U.S. President George W, Bush announced last May a new international education program: the Basic Education Initiative.

A press release sent to ENA from the Prime Minister's Office on Saturday says Ethiopia was chosen along with Liberia, Honduras Ghana, Mali and Yemen to partner with the US in this initiative to improve literacy and increase school enrollment. The initiative’s goal is to reach four million children over the next five years.

The US will spend 535 million in these six countries over the next five years.

In her remarks at the luncheon on Global Literacy and Health, Mrs. Bush recognized that work of the African First Ladies Against AIDS (OAFLAA).

Her Excellency Azeb Mesfin is a founding member and current Vice- Chairperson of the organization, which raise awareness, advocate for prevention initiatives, and promote treatment, care and support programs for people living with HIV/AIDS.

The First Lady, along with the Zambian and Rwandese First ladies, was awarded Georgetown University’s legacy of a Dream Award in January 2006 which recognizes those who have shown the courage and determination to promote compassion and create social change in the way Dr. martin Luther King Junior envisioned.

At the luncheon Mrs. Bush announced that the U.S. government is joining OAFLLA’s effort with 200,000 USD contribution from the President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

These resources will support the African First ladies as they educate adults across the continent about their responsibility to protect themselves, and their children, from HIV and AIDS.

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