambassadors. Ambassadors will be responsible for turning their campus (RED) - educating about the crisis of AIDS in Africa, building an understanding of how the (RED) model works, raising awareness of the Global Fund, and of course building excitement for (RED) products and the role they play in fighting the epidemic.

Tian Wen (Harvard)

I was born in China, and lived in Japan for four years before moving to Vancouver, Canada, where I graduated from University Hill Secondary School with Outstanding Graduate and Top Service Student awards. My past volunteer and leadership experience includes: Chair of the Student Ambassador Council, which managed over 400 volunteers for the Vancouver Chapter of Kids Help Phone, Canada’s only toll-free, 24 hour, bilingual phone line for youth; President of University Hill Secondary School’s Student Council; and Communications Director of Vancouver District Student Council. I received the Bank of Montreal Leadership Recognition Award for my work with Kids Help Phone. Next year, I will be a sophomore at Harvard, and plan to major in Economics. Finally, I am excited to be working with (RED) next year, as it will give me the opportunity to do something about a major issue affecting the world today, and empower both myself and my peers to take action and join the fight against AIDS.


Stephanie Alson (North Carolina A&T)

I am a 2007 graduate of Chatham Central High School and a second semester sophomore public relations major at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, North Carolina. In my spare time I enjoy attending church, helping others, playing basketball, reading, writing, and spending time with family and friends. In 2006, I was named a semi-finalist in the BET/ScenariosUSA short story film competition: What’s The Real Deal on AIDS for my fictional story “As I Die Slowly(AIDS).”


Simon Chun (Notre Dame)

I was born in Seoul, Korea and raised in Manila, Philippines. My family now lives in Pasadena, CA. I’m a junior at the University of Notre Dame, pursuing a double major in Management Consulting and Peace Studies. I’ve done volunteer work with Homeless Veterans, and co-chaired the Social Concerns Committee of the Student Government. I also served as president of the ONE Campaign Notre Dame Chapter.


Mike Fazzino (Sacred Heart)

Currently, I am a junior at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT. I’m a double major in Business Administration and Political Science, and volunteer regularly with Habitat for Humanity and the ONE Campaign. I’ve just returned from my second trip to the Children of the Light home for boys in La Ceiba, Honduras. The boys at the project have all been orphaned by neglect or disease, and I want to do all in my power to alleviate some of that suffering. I’ve also worked in Taos, NM, Beaumont, TX, Grafton, WV, Bridgeport, CT, New York, NY, and Washington, D.C. with various other non-profits. I hope that all of my travels and dedicated work will one day take me to Africa – and (RED) is definitely a start!

Kelsey Neff (San Diego State)

I am going to be a sophomore at San Diego State University, and am majoring in Journalism, with a minor in Humanities. I love to travel and toured Europe last summer. I am going to be interning at a newspaper in London next summer, and I also plan to study abroad in either Thailand or South Africa sometime in the next few years. In high school I was a Girls State delegate and also participated in various community service and extracurricular activities. I also started a club on my campus that raised money for the Susan G. Komen foundation, which funds breast cancer research. I am very excited to be a part of such an awesome program and can’t wait to get to work as a (RED) Ambassador!!


Jordyn Pressler (Wisconsin)

I am a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin at Madison where I am working towards a business degree. Madison is part of the big ten school system and has a student body of over 35,000 undergraduates and more than 15,000 graduate students. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is known for its politically savvy and dedicated student body, who I know will be open to and willing to participate in (RED). I have participated in community projects such as volunteering at animal shelters, building homes, and providing meals for the homeless.

U.S. Supports Antiretroviral Treatment for 1.73 Million Worldwide Through the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief

We wanted to share the news that 2.4 million people are on anti-retroviral therapy today thanks to the collaboration of impacted countries, local stakeholders, PEPFAR and the Global Fund. Thank you (RED) consumers for your role in reaching this goal!

Tamsin

Ziggy Sees (RED)

Friend of (RED), Ziggy Marley, stopped by the (RED) offices in LA a couple of weeks ago. Click here to read his blog about it.

The Power of One

By Tamsin Smith

Winstone Zulu, one of the world's leading activists against the spread of HIV/AIDS and TB spent time with RED last week. Our conversation was the perfect reminder of how far we’ve come since the Global Fund was established 5 years ago and the difference that one person can make in the lives of others.

Winstone was born in 1964, in Lusaka, Zambia, the sixth of thirteen children. He was diagnosed with polio at the age of three, has been living with HIV and AIDS since 1990, and became sick with – and was cured of – TB in 1997. He watched four brothers die of TB, the last in 2003, as a result of a lack of access to the drugs that would have cured them and extended their lives.

As a result, Winstone cancelled plans to study political science abroad, so that he could remain in Zambia and work to end more unnecessary suffering. Winstone became the first individual in Zambia to publicly acknowledge being HIV positive. He’s since become the pre­eminent global advocate on the dangers posed by the increasing spread of TB throughout the developing world. He’s one of the few TB survivors who continuously remind us that TB is the leading cause of death for those with HIV.

