African Jesuit AIDS Network (AJAN) in collaboration with the Catholic Diocese of Machakos, are currently running a 5-day AHAPPY training of trainers workshop for youth aimed at bolstering their integral Development. The training which commenced on 2nd December 2024 brings together over 60 youth leaders from different parishes of the Catholic Diocese of Machakos.

Day One | Youth Leaders Are Empowered with the Knowledge about Awakening to Self

The opening sessions was led by Fr. Alexander Kituku, the youth chaplain, Catholic Diocese of Machakos, who welcomed the participants and challenged them to use the workshop to gain more knowledge and get insights on how they can better themselves and take back the knowledge gained to the youths of their respective parishes.

Ms. Pascalia Sergon, the AJAN Capacity Building Officer and one of the AHAPPY facilitators introduced the partcipants to the pedagogy of, the AJAN HIV and AIDS Prevention Program for the Youth (AHAPPY) manual, a training tool designed by AJAN to accompany young people. The AHAPPY manual consist of five modules, where participants are taken through a journey of discovery of self and relationships with one another, with the world around us, and with God. The Modules include;

Module A; Awakening to Myself, Module B; This World I Live in, Module C; Facing A World with HIV and AIDS, Module D; Knowing Myself to Grow Myself, and Module E; The Foundation on Which I Build My Life.

With the participants highlighting their key expectations of gaining new knowledge and being better stewards of their youth groups, the AHAPPY training manual will be a great guide for the potential trainers, and the five-day workshop will provide a venue for animated discussion about the content.

Through the guidance of the facilitators of the day Ms. Lucy Monari, Dennis Owuoche and Mr. Johnfisher Ondigo, Participants were taken through Module A and were provided with various insights about a range of startling realities, starting from their intrinsic beauty as beloved children of God, to the paradox of a beautiful world marred by the impact of evil; to scientific factors about HIV and AIDS, including societal, structural and individual risks that make one vulnerable. They learn the life-skills and values needed to not only prevent the risks but to proactively build a world free of injustice and its fruits, among them HIV and AIDS.

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