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Everyone Can Make a Difference in War on AIDS

Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.

From the words of one inspirational human being comes a message of hope to an ever-growing community of inspiring survivors, the children who have lost parents to AIDS in China.

The words are Nelson Mandela’s but the message not new. A message now carried by development organisations, local grassroots workers, government representatives, businesses and concerned citizens: invest in the education of children impacted with AIDS, the education of those around them and the education of society at large and you will keep them safe.

This is also the message of the Chi Heng Foundation (CHF), a Hong Kong-based registered charity that sponsors children impacted by AIDS in Central China. The Foundation, that have 4,000 children, aged 6-14, under their care, offer its basic sponsorship, merit-based awards and need-based subsidies to help educate the children through to junior high school.

Chung To, Chairman and founder of CHF: “Our goal is to help them one by one.”

“We do not build orphanages and schools specifically for them, rather we empower the local communities to take care of AIDS-impacted children. We sponsor them to go to local schools, so that they can grow up with non-AIDS-impacted children.”

This they do with the help of psycho-social support, art therapy, summer camps, home visits and HIV education. In late November, CHF and the Beijing Health Bureau opened an exhibition of artworks created by the AIDS-impacted children at Beijing Capital Airport as part of the Foundation’s World AIDS Day activities.

“Through drawing I think there’s a lot of therapeutic healing for the children,” said Chung.

The event aims to raise greater awareness of AIDS and the children it leaves behind, an awareness that is greatly helped by the aid and expertise of local and international experts.

CHF receives support from UNESCO, the Global Fund, UNAIDS and the Clinton Foundation and the Chinese National Ministry of Health (MOH) and China’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). UNESCO works with CHF to develop community-based care and support for children impacted by HIVAIDS. Yongfeng Liu, UNESCO National Programme Officer for HIV/AIDS and School Health explains the role his organisation plays in the care of these children.

“UNESCO is a specialized United Nations (UN) agency, that works to contribute to peace and human development through education. Those impacted by AIDS most need a non-judgemental, non-stigmatized, non-discriminating, supportive social environment to make their lives better.”

As the number of AIDS “orphans” grows, a term the community does not like, so does the issue of how to protect and care for them. According to figures published by Xinhua News Agency in July 2005, there are 76,000 children who have lost parents to AIDS in China, a figure said to rise to 260,000 by 2010. 

It is estimated there are now 650,000 cases of HIV/AIDS in China. This includes 75,000 patients who have already developed AIDS. These figures refer to the 2005 Update on the HIV/AIDS Epidemic and Response in China by the Chinese Ministry of Health (MOH).

A report published in August 2006 by UNICEF, the UN children’s development organisation and UNAIDS, the development agency overseeing the work of NGOs tackling HIV/AIDS, shows: children affected by HIV/AIDS are at higher risk of missing out on education, living in homes with insufficient food and suffering from anxiety. They are also at higher risk of HIV infection.

Ken Legins, Chief, HIV/AIDS Programme Manager UNICEF China believes awareness and education are key. “The UN works specifically on the development of models that look at the whole child from the viewpoint of the child. Therefore, the principle issue for those children left behind is they have access to education, get psycho-social support and experience reduced stigma.”

Legins believes the business community has an important role to play.

“Chinese and foreign businesses need to make greater corporate social responsibly commitments in this area.”

Powerful examples of what Legins talks of come in the form of support for HIV/AIDS awareness by NBA star Yao Ming on TV, Sohu.com on the Internet and the Global Business Coalition (GBC) on HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria within the corporate community.

“In developing corporate partnership, business is in an unequal position to envisage making long-term commitments rather than having one-time public relations events towards HIV/AIDS awareness,” said Legins.

Michael Shiu, Chief Representative Officer of GBC works towards this aim.

“We motivate the private sector to respond and fight HIV/AIDS. We talk to Chinese companies and explain what their international peer companies are doing in this area. There is a lack of awareness of the issues,” said Shiu.

GBC helps companies develop staff training programs and advocates and supports the government mandate. In April this year, GBC and UNICEF jointly published Eight Recommended Corporate Responses to “Children and HIV/AIDS” in China with the support of the Health Minister Wu Yi and the All-China Federation of Trade Unions. The first of the Eight Responses proposes “Companies should not discriminate against people living with HIV/AIDS, or parents supporting children living with HIV/AIDS, in human resource practices.”

As Florence Wong, Board member of China AIDS Orphan Fund (CAOF) explains doing something rather than nothing is what matters.

“When our support enables a child to thrive in school, that is success.  The more children we can support, the more successful we are. The only failure comes from watching the tragedy and do nothing about it.”

Part of what donations from business can do is to support the efforts of grass roots organisations Prevention Through Education (PTE). Gabriel Suk Executive Director of PTE explains. “PTE is an organization that works on implementing school based HIVAIDS education programs in Chinese schools. We work with local partners to help guide and fund projects that train teachers to teach their students about HIVAIDS education.”

With a message for those who wish to donate but might not believe their money will make any difference, Chung To at CHF has this to say:

“As little as 100 yuan per month can support a child impacted by AIDS as well as donations of time as a volunteer or supplies such as stationary, winter clothes and food.”

“Everyone can make a difference. Small things count.”