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Zambia Training
 It
is hard for me to find the words to describe my experience during the 7
days Alain Tommelessio and I spent in the "Copperbelt" region of Zambia
bringing the Free Teens program to a country that, while full of
promise and natural beauty and resources, faces serious challenges.
The
nearly 70 educators, social workers, youth leaders, pastors, homecare
workers, teenagers and people with AIDS who attended the three days of
Free Teens/Relationship Intelligence training, impressed me with their
intelligence and commitment to learn ways of helping the youth of their
nation to avoid becoming infected with a disease that already has
infected one in six adults(15-49).
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I had the feeling that every word I spoke was received like a drop of precious water in a parched land. As
can be seen in the photos, the Zambians are attractive and friendly
people. Fortunately most of them spoke English and, for those who did
not, the talks were translated into the local language, Bamba. The
physical conditions of the training center at the Boys Bigrade in Ndola
were simple. We had to cover the windows with pieces of cloth to darken
the hall enough to see the powerpoint presentations ("Living in the Age
of AIDS" and "Deciding Your Future" on the first day and "Relationship
Intelligence: Seeking Love, Making it Last" on the second day.)
John
Banda, president of Pregnancy Decision Health Centers of Zambia, and
Rev. Gregory Nyendwa, founder of Calvarian Ministries, which runs a
number of schools and orphanages in and around Kitwe, the second
largest city in the country, were the co-conveners of the training.
We
also visited the Chicete Kelo AIDS hospice founded by Sister Eileen
Keane. There were roughly forty men and women who had AIDS living
there. Many of them had been rejected by their own families, since
AIDS, while widespread, is not well understood by many Zambians.
Here are comments from some of the participants in the training: |
"This
the most powerful, effective and life-changing approach that we have
been waiting for.
It has totally changed my life and I know it change
many teenagers."
John Banda
"This training will help reduce the high rate of infection from HIV/AIDS in my country."
Theresa Mwewa
"I
plan to use this information to teach my fellow teens about abstinence,
the best way to protect ourselves from deadly diseases like HIV/AIDS
and other STDs."
Mercy Ngambi
"I
have been to different trainings with different organizations. Never
has the truth been
brought like this training. I recommend this
training to other
towns in Zambia."
Newton Zulu
"I
have received a lot of new information that I did not know about human
development and relationships. This approach deals with our physical,
emotional and spiritual development as humans. Thanks!"
Rishard-Charles Kachali
"I wish that this kind of a seminar would happen everywhere worldwide."
Enita Ngwalu
"This seminar has been a great help to me especially since I am preparing to have
my own family."
Margaret Nwanba
"I
liked the Relationship Intelligence presentations because I feel most
youths in
Zambia lack this kind of information…Very important
information, but we need
more teachers educated, especially in schools
and colleges."
Kelvin Mukuka
"[I hope that} as many of these presentations as possible can be made
throughout Zambia." BR> Iwachitango Mwaku
"I would like to teach my fellow youth about what I have learned, especially about abstinence."
Catherine Nyakaold
Many
participants commented that they liked the interactive teaching style
and the way that the presenter asked questions and listened carefully
to the answers of participants. The second day of the training focused
on this teaching method in the exercises contained in the Free Teens
Student workbook. Many participants also expressed their strong
conviction that this abstinence-centered approach could do much more to
protect their youth than the condom-centered approach that has been
used for nearly two decades in their country and throughout most of
sub-Saharan Africa. Many asked for further trainings. Free Teens USA is
making efforts to raise more funds to make that possible.
Richard Panzer
Founder/Director
Free Teens USA
These next pictures were taken at the Chicete Kelo AIDS hospice in Ndola.
AIDS patients
Rev. Nyendwa with AIDS patient
Mr. Alain and Rev. Nyendwa
Richard Panzer with AIDS volunteers
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