About the Training
Purpose
The purpose of this program is to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to facilitate a process of mobilisation in their churches and communities.
The Churches, Channels of Hope programme offers tools to help churches and communities respond to the needs created by HIV and AIDS. These tools include training that equip participants to run two or three day Churches, Channels of Hope workshops in their communities.
Trained facilitators are valuable regional resource persons, who are then encouraged and supported to drive the mobilisation process within their own denomination, church or organisation. They could also encourage interdenominational partnerships and collaboration at a local level and facilitate workshops and information sessions focussing on HIV and Aids. Strong facilitators will also have the potential to coach other facilitators.
Outcomes
The successful participant would be:
* Equipped with thorough knowledge on HIV and Aids related topics and issues;
* Enriched and challenged to explore a Christian response to the challenges of HIV and Aids;
* Empowered with facilitation skills and guidelines; and
* Motivated to make a difference
Who should attend this programme?
The ideal candidate:
* Is a Christian leader who is ready to take responsibility and action within their own communities and churches.
* Will be comfortable with people and interested in facilitating HIV related workshops, information sessions and processes.
* Should preferably have previous exposure to HIV and Aids related training and projects (or have the capacity to absorb new information in a short time frame).
* Will have some prior experience of teaching, facilitation or public speaking, or show the potential to facilitate sessions.
*Will have the capacity to learn and express him or herself clearly in English (verbally and in writing).
Biblical guiding principles forming the foundation
The Churches, Channels of Hope programme is grounded in the following guiding principles:
* We are compelled by the love of Christ
* We accept others as Christ accepted us
* We uphold the dignity and worth of all human beings
* We identify with the Body of Christ
*We serve others in practical acts of love and compassion
* We speak the truth in love
* We need wisdom from the Holy Spirit
*We have a living hope
* We are Christ’s ambassadors
Content of programme
Theme 1: HIV and Aids and Me:
Explore and challenge unhealthy attitudes
Theme 2: HIV and AIDS -Information that empowers:
Overview of statistics
HIV and Aids
The immune system and HIV
Opportunistic infections
Stages of infection
HIV Transmission
Theme 3: Living with HIV
Exploring some of the realities of living with HIV
Positive Living and treatment options
Antiretroviral treatment
Theme 4: Christian Response
Christian guiding principles
Prevention strategies
Ethical and theological issues
Introduction to gender
Introduction to Christian care
Stigma and discrimination
Theme 5: Community Response
Field visit assignment (to be completed before training)
Understand the link between community responses (projects, programmes and organisations) and local churches.
Theme 6: Mobilising a Church community:
Dreaming together
Being a channel of hope
Mobilisation and its challenges
Planning and praying together
Other:
Overview of adult learning and facilitation tips
Group facilitation sessions
Written assessments
Introduction to CARIS (project of CABSA)
CABSA and mentoring
Methods of learning
A wide variety of learning methods are used, that are based on the principle of experiential learning. These methods include:
- Group participation
- Group debates and discussions
- Mini lectures
- Hypothetical scenarios and role plays
- Demonstrations
- Individual and personal activities and reflection
- Group activities
- Guest speakers
- Games and activities
- Pictures
- DVD
- Storytelling and sharing experiences
What will be expected from participants?
This training is not designed as a once-off event mainly of benefit to the participants. The Churches, Channels of Hope programme forms an integral part of our strategy to mobilise and assist faith communities to become HIV competent. Therefore it is expected that trained facilitators commit to a lifestyle that will challenge inaction, wrong information, unhealthy attitudes and stigma. Facilitators are challenged to become channels of hope in their respective communities and churches, and to actively work towards building a caring and responsible faith community.
Mentoring
On completion of the course, facilitators will become part of the CABSA facilitator family and will receive basic mentoring from CABSA for a minimum period of five years after the training.
Practical details
Duration
This training program is very time intensive and stretches over a week. The long hours and amount of homework and preparations requires residential training.
Ideal group size
20-24 participants.
Smaller groups are less cost effective, but will be considered in multiples of 5 or 6.
Assessment
Participants will be evaluated on:
- HIV and Aids knowledge
- Christian response and understanding of the topic
- Facilitation skills
Assessment will be based on the two facilitation sessions of each participant, written papers and the completion of a written assignment.
Resource material
Each participant receives:
1. A comprehensive manual that will include all the information that was covered during the training and more,
2. Master copies of the slides, posters and handouts,
3. Set of laminated discussion cards,
4. CD with additional reading and PowerPoint presentation,
5. Additional booklets that complements the content of training.
Costs
Due to the intensive nature and evaluation process this program requires a big training team of 5 people. The size of the training team, the nature of the resources provided and the accommodation are all aspects that contribute to the fact that this could be perceived as an expensive course.
The Christian Aids Bureau is a non-profit organisation that strives to make training accessible, but is constrained by the availability of funding and donations. The cost of each training event is therefore negotiated individually and depends on various factors. Candidates are welcome to apply for subsidies.
Training venue
Training comprises group work and therefore the training room should allow enough space for four or five groups each to be seated around a table.
Accommodation facilities must be available.
Three additional break away rooms will be necessary on day two and three of the programme when participants will each have the opportunity to facilitate two topics.
More information
For more information please contact Rev. Nelis Du Toit at or (+2721) 873 0028 or Jerry Sesoko
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