Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PRNewswire - October 24, 2000
The theme of the ceremony, marking the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, was "Breaking the Silence on HIV/AIDS." The disease has affected nearly 34.4 million lives, devastating countries in Africa and threatening the social and economic fabric of countries worldwide.
The M.A.C. AIDS Fund, a groundbreaking initiative by M.A.C. Cosmetics, assists men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS. The company has raised more than $16 million for the cause since 1994 through sales of its VIVA GLAM lipsticks and Kids Helping Kids greeting cards, donating 100 per cent of the selling price to the M.A.C. AIDS Fund. Earlier this year, the M.A.C. AIDS Fund donated $500,000 to UNDP for HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns in Africa.
"This donation was a symbol of a long-term partnership being developed with UNDP to build a larger public awareness campaign designed to fight the silence about HIV/AIDS on the Africa continent," said Mr. Demsey. "From this partnership M.A.C. has also learned more about the complexities of fighting the disease in Africa and in particular the importance of tackling the problem from outside and inside Africa."
UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Danny Glover was Master of Ceremonies for the event and presenting musical performances were Grammy-award winning music star Mary J. Blige, who is M.A.C.'S VIVA GLAM III spokesperson, Youssou N'Dour, Angelique Kidjo and the Soweto String Quartet.
The projects the M.A.C. AIDS Fund is assisting include:
The Swaziland AIDS Support Organization, which advocates for the rights of people infected with HIV and carries out prevention programs in communities, schools and workplaces.
The Kindlemuka Association in Mozambique, which mobilizes HIV/AIDS prevention activities, fights discrimination, helps children orphaned by HIV/AIDS and supports income-generating activities for HIV-positive women.
ESPERANCA, also in Mozambique, assists HIV-positive people and children orphaned by AIDS. A sewing cooperative provides work opportunities and a theatre group that carries out HIV/AIDS awareness in markets and schools. The organization also provides counselors for a provincial blood bank and provides home-based care.
The Kiota Women's Health and Development Organization in Tanzania assists poor, young sex workers, many who are single parents and HIV-positive, and their children. It provides life skills information, including AIDS prevention, reproductive health services, support for education and advocacy for enhanced community assistance.
In Botswana, the Nkaikela Youth Support Group works with young women who have been lured into commercial sex work, many HIV-positive and others at great risk. It provides training on HIV/AIDS prevention and personal hygiene, well as skills training and alternative income generating projects.
Development Aid from People to People in Angola is launching the HOPE Project at the organization's school for street children. The project will assist HIV-positive children and children who have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS through counseling, schooling and income generating opportunities. It will also promote HIV/AIDS awareness in the school community.
Action d'Aide Sanitaire aux plus Demunis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo helps provide health care and schooling for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS and people living with HIV/AIDS. It carries out HIV/AIDS advocacy and awareness campaigns and investigates conditions faced by HIV-positive people and children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in the Kinshasa area.
M.A.C. (Make-Up Art Cosmetics), a leading brand of professional cosmetics, was created in Toronto in 1985 and is now part of the Estee Lauder Companies, Inc. M.A.C. products are sold in over 30 countries worldwide.
For further information on the M.A.C. AIDS Fund or to make a donation, please call 800-387-6707 or visit http://www.macaidsfund.org.
SOURCE M.A.C. Cosmetics Web Site: http://www.macaidsfund.org
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