Memories

Looking cool!!!

What a pair!!!

Ready for the function

Oh my!!

Waiting for his day. Already in the process.

The seeds....

A Visit to Mama Sarah Obama

 

It was quite an experience for me and I have never visited the home of the father of President Barack Obama. Mama Sarah is quite an amusing, funny and simple person and she welcomed us with open arms and was quite open to discuss with us about the cultural festivities which was to take place on the 19th and 20th January, this year.

In memory of a Heroe-cousin Thomas Owino Ong'anga

A young talented and gifted life ended tragically through a road accident involving akamba buses. woui!woui!woui!

wuod Gem-RIP

Experiences and challenges in provision of CT to young people-Presentation at KAPC conference

EXPERIENCES AND CHALLENGES FACED IN PROVISION OF COUNSELING AND TESTING TO ADOLESCENTS IN SCHOOLS IN ASEMBO, RURAL WESTERN KENYA:

 Amimo, B;; Ochoro F Nginja, E;; Adipo, D; Odongo, F; Obongo C,

KEMRI/ITM

Introduction:

Despite prevention measures, HIV prevalence still remains high among young people in Kenya. In a cross-sectional survey in Asembo in 2003/04, HIV prevalence among females aged 15-19 years was 9% and <1% among males the same age. Since 2003, KEMRI/ITM has been implementing a comprehensive youth program in Asembo to improve sexual and reproductive health of adolescents aged 10-20 years. We implement two youth HIV prevention curricula, Healthy Choices I and II, which promote learning ones HIV status and provide knowledge and skills to abstain or practice safer sex. We also provide youth friendly health services incorporating VCT, clinical services, recreational facilities, support groups for young people living with HIV/AIDS and vocational skills. We describe the experiences of offering VCT to in-school adolescents in Asembo.

Description:

We sought approval from the District Education Office to initiate VCT service in schools. We then conducted awareness and sensitization workshops for head teachers, teachers and parents. We identified and trained local youth from Asembo to offer VCT services and engaged them as peer counselors. Every week, 3 schools are visited with youth friendly health services including VCT, health education and general clinical services. We provide both one-on-one and group counseling while testing is individual.

Issues:

Working with peer counselors and the integration of clinical services alongside VCT helped promote acceptability and uptake of VCT services among school adolescents. HC helped to inform adolescents of the need to visit a VCT site and know their HIV status. The tight schedule of schools limited the time allocated for health services. Despite formation and decentralization of support groups, only few adolescents who test HIV positive join these groups, and fewer disclose their status. The national VCT guidelines recommend that parental permission be obtained before offering VCT to minors.

Conclusion and Recommendations:

Further discussions should be held on how to involve   adolescents below 15 years, are   thinking of initiating sex or being in relationships without involvement of parents. The school administration and parents need to be consulted and involved in the design and implementation of VCT services in school settings. Use of peer counselors can promote acceptability and uptake of VCT services. More time and innovative strategies are needed to strengthen support groups of adolescents testing HIV positive.

THE FISH GROUP-My days

Fish youth group is a catholic group that is based in Kisumu Town, it was founded by Fr. Antony chantry and Sr. Mary Ellen [you can visit http/www.fygroup.blogspot.com for more info on the group]. I joined this group in 1988. I was still a young girl and i felt enthusiastic joining such a prestigious group of many youths within Kisumu. That was when my life as a youth changed for the better. The group had many challenges as well as enjoyable moments.
I grew up within the group as a member of Nyawita fish group, under the leadership of Magaret or Maggy as we called her and the late Lucas Wanyande. Later i got the chance to be trained as a leader of Nyawita fish group. When my family moved to Migosi, I was proviledged to start migosi fish group which i led till  1995 when i joined the Fish Team. The fish team was the highest leadership structure in the group [ref. fygroup blogspot.com]. The fish team also had its own wonderful experiences since i had always admired those who had had the opportunity to serve in the team. Such included Chris Akun, Alphonce Lumumba, the late Alfred Sigar, late Peter owino, late Vincent Njer [veve], Anne Adhiambo [Mathe as we called her], John Oduor amongst others.
My most memmorable times are during the FLTP trainings [Fish Leadership Training Program], social days where we had cultural days, sports days, christmass outings etc. i was an adent member of fish theatre under the leadership of Argwins Kodhek, where I got various certificates of best actress and our group could get best theatre team, best plays. [Argwins has since continued in Theatre and is now a teacher majoring in teaching theatre in schools in Nairobi]. In sports, i used to enjoy netball and later I used to officiate netball matches during the annual sport days.
Another interesting event was the annual Fish outings, which used to be held during the month of December. For between three to five days, the fish group would visit other towns, groups or even the famous ''Youth Challenge Week'' at Mji wa Furaha in Nairobi. Some of the towns we had priviledge to visit were Nairobi, Mombasa, Homabay, Mbita, Nakuru, Kampala and Jinja in Uganda. The most notable times during these outings were the times of ''Milk and Mala'' during bro. Hans ''go-parish'' structure.
There is so much to be writen about the fish group that cannot be completed by the stroke of a pen. I happened to serve in the fish team with my colleagues Steve owiti, Charles Lwanga, Jerusa Deya and martin Opondo as a co-opted member of the team.
I stand for uplifting the esteem of girls in the group and even organized a series of girls empowerment days during my time in the fish team. We have instilled confidence in many young girls and we are continuing to do so even at present through mentorship and recently we formed the 'Fish allumni'' group to help mentor the current fish group.

LET IT GO......

There are people who can walk away from you.
And hear me when I tell you this! When people do walk away from you: let them walk.
You don't need to sooth people to being with you.
Especially if they walk away from you, leaving you when you most need, desire or love them.
When people can walk away from you let them walk. Your destiny, love and desires are never tied to anybody that left you.
People leave you because they are not joined to you. And if they are not joined to you, you can't make them stay. Let them go. 
And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person it, just means that their part in the story in your life is over. And you've got to know when people's part in your story is over so that you don't keep trying to raise the dead. You’ve got to know when it's dead. You've got to know when it's over.
Let me tell you something. I've got the gift of good-bye. It's the tenth spiritual gift, I believe in good-bye. It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'm faithful, and I know whatever God means for me to have He'll give it to me. And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it. Stop begging people to stay, to love you, to help you. Let them go!!
If you are holding on to something that doesn't belong to you and was never intended for your life, then you need to......LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to past hurts and pains......LET IT GO!!!
If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your worth.....LET IT GO!!!
If someone has angered you ........ LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge......LET IT GO!!!
If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction..... LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents ….LET IT GO!!!
If you have a bad attitude.......LET IT GO!!!
If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better......LET IT GO!!!
If you're stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new level in Him......
LET IT GO!!!
If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship, a relationship gone soar.........................LET IT GO!!!
If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help themselves.....LET IT GO!!!
If you're feeling depressed and stressed......... LET IT GO!!!
If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling yourself and God is saying "take your hands off of it," then you need to......LET IT GO!!!
Let the past be the past. Forget the former things. GOD is doing a new thing for this year!!!
LET IT GO!!!
Get Right or Get Left. Think about
it, and then.
LET IT GO!!!