R&B singer-songwriter Kelly Rowland has been appointed as the official 2008 Ambassador for the MTV Staying Alive Foundation. The multi-platinum selling artist and Destiny’s Child alumnus is to be the public face of Staying Alive in June 2008, dedicating herself to raising the profile of the global charitable foundation, whose mission is to empower young people who are protecting themselves and their communities against HIV and AIDS.

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus and it is the virus that causes AIDS. It’s also a member of a group of viruses called retroviruses. HIV infects human cells and uses the energy and nutrients provided by those cells to grow and reproduce. AIDS stands for Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome. It is a disease in which the body’s immune system breaks down and is unable to fight off infections, known as “opportunistic infections,” and other illnesses that take advantage of a weakened immune system. When a person is infected with HIV, the virus enters the body and lives and multiplies primarily in the white blood cells. These are immune cells that normally protect us from disease. The hallmark of HIV infection is the progressive loss of a specific type of immune cell called T-helper, or CD4, cells. As the virus grows, it damages or kills these and other cells, weakening the immune system and leaving the person vulnerable to various opportunistic infections and other illnesses ranging from pneumonia to cancer. A person can receive a clinical diagnosis of AIDS, as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if he or she has tested positive for HIV and meets one or both of these conditions:

1. The presence of one or more AIDS-related infections or illnesses.
2. A CD4 count that has reached or fallen below 200 cells per cubic millimeter

More and more people are realising the need to supplement traditional learning with life-changing education that will provide a foundation for success.

Obtaining a degree from a traditional university often proves one thing – you showed up and completed the work required. Whether you actually learned anything or can put that education to work for you is another question.

“A formal education will make you a living, but self education will make you a fortune,” - Jim Rohn, world renowned motivational speaker and trainer.

The majority of the world’s richest people such as Bill Gates and Richard Branson are school drop-outs.

This year,  Miss Zambia UK Beauty Pageant will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary. Perryfield Promotions and Sondis Promotions have teamed up to stage a one-off combined Miss Zambia UK/Independence Day Celebrations 2008 event which will be held on Friday 24 October 2008 at the luxurious TROXY, 490 Commercial Road, London E1 0HX.

The Search is on for the next Miss Africa in the United States of America.