After a bit of lull caused by unavoidable Covid-19 interruptions, AHAPPY activities have resumed in earnest at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School. Being one of the only schools picked in East Africa for the piloting phase of AHAPPY program back in 2013 mainly due to the nature and background of the students, majority of whom reside in Kibera Slums in Nairobi County.

Prior to the introduction of the program, the school was faced with myriads of challenges directly touching on the learners ranging from teen pregnancies, drug and substance abuse to general indiscipline.  A year after introducing the program the turn-around was evident. The school recorded a drop in pregnancy cases from around ten teen pregnancies a year to almost zero. The level of discipline equally improved immensely.

Girls at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School in Kibera reading through the AHAPPY manual

Due to unprecedented challenges, where the school was closed and students taking a break majorly due to Covid-19, and a very compressed academics year from late 2020 to the end of this academic year 2022, there an upsurge in teen pregnancies mainly among girls who have never benefitted from the program. Because of the occurrences above, AHAPPY, through the support of the school administration, has been relaunched and is now a core and compulsory school program for all the year 1 and 2 (form 1 and form 2) students.

In the coming academic year 2023, we hope to pick up from where we left this term, with a variety of activities including but not limited to:

•             Symposiums on teen pregnancy, STIs, Drugs and substance abuse

•             Recording short skits and movies for AHAPPY lessons and training

•             HIV/AIDS awareness week in late November 2023.

By, Mr. Ondigo Johnfisher

Coordinator-AHAPPY Activities at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School