PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES OF THE CENTRE

Since its inception, CSA has implemented a range of activities related to both research and advocacy. The Centre’s activities are broadly clustered into the following programmes:

• Reproductive Health, gender and HIV/AIDS
• Social Policy, Advocacy and Networking
• Supporting Service Delivery through Training
• Management and Consultancy Services

2.1 Reproductive Health, Gender and HIV/AIDS Programme

The following projects are currently being implemented under this programme:

2.1.1 Youth for Youth (Y4Y) project with University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)

The Y4Y project is implemented in collaboration with the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). It uses a youth to youth approach in RH and AIDS education. The project in its pilot phase involves the community and uses a unique approach, which promotes the mentoring of younger students by older ones. Using a curriculum designed specifically for this purpose, secondary school students go through an orientation using the curriculum and then mentor primary school pupils. The project, which promotes youth participation in all areas, is an excellent way to reach youth with important information on HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health. Piloting has been concluded and consolidation of activities, evaluation and planning for scale up is currently ongoing.

2.1.2 ICT, Sexuality and HIV/AIDS education

In collaboration with the Dutch World Population Foundation (WPF), the Centre for the Study of Adolescence (CSA) and the Ministry of Education are piloting a computer based sexuality education programme the “World Starts With Me” (WSWM) for young people between 12-19 years, in Kenya beginning early 2006. The WSWM is a computer-based program, which is already being implemented in Uganda in collaboration with SchoolNet Uganda, where more than 30 schools are participating in the program. The aim of the program is to promote sexual and reproductive health as well as integration of HIV/AIDS and adolescent development into the school system. The WSWM is an innovative approach, which combines knowledge transfer, attitude development and skills building with training in computer skills.

2.1.3 Testing Community Level Strategies to Reduce Maternal Mortality: Community Based Abortion Care (COBAC) project

In 1996, the Centre for the Study of Adolescence (CSA) and the Pacific Institute for Women's Health (PIWH) in collaboration with the Kenya Medical and Educational Trust (KMET) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) initiated a project to address community-level dynamics of unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion and their contribution to maternal mortality and morbidity. The first phase consisted of formative research to identify socio-cultural attitudes towards unintended pregnancy and abortion-seeking behavior in Western Kenya.During the second phase, dissemination of research findings, participatory intervention design and piloting was conducted. The third phase implemented over a four year period focused on documenting and evaluating the effectiveness of community level strategies to prevent unwanted pregnancy, address unsafe abortion and strengthen PAC services as a way of reducing maternal mortality and addressing broader safe motherhood concerns.

2.1.4 Mainstreaming Emergency Contraception through Private Providers Networks and Community level structures in Western Kenya

The goal of this project is to increase knowledge and acceptance of Emergency Contraception (EC) among women, and to mainstream EC in RH service d within the public and private health sectors, and at the community level.

The project works with both the public and private health sectors, and community level structures to expand their roles in promoting maternal health through integration of EC into existing RH services. In addition to community health networks, IEC and training efforts, facilitative supervision is undertaken to strengthen monitoring of effective distribution and logistical support.

2.1.5 Peer Education - Increasing access to Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS information services among secondary school students in selected districts in Kenya

The Centre for the Study of Adolescence through its Outreach Program has been implementing activies aimed at increasing access to RH and HIV/AIDS information among secondary school students in selected districts in Nyanza province. Activities have included the recruitment and training of Youth Peer Educators and the sensitization of Guidance and Counseling Teachers. Representatives of the Peer Educators were trained as trainers in basic reproductive health information and life coping skills. Peer Education clubs were then established and outreach programs to other schools initiated.

2.1.6 Promoting the right to education for girls in selected districts in Kenya

Since 2004 the centre for the Study of Adolescence has been implementing a programme aimed at empowering girls through education. The programme implemented under the RH, Gender and HIV/AIDS program aims at promoting the right to education through policy advocacy, community sensitization and education and provision of learning materials as.

The main aim of the program is to catalyse community action and get community to not only recognise the importance of educating girls, but to also support girls to stay in school by supporting efforts to eradicate certain harmful practices as well as investing community resources to best extent possible.

The project is driven by the understanding of the impact that education has on the lives of women. Girls’ education has been shown to have multiplier effects in other areas as well. Quality education keeps girls in school and makes them less vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Education can impart an early understanding of social justice and evidence shows that countries with higher primary enrolment and smaller schooling gaps between boys and girls are usually more democratic.

2.2 Social Policy, Advocacy and Networking

2.2.1 Advocating for policy and legislative change

CSA has been at the forefront of advocacy efforts aimed at improving the health and general well being of adolescents and youth in Kenya. In the mid nineties, CSA was instrumental in the formation of an advocacy coalition on adolescent health – The Kenya Association for the Promotion of Adolescent Health (KAPAH). CSA provides technical assistance to KAPAH, which is also hosted by the Centre.

One of our major achievements in this area has been the introduction of a re-entry policy for girls who drop out of school due to pregnancy. CSA led and co-ordinated the advocacy efforts, which resulted in the introduction of this policy guideline.

CSA was also instrumental in redirecting the negative debate on Family Life Education (FLE) by demystifying and publicizing the contents of the Ministry of Education’s FLE curriculum. The Centre’s efforts brought the FLE debate to the public domain and raised the level of understanding on this key issue.

Other key achievements in this area have included:

• Reviewing existing Kenyan laws and policies related to adolescent and youth health with a view to influencing changes in both areas.
  
• Development of advocacy materials used in lobbying policy makers to support activities aimed at improving the well being of young people.
  
• Lobbying members of Parliament to galvanise support for adolescent health issues

2.2.2 Contributing to the Development of National Policies

CSA has been involved in the development of the following policies:

• Adolescent Health and Development Policy 2003. The development of this policy was co-ordinated by CSA together with KAPAH. CSA raised the initial funding required for this activity, conducted research and together with KAPAH wrote the first draft for government .
  
• National policy for Population and Sustainable Development.
  
• Sessional Paper on AIDS.
  
• The Return to School Policy Guidelines.
  
• Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Guidelines

2.2.3 Promoting dialogue on policy and legislation for children’s rights through the enforcement of the Children’s Act

• Advocacy for the implementation of the Return to School Policy Guidelines for girls who get pregnant and want to return to schoo.l

2.2.4 Development and Packaging of Advocacy materials

CSA packages information for use in advocacy and organises meetings with leaders in a bid to improve the policy and legislative environment to facilitate young people’s access to information and services and to enjoy their right to health and general well being.