Vijana wa shule ya upili ya Friends Shamberere wa-Chagua Maisha

Since ACLAD adapted the World Relief Choose Life curriculum for imparting life skills on adolescents in 2020, we have reached over 1200 girls and young women in western Kenya. Having tried and tested our Chagua Maisha curriculum on girls and seen the positive impact it had on them, staff members revised the program so that it can incorporate boys and also address other emerging issues that young people are currently facing including financial management, achieving goals and dreams as well as good study habits ns career excellence. The curriculum now has 10 interactive sessions, which will be used by and for both boys and girls 15-years and older.

Cyril and Sylvia take the TOTs through one of the sessions.

Friends Shamberere Boys High School, located in Malava sub-county, Kakamega county, is the first beneficiary of the pilot Chagua Maisha life skills for boys. After having talks with the school management and gaining their support, the first step was to train a select few of the students themselves from each class and stream to become trainer of trainers (TOTs), who will then take the rest of the students through the program, supervised by staff members on the ground. The ToTs training took place on the school premises between the 11th and 16th of March 2024, where 21 students were trained as TOTs. The training sessions were also attended by two Guidance and Counselling teachers. With a population of just over 600 boys and young men, one of the Guidance and Counselling teachers approved the program at the end of the train hinting that she believes that the curriculum will impart knowledge and skills to the students in the school and also help the school use the life skills activities during the guidance and counseling classes.

The trainers reported that there was a good reception at the school and that the participants were courageous and willing to share their thoughts, they were punctual and maintained cleanliness and good rapport with the trainers, which shows that there is enthusiasm for the program. Now, with ACLAD taking a supervisory role, the newly trained ToTs will take their peers through the Chagua Maisha curriculum, beginning May 2024 at the school. However, still with ACLAD’s support, the trainees will be having sessions during the April holidays in their respective home areas/villages.

One of the Guidance and Counselling teachers addressing the ToTs during the training sessions.

By Catherine Muteithia, ACLAD Research and Communications Assistant