UNICEF: Nelson Mandela promotes "Schools for Africa" project

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 16 May 2008 -- UNICEF, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Hamburg Society today signed a memorandum of understanding at the foundation's headquarters in Johannesburg to consolidate their partnership promoting the six-nation 'Schools for Africa' campaign.

The initiative is expected to reach its $50 million fundraising target by year-end, three years ahead of deadline. The funds are being used to provide millions of children in Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa and Zimbabwe with:

• Improved learning environments that are safe, protective and accessible
• Newly built or rehabilitated classrooms
• School furniture, including blackboards, desks and chairs
• Teaching and learning materials
• Safe drinking water and separate sanitation facilities for girls and boys.

"The Schools for Africa initiative is an ideal vehicle to help achieve Millennium Development Goals 2 and 3, which set specific targets for universal primary education, gender equality and the empowerment of women," said UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa Per Engebak. "We also see the initiative as a way to mainstream Child Friendly School standards, to ensure a quality education for all children."

To read the full story, visit: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/southafrica_43976.html

Category:

Education

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