His commitment is a reminder of the difference advocates like Winstone can make in bringing attention to the threat of TB and HIV/AIDS, and the importance of the Global Fund in fighting these treatable, preventable diseases.

Thank you Winstone.

Lives Regained - Ghana

By Greta Thomas

Good news from Ghana. We just returned from a trip to Africa’s western coast where Dr. Nii Akwei Addo, the principle recipient of the Global Fund’s (RED) grant (or the National AIDS Control Program) told us that the overall adult HIV prevalence rate appears to have stabilized. And has even dropped slightly in the last year from 2.2% to 1.0%.

While HIV prevalence rates decline, access to antiretroviral treatment (ART) in Ghana has been on the increase. Since June of last year, the number of clinics around the country able to dispense the medicine has doubled, from 45 to 95 – and this is largely the result of financing from (RED) and the Global Fund.

And with greater access to medicine comes an increase in the number of people able to get healthy and return to their lives as active and productive members of their families and communities.

There are currently around 13,000 people on antiretroviral treatment in Ghana but it’s estimated that at least 63,000 people need ART. Dr Addo told us he aims to have more than 30,000 people accessing treatment by the end of this year – a nearly three-fold increase from today.

Of course there are plenty of challenges ahead for Ghana too and one key priority for Dr Addo and his team this year is to ensure that the prevalence amongst young people aged 15-24 is addressed with renewed effort, tailored programs and campaigns for both prevention and treatment.

Dr Addo talks passionately about the difference treatment can make on peoples’ lives. He describes antiretroviral treatment as one of “the wonders of the clinical medical world”:

“The best joy I get is in a clinic … a child who is not walking, 3-5 years old, and has never walked because of HIV and AIDS. Put them on therapy – in 3 months (they are) bouncing, playing and laughing. I become satisfied. I get a deep inner satisfaction to continue doing this work. I share this with all the clinicians we train, all the pharmacists we train…. (I say) don’t think about money or any other thing just go there and see people literally gaining back their life.”

Accelerating Impact

By Tamsin Smith

Yesterday, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria announced an additional round of funding to be launched later this year. The Global Fund will begin accepting proposals for Round 9 on October 1, 2008 and expects to approve these new grants at its April 2009 Board Meeting.

This will provide countries with an important opportunity to scale up their efforts to fight the 3 diseases, which kill 6 million people each year. Given the urgent need to allocate additional resources and increase countries’ implementation capacities to rapidly scale up prevention and control programs, Round 9 will help maintain the momentum needed in the fight against AIDS, TB and malaria around the world.

This unprecedented step was discussed at the recent Board meeting in Geneva and exemplifies how deeply committed the Fund and its Board representatives are to responding to urgent needs, getting good results quickly and saving as many lives as possible.

Round 9 will not replace the funding round preliminarily scheduled for March 2009. It’s in addition. As well as making new proposals possible, Round 9 will allow for countries to resubmit revised versions of proposals more swiftly. These extra resources that the new round makes available could pay for a large increase in insecticide-impregnated bed nets against malaria and a continued expansion of programs to treat and prevent AIDS and TB.

This is very good news.

(RED) Connections

By Tamsin Smith

There was a lot of excitement at (RED) about the recent Everest Team INSPI(RED) climb. So we linked Jeff Dossett up with Patrick Robinson, lead designer at Gap. Patrick then reached out to the Hillcrest AIDS center www.littletraveller.org.za, which has produced beautiful items for the (GAP)RED collection. The women of Hillcrest embraced the challenge of making a banner for the Everest expedition. In fact, they made two!

The first flag was made by the Hillcrest AIDS centre's quilting group under the guidance of quilting volunteer teacher Colleen Roberts. It represents Africa and the (RED) relationship with Africa, as well as an artistic view of the Everest profile and the silhouette of the climbers. The flag was put together by Gladys Mzimela and Thobile Ndlovu who are bead workers/quilters at the centre.





The second flag was created by Paula Thomson, Nto Cebukhulu, Zonke Pungula, Nelly Zikale, Eugenia Chamane, Gladys Mzimela and Thobile Ndlovu. It represents the physical map and the history of the first equipment/ pioneers who climbed Everest. It also represents Africa and those living with HIV and AIDS, and the positive difference that (RED) partners and shoppers have made. The flag image also incorporates a Little Traveler (beaded doll made at the centre) which is their symbol of triumph over the effects of being HIV positive.





The women of Hillcrest have firsthand experience of how (GAP)RED has helped. The AIDS ribbon pin and other orders that Gap has placed with their organization make a positive and lasting contribution to the lives of our craft workers. Over 800 crafters earned a salary for three months through the pin order alone.
In a note to the climbers, Paula Thompson said: "Should our Travelers reach the summit it will be an inspiration to all the crafters and to all the people that buy Little Travelers around the world."

An inspiration indeed!
Tamsin