Text Box: KITOVU MOBILE AIDS HOME CARE, COUNSELING AND ORPHANS PROGRAM (MAHCOP) PERIOD: JANUARY TO JUNE 2005 PROGRESS REPORT COUNSELLING AND TRAINING SUPPORTED BY: KNH Introduction At the beginning of the year, staff had a 4-day planning workshop for 2005 trauma counseling activities for the two sub-counties; Lwankoni in Rakai District and Kisekka in Masaka District. The pilot trauma-counseling project in the two sub counties, which began in 2001, was to end in May 2005. Originally, as per the proposal, this project was meant to last for two years. However, being a new and pilot project there was an oversight on a number of activities like case supervision and follow up that had not been spelt out in the proposal but practically, during the implementation, such activities were really crucial and were incorporated. This eventually accounted for the incorporation of the extension of the project period to two years, thus totaling to four years. Never the less, we appreciate the concrete experience gained in this implementation and we believe it will be of great use in future for similar projects. 1. Over all objective To improve accessibility to counseling services by school children who are vulnerable, infected or affected by HIV/AIDS and have been traumatized, through training teachers as trauma counselors in two sub counties. 2. Specific objectives To equip teachers with basic counseling skills so as to help traumatized children in schools To initiate peer counseling groups in schools so that pupils may be able to help one another To raise awareness among parents/guardians, local and religious leaders on trauma counseling issues in children 3. Planned activities for the last six months ü Follow up of trained trauma counselors in the two sub counties ü To conduct refreshers workshops for trauma counselors /teachers ü Provide counseling service to children referred by school trauma counselors ü Provide counseling services to trauma counselors/ teacher who may be having un resolved traumatic experiences ü Continuous trauma sensitization workshops for community leaders and parents/guardians. ü To conduct group counseling sessions for parents/guardians. ü To facilitate the formation of peer support groups to in school children and youth. ü To conduct education for life workshops to in school children and youth peer support groups. ü Continuous monitoring and evaluation a) Follow up of trained trauma counselors in the two sub counties The follow up of trained trauma counselors in the two sub counties was successfully carried out. The aim was to support and assist the counselors implement the acquired skills by effectively offering counseling services to children in need and facilitate the formation of peer support /counseling groups among children.   b) Refresher workshops During this period, four (4) refresher workshops were conducted for both Lwankoni and Kisekka sub counties. These were organized in four-sessions whereby two (2) were organized in Kisekka Sub County and one in Lwankoni Sub County. For the fourth session, all trauma counselors in the two sub counties came together and shared their 2-year experiences in trauma counseling services in schools. During the refresher workshops, trauma counselors were facilitated on the use of SWOT (Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis, the solution focused approach in counseling traumatized children, plus the education for life skills adopted from the Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI). The knowledge and skills gained for this exercise enabled the School Trauma Counselors to facilitate the formation of more peer counseling groups in their schools and more especially building resilience among the children. They reported an improvement in counseling traumatized children and the methodology of facilitating life skills among orphans and vulnerable children. The table below reflects the number of participants in the refresher workshops Sub county Number of schools Number of Participants         Male Female Total    Kisekka   31 27 16 43 Lwankoni   10 8 6 14  Total   41 35 22 57 Note: Trauma counselors who had been transferred to other Sub-Counties equally participated in this exercise as they had been notified earlier on. c) Provide counseling service to children referred by school trauma counselors During this period, eight (8) cases were referred and handled by the MAHCOP Senior Counselors. In the same way two individual cases were followed up and supported to cope and find best alternative solutions to their problems. It was interesting to note that a number of children/students have taken very much interest into the service and as a result, some schools have presented lists of names of pupils who request for voluntary testing after being sensitized. These were later referred to the MAHCOP Nurse Counselors to provide the required services to the children. d) Continuous trauma sensitization workshops for community leaders and parents/guardians The parents and guardians who never had a chance of hearing all about trauma were sensitized. Local leaders also had a chance to hear all about Psycho social support for orphans and vulnerable children. Parents/Guardians and local leaders were sensitized about trauma, its causes and effects to children following guideline information from the Regional Psychosocial Support Initiatives intended to help OVC . Participants committed themselves to mobilizing other community to act in this noble cause and advocate for such courses for the well being of children and their guardians. The table below reflects the number of participants who turned up for the workshops Sub county Category Male Female Total Kisekka Parents/guardian 215 208 423   Local leaders 178 111 289   Children 121 189 310 Lwankoni Parents/guardians 59 171 230   Local leaders 71 95 166   Children 88 102 190 Total   732 876 1,608 e) Formation of peer support groups for in school children and youth Given the experience that children express themselves better and feel freer when they are with fellow children, they were supported and guided to form peer support groups. During this reporting period, a total of 284 peer support groups were formed. Out of these 149 groups were for female children while were for male children.   