EDUCATION FOR LIFE - KENYA.....

Fullness of Life Amidst and Beyond HIV/AIDS

Traininf of facilitators, Nairobi.

Orphans and vulnerable childrens' programs

TOF Participants, Yei Southern Sudan

TOF participants Nairobi

Facilitators at annual forum

Programs and Activities

The use of the Behaviour Change Process (BCP) adopted from the Gerald Egan (Loyola University) Change Model. The use of this model is motivated by the fact that Behaviour Change is the most essential strategy in overcoming the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Despite this reality many prevention programmes continue to offer just information alone about HIV/AIDS. This is not enough to bring about change in behaviour and attitude. Through the BCP, many participant centered programmes are designed that foster experiential learning.  Reports from Teachers, parents, priests and the impact survey often conducted after a year and other evaluation tools point out that it is possible for people to change behaviour. 

All the interventions offered by EFL are informed by this process. It is the backbone of our activity and is enfleshed by the different approaches we employ to deliver our services.

These are the programs offered by Education for Life Kenya

Training of Facilitators Phase One and Two

The program aims at exposing trainees to Behaviour Change Process in order to change risky behaviours. It equips trainees with up to date information on HIV/AIDS and facilitation skills. Participants immerse themselves into the process during the first phase and in the second phase are taken through how to take others through the process.

Trained facilitators within and without Kenya have been able to reach others with the BCP. Approximately 1.5 million beneficiaries in Kenya alone have been reached by facilitators in Kenya over the last five years.  In addition, many people have increased their knowledge on HIV/AIDS knowledge as is reflected from the outcome analysis of TOF.

Behaviour Change Process for youth leaders and older youth

The behaviour change process for youth leaders and older youth aimed at providing an opportunity for personal behaviour change in order for them to become better role models and mentors. The program addresses real needs of the youth, who have had limited access to value oriented change programs. This program is also offered for Orphans and Vulnerable children (OVC)

OVC Programs (Behaviour formation Programs)

The overall purpose of the behaviour formation for orphans and vulnerable children was meant to offer orphans within 8 – 13 years of age brackets with psychosocial support and life skills for survival into adulthood. The Behaviour Formation Programme for OVC is workshop designed for the preteens in order to form their character and provides them with clear, simple information about HIV/AIDS.  It offers them the opportunity to postpone their first sexual encounter until they are married and able to make truly informed choices. Orphans above this age are taken through the Behaviour Change Process.

Couples Programs

The Couples United programme was designed as a 2-weekend Course with 1-2 months in between for processing and skills practice. Its aims were to empower couples to be faithful to their marriage vows and especially couples who have been in marriage for not more than 15 years. The criterion for selection is that all couples to be officially married either through customary, civil or Christian marriage.

Training of OVC caregivers

While psychosocial support for Orphans and Vulnerable Children is important, similar support has become increasingly important for caregivers. Reports of grandmothers caring for a dozen children with little to no income are common. The grandmothers are often exhausted and overworked. As a result, children under their care are more likely to be uneducated and malnourished. In this respect EFL has developed programs that offer support to caregivers in the form of training. The trainings are aimed at helping caregivers to become role models and improve the quality of life of orphans and vulnerable children.

Other Programs

Education for Life has also used the BCP to design several other program for a variety of target audiences including leadership skills for youth, Effective parenting, Career guidance, among others.

To change is to grow and to grow it to change often, so we believe

Featured Testimony

Before my mother went for the effective parenting program, she was an alcoholic, she would leave in the morning and come home late, wehnever she was drunk, she would accuse me and even pour water on my books and beat me severely.

That always made me feel very angry and start feeling like I am nobody in this world. I even used to think of suicide, I wanted to die so that all problems facing me would end. I was doing all the chores in our house and I did not have time to study, my mother did not care a lot.

Before I joined st Clare Primayr school, we were not going to church and we were not communicating with my parents at all because they were all drunk, we never used to get a balanced diet at home, all the money was going towards alcohol.

When my mother attended the effective parenting program, things changed a lot. Now we go to church every sunday, we go to Kariobangi Catholic Church. My mother looks at my books everyday after school and she does not drink any more.

I have started to improve in my school work because even the environment at home has changed.

My mother was given money to start a business and our living standards have improved very much.

I want to thank you for the help you have given to us. God bless you so that you can continue helping others.

Thank you!!

(Pupil from St Clare school in Korogocho slums. St Clare is a project of Hands of Care and Hope, one of EFL's satelite teams and an apostolate of FMSA.)