The students complete a rigourous course with approximately 20 hours of class time. The instructors begin by introducing the concepts of acceptance and alternate value systems through the presentation of a theoretical situation called "Achieng's Paradox," where a 15 year old girl becomes pregnant by a teacher at her school, and the ensuing consequences when she secretly procures an abortion at the aid of her mother. Students are asked to rank their most to least favourable characters in the story, 1 - 5, based on the values that these individuals exhibit. After the students have shared their rankings, a discussion ensues concerning the reasons behind the different value systems the students have shared. From there, instructors introduce and define the topic of self-concept, including sources of low self-esteem and self-image. The students participate in group work discussing the common problems and challenges that affect Kenyan youth, and specifically issues prevelent in their own student body. The students examine such issues as low self-esteem, STI's, peer pressure, discrimination, drug abuse, family background, relationships, academic pressure, victimization, and sexuality, and present their ideas of the definitions, causes, effects, and potential solutions to these problems.
After an extensive background in the various basic theories of counselling, including psychoanalysis, behavioral theory, humanistic theory, and the eclectic model of counselling, students move into a section in which they learn in depth about the process and practice of counselling. Students learn skills of support, including listening skills, skills of attitude, and skills of challenging and confrontation. The students also are educated about the practice and skills of leadership, decision-making, time-management, and the reception of feedback.
Finally, the students participate in a discussion of the concerns they have with sexuality, covering topics from the question of "What is dating?" to the education, prevention, and treatment of STI's.
At the end of the weekend, ACTS had trained 55 boys at Maranda and 45 boys and girls at Alwala. By the time the instructors were preparing to return to Kisumu, the boys at Maranda had already petitioned their teachers and school guidence counsellor to start a Peer Counselling Club at the school, and were looking into finding a permanant room to be reserved if any boy needed to use the peer counselling services. We are all so pleased to be working with such intelligent students so keen to take initiative and reach out to help their peers. We will be returning to Maranda and Alwala in a few months' time to perform a follow-up seminar concerning the experiences the students will have had as peer counsellors. We are in the process of negotiating to make our courses at Maranda and Alwala an annual event!
Our fantastic group of instructors (L to R, Jenipha Wasonga, Pamela Mudis, and Evans Nyesi):
Check out our group photo. This is a great group of boys!
Keep reading to learn about our successful training today at Anyiko Secondary School in Yala, Kenya. Thank you for reading!
Sincerely,
Agape Staff
The best blog. Great leap. Congratulation ACTS
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