Third Day Magnificent and Dramatic

Top: Former CBCF Fellow Genora Akosua Reed, (far left); Del. Christensen (third from left); Rep. Lee (third from right); her aide, Tatyana Kalinga (second from right) with Archbishop Tutu.

Bottom: Congresswomen Christensen and Lee and Elsie L. Scott, Ph.D., enjoy another moment with Archbishop Tutu.



Friday started a little later than those before - all of 9:30 a.m.

And it began at the American Embassy for a World AIDS Day Ceremony that was co-sponsored by the Diplomatic Association of Pretoria. Countries represented included Morocco, Egypt, Singapore and Peru.

We stood on the front lawn of the embassy in front of a magnificent red ribbon as high as the building itself, which encircled an American flag.

Congresswomen Lee and I were among the speakers at the program. We both spoke of our commitment and that of the Foundation to ensuring that more funding without limitations are made available. Reflecting on new reports and the wonderful work that PEPFAR funded programs are doing, the sense of the day was one of hope.

Congresswomen Lee and I were tested once again to encourage all assembled to do the same and know their status.

We next moved to the program sponsored by the embassies of Ireland, Sweden and the Netherlands, where Archbishop Desmond M. Tutu was the featured speaker. We were treated to musical performances by young people of the area, a moving poem, "I Am Wise," by a young woman living with AIDS and a dramatic presentation by a group of young people.

Of course, the highlight was the speech by the archbishop. He chided his country for taking so long to act, but also encouraged it and all of us, reminding us of all that the people of South Africa had already overcome in their successful liberation struggle.

We later had the privilege of meeting with Archbishop Tutu briefly before he took off for Germany and we prepared to leave -- Congresswoman Lee; her staff assistant, Tatyana Kalinga, and Genora Akosua Reed, a former CBCF Fellow who staffed the trip for the Foundation, to Tambo Airport and back to D.C., while Dr. Scott and I went to the province of Limpopo.

Arriving at the ranch hotel, we found it to be at a game preserve. Because it was already dark and also because we were leaving early the next morning, we did not get to enjoy the sights or see any of the animals. But we did have a lovely dinner with executives of Johnson and Johnson here observing a "Total Control of the Epidemic" program, which we will visit and which will be the site of the World AIDS Day ceremony tomorrow.

Del. Donna M. Christensen of the U.S. Virgin Islands
Chairwoman
Public Health Committee
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation

Second Day is Amazing and Inspiring

Leading by example, U.S. Del. Donna M. Christensen (left) and U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee show their finger bands after getting tested for HIV/AIDS in Soweto.

This has been an amazing day.

Our delegation met with the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Johannesburg. We spoke to the group about our support for increased funding for the U.S. HIV/AIDS initiative known as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, and the importance of the private sector in fighting the pandemic.

Later, we visited a HIV/AIDS testing site, located in the Zola area of Soweto, sponsored by the Levi Strauss Red for Life Initiative, Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department. I talked to young people regarding the importance of getting tested.

Congresswoman Christensen and I helped to lead by example by getting tested publicly and we noted the very thorough pre- and post-testing counseling as well as enhanced efforts for confidentiality. Really impressive. We were very inspired to see young people sign up for testing – and saying our speeches convinced them to get tested.

Later, we went to Pretoria to meet with the nation’s minister of education, Naledi Pandor. Minister Pandor is a brilliant South African woman committed to the education of all of her country’s children and to its progress and development. She emphasized that inequality in the nation’s school system still exists as a result of decades of apartheid. Apartheid is the major challenge of South African’s education strategies, which revolve around quality of opportunities for all children as they strive to create a modern system of education.

We are very hopeful about the future possibilities of the CBC Foundation’s efforts to develop partnerships and closer ties to the education, economic and health aspirations of all South African people.

