EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS

"The HIV/AIDS pandemic is one of the most important and urgent public health challenges facing governments and civil societies around the world. Adolescents are at the centre of the pandemic in terms of transmission, impact, and potential for changing the attitudes and behaviours that underlie this disease." - World Health Organisation

Engaging with young people, equipping them to make choices that will lead to a positive future, these are crucial elements to the education work being done by Waakisa in Uganda.

The Ugandan Government has taken a lead as part of an African nation against the HIV and AIDS pandemic. By removing stigma, educating young people, adults and parents and by adopting the ABc campaign - Abstinence, Being faithful and condom use Uganda is providing a future for its people.

There is still much work to be done and combined efforts are needed to eradicate HIV and AIDS. Waakisa is working hard to compliment the Governments policies and by providing education programmes, resources and training to young people, students, teachers, parents and clergy.

SCHOOLS PROGRAMME | LOVING GOD'S WAY
Engaging with young people and providing information, increasing their level of knowledge, allowing opportunity to discuss and ask questions in a safe environment.

Loving God's Way is a programme that is delivered within the post-primary educational curriculum for 12-18 years of age. It uses an interactive approach in delivery and is a personal, social and spiritual educational programme that explores relationships and sexuality. Adopting an abstinent centred approach, it allows young people to explore the choice of delaying sexual activity while being informed around some of the issues in being underage and sexually active. Material covered in the sessions are as follows:-

• Identity
• Virginity
• Dating
• STI (HIV & AIDS)
• Pregnancy
• Contraception

The Ugandan education team, Godfrey and Kezia, deliver this programme with sensitivity, humour and with great compassion they love their country and their people. They want to help support young people who are part of the future of Uganda.

PEER SUPPORT GROUPS | YOUNG PERSON LED - YOUNG PERSON FOCUSED

"It is estimated that 50% of all new HIV infections are among young people (about 7,000 young people become infected every day), and that 30% of the 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS are in the 15-24 year age group. The vast majority of young people who are HIV positive do not know that they are infected, and few young people who are engaging in sex know the HIV status of their partners. Fortunately, most young people are not infected. In fact, during early adolescence HIV rates are the lowest of any period during the life cycle. The challenge is to keep them this way. Focusing on young people is likely to be the most effective approach to confronting the epidemic, particularly in high prevalence countries." - World Health Organisation

Godfrey and Kezia are aware that young people need more than education to help them overcome the challenge of engaging in underage sexual activity. Young people require a forum where they can discuss, ask questions, tell their story, learn from each other and support each other.

Godfrey and Kezia have been instrumental in setting up ‘peer support' groups. A number of these have been set up at local schools. This enables the young people to support each other through the challenges they are facing. With further guidance and support from Kezia and Godfrey, the young people continue to be informed but also feel that support from each other and also become accountable to their peers.

They are a dynamic couple who are passionate about young people making good choices for themselves and for their future. They desperately want to see Ugandan young people holding on to their future. By educating, support, empowering through skills based work they can greatly help many young people, empowering individual lives

EDUCATION BEYOND SCHOOLS | LINKING YOUNG PERSON - TEACHER - PARENT - COMMUNITY

Part of the strategic development of Waakisa is to equip those who work with or have relationships with young people, that they can be more confident in helping and supporting young people as they make choices in relationships.

This is an ongoing target for the educators as they continue to establish greater links with the community and developing partnerships with schools.

Godfrey and Kezia have had the opportunity to forge great networks with schools in the area and as relationships and trust develops there will be more opportunity to extend work into training and supporting parents and teachers.

POINTS4PRAYER

1. Godfrey + Kezia - strength and wisdom | more opportunities in schools
2. Partnership - schools | churches | youth groups
3. Young people - that they are inspired to value their uniqueness, sexuality and that God works in their hearts.

  Waakisa Education Centre

  Waakisa Youth Centre.