The Academy for Educational Development (AED) has developed an illustrated children's storybook and other educational materials for schools in Africa to use to raise awareness among African children about avian influenza and involve them in educating their communities.

"Zandi's Song," an accompanying teacher's guide, posters, and bookmarks are being pre-tested in Kenya. But because of the recent outbreak of avian flu in Nigeria, AED is making advance copies of the materials available online free of charge.

AED believes that providing free and fast access to "Zandi's Song" will encourage avian flu and education programmes in Africa to consider using the materials to increase awareness about the disease among schoolchildren and communities. The materials, along with a licensing agreement for free use, can be downloaded at the AED website (click here) for local duplication and use in country programmes.

1. Zandi's Song
   This is a 28-page booklet about Zandi, a 15-year-old girl who raises chickens to help pay school fees. In this context, the story includes discussion of the transmission and prevention of avian influenza. Zandi is empowered to help her village learn more about the disease.
2. Teacher's Guide
   Zandi's Song is accompanied by a 12-page teacher's guide that contains a step-by-step approach to helping children take action in their community.
3. Posters
   Two are currently available including: "What We Can Do to Protect Ourselves from Bird Flu" and "What We Can Do to Protect Our Flocks from Bird Flu"
4. Fact Sheet: "What We Need to Know About Bird Flu"
   This fact sheet includes questions like - what is bird flu? How does it spread? How is it moving from Asia to Africa? Have any humans been infected by bird flu so far? Does this virus pass easily from birds to humans? Can infected humans pass the virus to other people? What are our health implications if we are infected by bird flu? The fact sheet concludes by giving tips on how to stay safe from bird flu, how avian influenza affects people and why it is important to do something about it.
5. Bookmarks
   Two are currently available including: "Community Responses to Bird Flu" and "What We Can Do".

English

AED's Avian Influenza section, February 15 2006.