REDEMPTA INZUGA  G&C COORDINATOR

The guidance and Counseling department was established in January 2008. Guided by the vision to bring positive change to the youth, it has come a long way in guiding and empowering them within the institute and its neighborhood. The department is run by the guidance and counseling coordinator, assistant coordinator and team of 12 committee members.Trained student peer educators are part of this team and act as the linkage between the department and the students.

Various activities are planned and coordinated in this department such as health talks, behavior change communication talks, voluntary counseling and testing of HIV. Health and social issues have always emerged whenever we have the planned talks and even during the VCTs. And this had made us realize that talks alone without providing the services leave the students with more questions than answers to problems affecting them and hence services to handle gynecological issues have also been incorporated into the program.

 

It is also important to note that lack of adequate information, for instance on causes of cancer, use of contraceptives and others are issues that need to be addressed seriously noting that students form the larger part of the country’s population and therefore need to be strengthened and empowered with the correct information that will help them make informed choices, avoid peer pressure and be of help to their fellow youth in their home areas when they leave college. With the correct information, the young people are able to take charge of their helath and make wise decisions. The department intends to build capacity of the peer educators and teacher counselors who have been instrumental in the implementation of the planned activities and also APHIA PLUS KAMILI for support in training, outreach activities and sponsoring VCT services.