Initiation into adulthood programs for teens

Family life, a group of counselors and educators under the education office o f the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi, is organizing initiation into adulthood programs for boys and girls finishing class eight this year, as part of their life changing and empowering programs that aim at building a healthy community.

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The initiation programs are open to every human person regardless of tribe, place or religion and have had even Muslims attending the program. Family life has been offering the initiation to adulthood programs for the last seven years, and the response has been wonderful said Mrs. Wanderi, the family Life coordinator. This year, the group will, for the first time ever, be offering a second phase of the program because the first phase is fully booked and parents demanded for a second phase. The first phase of the program will be from 20th to 28th November at Queen of Apostles Seminary, along Thika Road, opposite Safari Park Hotel. The second phase will take place from 30th November to 7th December and registration is still open for the second phase. Dubbed IGAP (Initiating Girls into Adulthood) ,the girls program aims at providing an alternative rite of passage as opposed to FGM. The program provides the girls with holistic education as they enter adulthood, with counseling on various topics including culture, FGM effects, self awareness, serenity, woman rights, self esteem, sexuality, and effects of irresponsible behavior. The girls will also be trained on making right choices, healthy relationships, behavior change, substance abuse, parent relationship and peer influence. The girls will also undergo a symbolic rites of passage before graduating on the last day of the last day of the program. The boys program, dubbed IRAP, aims at offering a hygienic circumcision rite with professionals; and also equipping them with necessary life skills that will enable them deal with challenges such as peer pressure, media influence, school dropout, drug abuse, and new environment and experiences in high school. The boys are also empowered to become responsible adults and build health relationships with their parents and peers. For both groups, there is usually a follow up program in April, where the groups meet, create cells (groups) according to their places of residence and set their own standards, which each of the member should follow. The cells are then encouraged to be meeting regularly, share and encourage one another. Besides the initiation to adulthood programs, family life also runs other programs for kids. Mrs.Wanderi said they start creating awareness from an early age and have a program for 9-13 yr olds dubbed PREAP, where the kids are equipped with skills of dealing with risky and influential behaviour.This program is run every school holiday. We love kids so much and want to enlighten them from an early age, and they are actually the ones who ask lots of questions she said. Mrs Wanderi says this is important as most kids take the music celebrities as their role models. There is also a program for high school kids (14-17yrs), where the teens are empowered with skills of making right choices in life, understanding their sexuality and practical steps of dealing with negative

influences. Form four leavers also have program-Teen Stars, run from January to April; to empower the youths with ways of setting goals, career development, healthy relationships and changing from risky behavior. These youths are also trained on becoming peers counsellors. The group also has programs for couples, married men, married women and single parents as well. The group has a number of 8 family therapists and numerous peer counselors. Parents with kids attending the IRAP and IGAP programs will have a seminar on 6th November from 9am to 1pm. Kids attending the programs will be required to carry beddings, mosquito net, a cup, plate and spoon, writing materials and personal effects such as soap, towel, slipper, bucket and a buggy pair ofshorts for boys. Charges are Sh7800 for the boys and Sh6800 for the girls. On registering, a parent will be required to pay Sh1000, part of the fee as commitment fee. For more information or to pick up the registration forms, visit family life offices at St. Peters Clavers Primary school compound, along Race Course Road, or contact Mrs. Regina Wanderi on 0722 128 294.