In this respect, children who were sensitized helped others to understand the positive effects of peer support when one has problems. The table below reflects the details of the groups formed   Sub counties   Number of female groups     Number of male groups   Total number of groups formed     Kisekka   44   42     86   Lwankoni   105   93   198     Total   149   135   284   f) Education for life workshops to in school children and youth peer support groups Education for life workshops were conducted during holidays, a period when children were out of academic pressure, a suitable time for them to relax and acquire life skills to enable them persevere in this era of HIV/AIDS.  During this exercise, groups of children from different schools met in centers convenient to them to learn and express their feelings. A total number of 3,896 (M=173, F=216) children participated in the education for life skills exercise as indicated in the table below: Sub county Male Female Total   Kissekka 1290 1377 2667 Lwankoni 441 788 1229 Total 1731 2165 3896  g) Continuous monitoring and evaluation The project activities were continuously monitored during this reporting period following planned schedules. This enabled staff together with the School Trauma Counselors to identify areas on which the content of the follow up workshops were based. In the same way, an evaluation for the project has been done (copy of the report already forwarded) ü It was observed that children feel very proud of their peer counseling groups. They chose titles for their groups, set ground rules and goals. When they meet, they choose a topic for discussion and release tension. They laugh, chart and give support to each other. This shows that children have the potential to solve their own problems when supported and when listened to. 4. Achievements ü The School Trauma Counselors are not only active in counseling traumatized children but also their expertise has enabled them participate other child-related programs in schools, for example PIASCY (Presidential Initiative on AIDS Strategy and Communication to the Youth) hence improved expertise in the school community. ü The children are utilizing the counseling services from the trained School Trauma Counselors. This is evidenced by the cases handled and those referred to the program counselors for further handling during this period. Such cases included those related to incest, abandonment by fathers and mistreatment by step parents. ü The formation of peer counseling groups by the youth improved on their communication skills and has developed new ways of copping with problems. Children have initiated gardens with the help of their teachers to strengthen the skill of hard work in their homes. ü During the follow up exercise and sensitization workshops, parents reported that they themselves have improved on their communication skills with their children unlike before when many children used to suffer silently and parents / guardians were unaware of their mistreatment acts to the children. ü Local and religious leaders have intervened in supporting and helping children who are mistreated or abused by the family members / community members. 5. Challenges · Teachers who had changed schools were not followed up they had transferred to other sub-counties where there are no trauma counseling project activities. However, as they were notified to participate in the follow up workshops, they were as well encouraged to implement the same skills and continue to help traumatized children in their new schools. Implementation of activities was not done in time as planned because the department experienced a manpower gap when two staff left the project for greener pastures while one left for upgrading. Two volunteers were recruited to help fill the gap. In some cases,especially when a child lacked basic need and scholastic materials, counseling helps but not to all children. This has been regularly pointed out by most School Trauma Counsellors. Thus in such cases, the child may not have been holistically helped. In most schools, the ratio of children who need the trauma counseling services is overwhelming, higher than the service providers. This would be alleviated in case more teachers are intensively trained in trauma counseling. Conclusion During this period, the community was stimulated/reminded of their role in caring for their children. They satisfactorily participated in the implemented activities and contributed to achieving the set objects. We are applauded to our partners of KINDERNOTHILFE for all the support that enabled us to achieve what is reflected in this report. Reported by ______________ Rosemary Nakijoba Program Deputy Director