Francesca Villette
FROM Manenberg to Los Angeles, South Africa’s direct and honest approach when teaching pupils about HIV/ Aids has inspired visitors from the US to campaign for change in that country’s school curriculum, which largely neglects the topic.
Supported by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu), Artesia High School in Lakeside, California, and Manenberg High School on the Cape Flats have partnered to form the Manenberg Artesia Aids Project (MAAP).
The project is a platform that allows for the exchange of information between pupils from the two schools.
Four Artesia pupils and AFT representatives visited Manenberg High yesterday when they brainstormed ways they could change the world. After the Manenberg visit, the US group and their hosts headed off to St Joseph’s Hospital Sunflower Ward in Montana to volunteer with helping to feed and read to HIV/Aids-infected toddlers.
The initiative is the brainchild of retired teacher and AFT deputy president Laura Rico.
On a visit to South Africa five years ago, Rico was amazed to find how informative South Africa’s school curriculum was about the spreading and prevention of HIV/Aids.
Upon returning to the US, she vowed to lobby for her home country’s school curriculum to include more content on the topic.
“Aids is mentioned once in a 6th grade textbook, where it is referred to as a disease. Only in the 10th grade is it mentioned again. HIV/Aids is not talked about as much in the states as it is in South Africa,” Rico said.
“Infection is on the rise among black, Asian and Latina women. More needs to be done in order to curb the epidemic. We have been inspired by how well pupils are taught in this country.”
US schooling district officials were supportive of the change, but there was “still a long way to go” in ensuring that it became compulsory, Rico said.
Jazmin Figueroa, 17, from the US, said Lakeside was similar to Manenberg – plagued by gangsterism, drugs, unemployment and poverty.
It was Artesia High’s mission to address the ignorance about the virus that existed in her community, she said.
Angel Juarez, 18, lauded the power of education.
“I have always wanted to help, but never knew how to. This amazing cause has already taught me so much and I am inspired to relay what I have learnt,” Juarez said.
Manenberg High pupil A’Eysha Hill, 15, said it was a privilege for her to impart her knowledge to her US counterparts.
Sadtu provincial secretary Jonavon Rustin, who was also deputy principal at Manenberg High, said he hoped more high schools would come on board.
St Raphael’s Primary School in Athlone and Vuzamanzi Primary School in Khayelitsha had already joined to encourage pupils to spread awareness.