Keep hope alive

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 4, 2003

United Families INternational to provide abstinence training in Zambia's schools

Contact: Sharon Slater, United Families International
Phone: (480) 507-2664
Email: sslater@unitedfamilies.org

The African nation of Zambia has 620,000 HIV/AIDS orphans, and 16 percent of the adult population is infected with that deadly disease. In order to fight this pandemic, Maureen Mwanawasa, the first lady of Zambia, has requested that United Families International (UFI) offer the Stay Alive abstinence program to public school students in her nation.

UFI is already offering the highly successful Stay Alive abstinence program in several other African nations. Stay Alive is aimed at pre-adolescent youths and teaches consequential thinking and principles to encourage children to choose to stay HIV/AIDS free and to live long, loving, happy lives. Zambia has 1.4 million students who will participate in the Stay Alive program.

According to Sharon Slater, UFI president, "The Stay Alive program teaches AIDS-resistant behavior to children before they become sexually active. The window of opportunity to most effectively teach children these principles exists between the ages of 8 and 12, because children in this age group rarely become infected with AIDS. The rate of infection jumps sharply in the 12-14 age range and continues to be high through age 24. If taught the concept of abstinence early enough, children can make the choices that may literally save their lives. The program addresses older students as well."

The Stay Alive program offers a unique approach to HIV/AIDS prevention education, empowering children who are not yet sexually active by teaching critical thinking skills that help students remain disease free. The eight-week Stay Alive course also includes discussions between parents, or guardians, and their children.

Operating for two years in Africa, the Stay Alive program has been successfully field tested in Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Ghana and Mozambique. Uganda has the lowest HIV/AIDS rate on the African continent.