Project spotlight: Education for Life
Education for Life is a project located in Eldoret, Kenya that empowers and provides opportunities for people living with HIV and AIDS from five informal settlements: Munyaka, Kamukunji, Huruma, Kipkaren, and Langas. This is done through education, psychosocial counselling, economic empowerment and advocacy to enable beneficiaries to make life-fulfilling choices towards realising their full potential in a society that is free of discrimination and marginalisation.
Recently, EFL conducted a one-day workshop on psychosocial counselling. The participants were 30 community members who recently tested positive for HIV. The workshop aimed to enhance their capacity to cope with issues including adherence to Anti-Retroviral medication, disclosure of HIV status, stigma and discrimination. It was noted during the session that the majority of the participants attributed failing to disclose their HIV status to a fear of stigma. The session helped to increase awareness to the participants on self-acceptance and informed decision making as a stepping-stone towards positively living with HIV/AIDS.
“I am very grateful for the training I received concerning psychosocial counselling. Before the training, I had not informed my kin about my HIV status, but since then I have been able to freely talk to my sister about it. I also have plans to inform my children about my status, of course with the help of my sister with whom I have become great friends. My husband died three years ago and currently I have been taking my HIV medication. I am very grateful to the EFL group.” – Rebecca, EFL beneficiary
An additional workshop was held that focused on healthy living. The session focused on hygiene, the value of a balanced diet in promoting good health, making right choices and promoting Kitchen gardening within the families. There was increased knowledge among participants on proper hygiene in handling food, awareness on less expensive or locally available food that they can incorporate in their daily diet and how to take initiative to grow their own food like vegetables in their backyard in the local community.
Br. John Paul Oluoch recently took over as Project Director at Education for Life. He holds BA in Development Studies with 4 years of experience in community development, project engagement and administration in Christian Brothers Formation mission in Arusha, Tanzania. We are sincerely grateful to Misean Cara for the continued collaboration and support of the Education for Life project.
