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| It costs £450 to train an orphaned school-leaver as a health educator and pay for them to deliver workshops in school for a whole year. |
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| Eriksson Keya, leading a health education class at Buseko Basic School, near Kitwe. |
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| Joseph and Chipo, teaching a grade 8 class at Bupe Basic School. |
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Health Education Programme, Kitwe
Each year we work with the Copperbelt Health Education Programme (CHEP) to fund the training of around 40-50 young people as peer health educators. The participants are selected from those who have been supported by the primary and secondary education programme.
After the initial training, the health educators are provided with resources and support to enable them to run HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness-raising sessions. They spend up to four days a week in school, presenting sessions that are part of the curriculum and also run after-school Anti-AIDS clubs. The health educators are currently active in approximately 20 of the 62 schools in the Kitwe area where Cecily's Fund supports orphaned and vulnerable children.
In 2005/06, over 3,500 children attended these workshops and are now better able to make informed choices and protect themselves from HIV/AIDS.
The health educators:
- Teach young people about HIV/AIDS and other sexually-transmitted diseases and how to avoid them.
- Help young people know their rights and recognise when they are being abused.
- Work to combat the stigma that surrounds HIV/AIDS and those affected by it.
The educators use drama, songs and games to help children discuss issues which are sometimes very difficult. They help children to understand their rights and where to turn for help. At the same time as disseminating information, educators are developing their own confidence and skills.
'We are often stopped in the street, just in town, when we're wearing our Peer Educator t-shirts. Even "big people" come to us for information!' - Andlac Daka, aged 22, a Peer Educator in 2006
The focus of the primary school sessions (children aged 7-13 years) is on abstinence, self-awareness and development of life skills. Sessions at secondary school level (children aged 14-18 years) deal with issues including HIV/AIDS prevention skills, prevention of teenage pregnancy, sexually-transmitted diseases and behavioural change.
In order to ensure that the health educators are supported in the schools that they visit, a system of matrons and patrons has also been set up. The matrons and patrons are key contact teachers in each school. They are volunteers who are enthusiastic about the programme and provide a link to other staff in the school. |
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