Child Counseling Project;
The project is one of KUAP Health Programme projects started in 2002. Five volunteers from different communities were identified trained in counseling and offered their services to 25 schools and communities. In 2009, we were privileged to have sixteen trained and experienced child counselors who work voluntarily and give counseling services in 35 schools both primary and secondary as well as communities.

Our project goal is to provide holistic psychosocial support for vulnerable children affected and infected with HIV/AIDS in communities and schools within Kisumu districts.

Our vision is to have a society where children can express their thoughts, feelings and emotions in a safe environment where they are respected and valued as individuals hence live a more meaningful life.

Activities done in the project;

1. Child Counseling in schools and Communities,
Currently child Counseling project is giving its services to over thirty-five primary and secondary schools and Communities within Kisumu District. We do Individual and Group counseling, Psycho-education, debriefing and referrals to other projects for other services and follow-ups to children at homes for counseling services.

2. Memory Book writing
We are using memory book as technique in Counseling for children affected and infected with HIV and AIDS together with one parent or guardian.

3. Trainings

• Child counseling training and refreshers
• Memory Book.
• Psychosocial support trainings and refreshers for teachers and head teachers and community health actors.
• Life skills training for children.
• Parenting skill training for parents/guardians.
• Training on peer counseling and education.

4. Children Support Clubs for HIV and AIDS infected children

• Children infected with HIV and AIDS are the members of 3 support clubs in Obunga, Pandipieri or Magadi. Children meet twice monthly to share their experiences on living with HIV and AIDS and have the opportunity to socialize with each other. The opportunity to be involved in social and recreational activities enable children to build resilience, develop their self-esteem and enable them to be creative and innovative in their thinking. Children also receive life skill education from child counselors and staffs from KUAP Patient Support Centre at every meeting which helps them live positively with the HIV and AIDS.

Child Counseling and Resource Centre (Magadi)

• In September 2009, we opened the child counseling and resource centre, which is part of the Child Counseling Project. It serves children with multi issues/challenges from both schools and community within Kisumu. It is located in a temporary building in Magadi Catholic Centre situated in Manyatta Area. We work in collaboration with other organizations in and outside Kisumu, psychosocial support (PSS) teachers in schools, community Health workers, opinion leaders who refer children to the centre for counseling services and other Projects/Programmes in KUAP.

Activities in the next months

• Training of Head Teachers on Psychosocial Support.
• Open forum for children and parents/guardians in the Centre
• Meeting with Psychosocial support Teachers.
• Supervision session with child Counselors
• Provision of Child counseling services to children in and out of schools

Contact us
Kisumu urban Apostolate Programmes Pandipieri  (KUAP)
Health Programme, child counseling project
P. O Box  795, Kisumu, 40100
Kenya
Mobile No: +254-(0)727 448 946

Email:
childcounselingkuap@yahoo.com

Visit us:
KUAP -Child Counseling and Resource Centre,
Magadi Catholic Centre
Next to Manyatta Market.