This project specifically involves distribution of the Where is the Good Samaritan and Take charge booklets and Videos. More to that it also involves Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop where by a group is trained on how to train others on becoming the good samaritans on HIV/AIDS pandemic
“AIDS concerns everybody,” the slogan says. This includes also the churches, which is an important part of the civil society in many African countries. This has been taken into consideration in many new strategy plans (Uganda, Cameroon, Kenya, Tanzania etc) where religious institutions have been invited specially to take active part in fight against AIDS. Churches have on their side felt the challenge, but not always known how to respond because of the following reasons:
It is no secret that many churches have had problems how to handle the epidemic. Some churches still think AIDS is a concern for ‘the others,’ not for them. They think AIDS is a concern for government, health service and other agencies. Others see this epidemic as God’s punishment for sin, and are therefore focusing more on condemning sinners than to promote forgiveness and love. Even if this is about to change and many churches are taking part in AIDS work in a positive way, there is still a job to do to change people’s attitude.
Some church-leaders have also pointed out the problem they have with the approach used in previous HIV/AIDS campaign. Those campaigns, launched by the Government and greater international organisations, have been mainly secular and behaviour change has been largely ignored. This has been an obstacle for churches to take fully part, because they want a strategy built on biblical values and holistic approach more than just “condom distribution.”
We have been able to conduct workshops in some areas where the training was extremely needed. Many of those living in these areas are hard hit by the HIV & AIDS pandemic and the training came to them at just the right time
TESTIMONIES
Pastor Koome from Mathare giving his personal testimony says; “I used to preach that HIV & AIDS was for the immoral people. I have learned a great lesson that I must never judge but be like Jesus in the story of the woman who was caught committing adultery. It is my responsibility to reach out to those who need help in the community. This workshop has surely changed my life.”
In one area where we had a decentralized workshop called Ngungani – Mwingi District, the villagers later formed a HIV &AIDS support group which they called “Ngungani Good Samaritan Self Help Group”. The specific objectives of the group is
- To provide moral & material support thus meeting physical needs of the PLWHA & OVC (People living with HIV & AIDS and Orphaned and Vulnerable Children)
- To provide psychological support to PLWHA & OVC.
Conduct seminars in the nearby villages on the HIV &AIDS using the Good Samaritan story. The group is a very active group and though they have very limited resources they have managed to start an office on a piece of land donated by one farmer in the area. They have built their office out of mud clay bricks that they have made themselves. They also make and sell these bricks to other people who wish to construct houses in that area. This is their only source of income.
Peter Nzeka is one of the participants of the decentralized workshop in Ngungani -Mwingi. Peter says” In all the years that I have lived in this village I have never seen this kind of thing. We have had some forms of workshops but done by local people, they seemed not to have as much information as you have given us. Thanks you so much for bringing someone to tell us how they are living with HIV &AIDS we have never imagined that someone could be so bold to tell people their status. She made us respect people with HIV &AIDS. Thanks for the books and everything. We feel so lucky to have been remembered by you.”
We have testimonies from some of the student about how the Good Samaritan programme has changed their lives.
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