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OPA News Release: [11/13/2003]
Contact Name: Ed Frank
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676

U.S. Labor Secretary Highlights $5 Million International Child Labor Grant and $1 Million HIV/AIDS Prevention Grant

WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao was joined by Richard E. Stearns, president, World Vision USA for a photo opportunity highlighting a $5 million grant to educate children removed from the worst forms of child labor in the Philippines and a $1 million grant to assist with workplace HIV/AIDS prevention in Uganda today. The Secretary announced the grants in October.

“We are pleased to partner with World Vision, a reputable and renown humanitarian faith-based organization, in the fight to eliminate the worst forms of child labor and stop the spread of HIV/AIDS,” Secretary Chao said. “Through these grants, we hope to bring new hope and opportunities to children who have never had a chance to enjoy their childhoods and stop the spread of HIV/AIDS, which has caused needless suffering and death across the continent of Africa.”

World Vision International, a faith-based organization, is currently active in six continents. Through advocacy and intervention, the organization continues to improve the quality of life for children all over the world.

The $5 million grant enables World Vision to carry out an education project targeting children involved in mining/quarrying, domestic work, pyrotechnics production, agriculture, commercial sexual exploitation and deep-sea fishing. This project is part of the department’s new $13 million global child soldiers initiative Chao announced this past May.

Through the $1 million grant, World Vision will work with faith-based and community groups to educate primary and secondary school teachers in Uganda in the Ugandan government's ‘ABC’ (Abstinence, Be Faithful, Condom, if necessary) HIV/AIDS prevention techniques that have made Uganda a model for the rest of Africa in reducing the prevalence of HIV infection.

In general, education and training are integral components of Labor Department technical assistance projects on child labor. Since 1995, ILAB has provided over $276 million for technical assistance programs designed to combat and prevent abusive child labor around the world. More information about these projects and other USDOL-funded child labor efforts can be obtained on www.dol.gov or from the International Child Labor Program, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor, Room S-5307, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. Telephone: (202) 693-4843; Fax (202) 693-4830; E-mail: GlobalKids@dol.gov

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