Appeals: Plan International

Plan International, a long-term overseas development organisation working in 30 developing countries and aimed at assisting children and their communities, has launched an emergency appeal to raise money to fight against the spread of Aids. About 56 per cent of Aids cases are thought to be in the developing world. The World Health Organisation estimates that by the year 2000 the disease will have created 10 million orphans world-wide. Plan has projects in Kenya, Burkina Faso, India, Zimbabwe and Thailand, all aimed at educating adolescents about HIV and Aids: it provides books, tapes and videos to schools and organises discussion groups. It raises awareness about the disease within communities by staging open-air plays, with theatre groups, comedians and musicians. In Kenya, it costs pounds 67 to provide 100 information books about the disease.

Plan International, 5-6 Underhill Street, London NW1 7HS, telephone 0800 526848.