For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 20, 2003
Fact Sheet
U.S.-Brazil: Supporting the Zero Hunger Project
The United States is committed to working with Brazil to support
the "Zero Hunger Project," a comprehensive initiative undertaken by the
administration of Brazilian President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva. This
anti-poverty initiative encompasses hunger alleviation, nutrition,
health, education, and expanding economic opportunity.
ALLEVIATING HUNGER
Information System: The U.S. Department of Agriculture will share
information technology to develop a computerized system to track
project implementation.
Nutrition and Food distribution: The U.S. Department of
Agriculture will share experience and best practices to help design a
sustainable nutrition program and food delivery system, identifying
target groups and tracking benefits.
PROTECTING AT-RISK YOUTH AND OTHER GROUPS
Protection from Exploitation: The U.S. Department of Labor will
support initiatives to combat sexual and labor exploitation of children
and adolescents.
Activities will include psychological counseling, family
reunification assistance, skills training, and job placement support,
encouraging families to keep children in school, and assistance to AIDS
orphans.
Health Interventions: The U.S. Agency for International
Development and the Department of Health and Human Services' Centers
for Disease Control will work to combat the most dangerous health risks
in Brazil: HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
Initiatives will include social marketing, education, patient
counseling, and treatment for tuberculosis and malaria.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will work with
Brazilian health organizations to improve treatment for HIV/AIDS.
PROMOTING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
Education and Training: The U.S. Agency for International
Development will provide training in sectors for which there is a clear
demand, especially in information technology and renewable energy, and
focus on getting at-risk youths into the formal educational system.
The program will offer:
State-of-the-art technical training and assistance in developing
the life skills required to succeed in the formal sector;
Access to computers and the Internet; and
An alliance between the private sector, NGOs, and local
governments to provide mentoring, on-the-job training, and related
skills.
Support to Small and Medium Enterprises (SME): The U.S. Agency for
International Development will provide training and market information
to owners and employees of SMEs to facilitate increased access to
capital and new markets, including foreign trade opportunities.
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