AFLF PanAfrican Anglophone Meeting
“Integrating HIV/AIDS Awareness and Behaviour Change
in Family Life Programmes”
September 20 to 27, 2006
Organisers:
This meeting is organised by the Africa Family Life Federation (AFLF), in collaboration with the host organisation FAMLI.
AFLF Organising Group:
AFLF President: Danièle Sauvage (Mauritius);
AFLF Consultant: Professor: René Ecochard (France);
Executive Director of FAMLI: Dick Cremins, S.J.;
Mrs. Monica Barenzi (Uganda).
AFLF has been formed in 2001 by ex-members of the Africa Zone of the International Federation for Family Life Promotion (IFFLP), 1974-1994. It has 20 Member Associations from 16 countries of Africa.
AFLF’s objective is to create link between associations working for family life education and providing guidance:
To couples in the fields of family life education in general, natural family planning (with scientific basis) and HIV/AIDS in particular.
To youth, through sexual education with the aim of bringing young persons to discover the values of human sexuality, mutual respect and chastity, which are key factors in HIV/AIDS avoidance.
Taking into account the context of HIV/AIDS,
· to provide a platform for exchange of information among different groups on major family issues, successful family programs, available expertise and resources, leading to better networking and co-operation.
· to analyse the new challenges and strengths and be more effective in our programme development.
· to reinforce our motivation through a clearer and better understanding of our values and principles, the basis of our decision to promote NFP for family enrichment.
· To improve our teaching skills in order to have more effective Family Life programmes
· To improve our techniques for better outreach and social action.
The meeting will comprise three different parts:
· Plenary sessions
· Workshop
· Sharing of experiences
The content of each session will be adapted to answer to the demand of the participants. The following items are proposed by the organisers:
A - Morning Plenary Session: Toward a clearer and better understanding of our values and principles, the basis of our decisions (30 minutes input + 30 minutes discussion)
· 21 Sept: Why do we promote ABCC? (A: Abstinence; B: Be faithful; C: Chastity; C: Clarification of the place of condom in the context of HIV/AIDS)
· 22 Sept: Why do we promote NFP? Place of NFP in the context of AIDS avoidance and the promotion of a culture of love
· 23 Sept: Values and principles at the root of our decisions
· 24 Sept: The meaning of sex in our total lives
· 25 Sept: How to promote our philosophy to the public and policy makers
· 26 Sept: Place of religion in our programmes.
· 27 Sept: Evaluation.
B – Morning Workshops (Technical session)
(As the dynamics of the workshops are process oriented and progressive participants will remain in the same workshop for all the days
Workshop 1:
· Training of NFP teachers: workshop for initial training of educators.
Person in charge: FAMLI training team led by Mr. P. Chinthunzi.
Workshop 2:
· Training for trainers of Educators: very participatory workshop involving persons having experience of teacher training.
Person in charge: Mrs. F. Chinthunzi, Head of Training, FAMLI, Malawi.
· NFP programme development: Strategic planning and organisations of an effective NFP programme Conditions for effective use of NFP, Supervision, Teaching methodology, Record keeping and statistics.
Person in charge: Mrs. J Le Blanc Project Coordinator and consultant Action Familiale Mauritius.
· Education for Life pedagogy.
"Education for Life" is a behavioural process for groups that has formed the basis of Youth Alive, education for Life (Kenya), and many other Programmes. The workshop will look at the underlying process that drives the programmes that use it. It will include both theory and experience of the process followed by discussion of ways of integrating it into various Programmes. The presenter began the process in 1988 and continues to train teams in using it. It is versatile and adaptable; participants will be helped to look at their own practice and develop ways of strengthening this.
Person in charge: Sister Dr. Kay Lawlor, MMM, Nairobi, author of Education for Life: Behaviour Change.
C ) Afternoon Plenary Session on evaluation (2 hours per day)
C1: Evaluation of the current trend in Africa: (1 hour per day: 30 minutes
Input + 30 minutes discussions)
· 20-21 Sept: New challenges: The Family and HIV/AIDS; Pressure of legalisation of abortion in Africa; UN (ONU) strategy.
· 22-23 Sept: New strengths and methods: Behavioural change programs: "Education for Life" behaviour change; Youth Alive, TeenStar; True Love waits; AIDS Cultural Change Programme (FAMLI). Learning to Cherish programme.
What is common? What differs? Mutual enrichment
· 24-25-26 Sept: New strengths and methods: Training for Transformation, (about participative and non-directive leadership, education and action) Fr. Kuppens
D) Afternoon Plenary Session on Action (2 hours per day)
D1: Plan of action; general in Africa: (1 hour per day: 30 minutes input + 30 minutes discussions)
· 20-21 Sept: What kind of projects can receive financial support today? Why? How to adapt to these constraints
· 22-23 Sept: Project elaboration, administration
· 24-25 Sept: Abortion in our countries: actions to face the present challenge
· 26 Sept: Networking.
PROGRAMME SCHEDULE
Conference venue:
The meeting will be held at Kambiri Lodge, Salima.
Climate:
In September Malawi is moving from the Cold Season to the Hot Season. There should be no rain, with pleasant sunshine. Because of the altitude, nights could be chilly. However, since the Lake Shore is at a very lower level, it will be very warm at the meeting place.
Registration:
Registration fee: 100 US
Accommodation:
Cost: 45 US$ per day.
Those who wishes a single room will have to contribute 10 US$ per day.
Travel:
As part of the conference package, transfers will be organised from the airport to the meeting place and vice versa.
The following countries do not need visas:
South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, Mauritius.
The following countries do need visas: Nigeria, Sudan,
To get the visas, you should send to FAMLI your passport details and the visas will be issued in Malawi at the airport. They will cost Malawi Kwacha3000 (about $22).
Exhibition
Each association is invited to bring the flag of their countries, materials for an exhibition describing their organisation and activities.