Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/a-program-showcase-starbright-learning-exchange/5017705/
StarBright provides a cross-cultural exchange between Australian and South African early childhood educators. It is intended to offer support for early childhood programs for young orphaned African children who have been infected or affected by HIV/AIDS and builds on the programs currently being provided in the selected services in a sensitive and acknowledging way.It also enables a cross-cultural exchange for teachers and child care staff from early childhood learning centers, to enhance skills and understanding of each other’s work and social cultures. Finally, it establishes links between centers in Australia and centers in South Africa to facilitate counterpart relationships between staff members in individual programs. Program funding is from Australia Volunteers International (AVI), as well as donations.
According to Carol Allen, president of StarBright, “The program originated when Karen Williams, a colleague of mine, and I decided that we could no longer sit by and watch the unfolding social catastrophe that has invaded my homeland �" South Africa. I have also has been personally touched by HIV, having a family member who is HIV positive. We wanted to give something back to the vulnerable orphaned children of the AIDS epidemic. Nearly 5 million people in Africa are HIV positive and by ...