Rep. Barbara Lee of California
Chairwoman
African Globalism Committee
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation

First Full Day in South Africa

(Left to right) CBCF President Elsie L. Scott, Ph.D., U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, South African Minister of Social Development Zola Sidney Skweyiya, U.S. Rep. Donna Christensen and U.S. Ambassador Eric M. Bost

We have completed our first full day in South Africa. It was a long, but productive day that started out with a breakfast meeting in Pretoria with the South African Minister of Social Development, Dr. Zola Skweyiya. He is responsible for the social welfare programs for the country.

That meeting was followed by a briefing at the U.S. Embassy that was led by Ambassador Eric M. Bost and attended by about 12 members of his staff. We talked about the work the United States is doing to help the development of South Africa. As a result of the discussion, we have identified several areas around which we can collaborate or they can assist us with our work.

We then went to Soweto, where we visited the Burn Centre and HIVSA at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital Center, the largest hospital in South Africa. This center is government owned, but financed by Johnson & Johnson. In the afternoon, we met with some students and volunteers at the Rosa Parks Library. This library was donated by the U.S. government. The students were quite outspoken about the AIDS epidemic and what should be done to address it.

In the evening, the Ambassador opened his residence to a reception hosted by CBCF. We had the opportunity to speak further with State Department personnel about their work and to meet African Americans and South Africans who have invested in the new South Africa.

We have been impressed with the commitment and the work being done here. They are very interested in having the Foundation bring a legislative conference to South Africa.

It is 11 p.m., and after a full day of meetings and knowing that we have to be ready to leave the hotel at 6:30 a.m tomorrow, I am going to sign off.

Elsie L. Scott, Ph.D.
President & CEO
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Inc.

CBCF Delegation Arrives in Africa

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 27, 2007

Contact: Muriel Cooper
Phone: (202) 263-2829

mcooper@cbcfinc.org

CBC FOUNDATION DELEGATION ARRIVES IN SOUTH AFRICA
CBCF President Scott, Congresswomen Barbara Lee and
Donna M. Christensen on Weeklong Health-Related Trip

WASHINGTON – A delegation representing the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) and its African Globalism Committee arrived today in South Africa for a weeklong trip to visit health-related sites and conduct meetings with government health officials in that country.

The delegation is led by Elsie L. Scott, Ph.D., the Foundation’s president and chief executive officer, and two members of Congress who also serve on the organization’s board of directors, Rep. Barbara Lee of California and Del. Donna M. Christensen of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Rep. Lee serves as chairwoman of the African Globalism Committee, which seeks to reconnect Africans throughout the African diaspora, including but not limited to the United States, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. The congresswoman and the committee have aggressively sought to impact U.S. policy towards the African diaspora, particularly health.

Del. Christensen, a physician, serves as chairwoman of both the CBCF Public Health Committee and the Congressional Black Caucus’ Health Braintrust, which oversees and advocates minority health issues nationally and internationally. She and Dr. Scott are scheduled to take part in World AIDS Day activities on Dec. 1; the congresswoman is slated to deliver a keynote address that day.

The delegation is also scheduled to, among other things, meet with Ambassador Eric M. Bost and Deputy Chief of Mission Donald Teitelbaum at the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria; meet with South African Minister of Education Naledi Pandor; meet with Vice Chancellor Ihron Rensburg and faculty at the University of Johannesburg; visit the Johnson & Johnson Burn Treatment Centre and attend a global business coalition breakfast in Johannesburg; and visit with students and volunteers at the Rosa Parks Library and take part in HIV testing in Soweto.

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation was established in 1976 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit, public policy, research and education institute intended to help improve the socio-economic circumstances of African Americans and other underserved communities. CBCF has a critical role to play in ensuring that the African continent becomes an important global strategic partner to the United States in military and intelligence efforts, energy security and in trade and investment.

“With our focus on public health, leadership education and economic development, CBCF has become a recognized authority in the United States. Now, we want to expand our reach beyond our shores,” Dr. Scott said. “During this trip, Congresswoman Lee, Congresswoman Christensen and I want to develop relationships that will ultimately net access to a dynamic pool of quality programs and services geared toward empowering black people and other underserved populations overseas.”