South Africa

South Africa is a country of extreme social divisions. Following the ending of apartheid most South Africans still live in great poverty. In the country’s rural areas around a million children do not attend school. Girls have a particularly difficult time as many parents fear their daughters may be pestered or attacked on their way to school. In South Africa, more than in almost any other country, women and girls suffer from very high levels of violence. The danger of AIDS is also great. UNICEF is helping to turn 150 schools in the poorest provinces of Eastern Cape, Limpopo and Kwa Zulu Natal into “child-friendly” model schools. UNICEF trains teachers to improve their lessons and, with the wider community, to solve urgent problems. This includes providing a safe route to schools for all children, and also caring for orphans and including AIDS information in lessons. In addition UNICEF is promoting additional activities such as establishing school gardens and school meals. Every model school passes on its experiences to other schools. School clubs supported by UNICEF encourage girls to take their lives into their own hands.