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Churches, Channels of Hope: Training of Facilitators
Purpose
The purpose of this program is to equip participants with the appropriate attitudes, knowledge and skills to be channels of hope and assist faith communities in their journeys towards HIV competence.
The CABSA Churches, Channels of Hope programme also offers tools to help churches and communities respond to the needs created by HIV and AIDS. These tools include training that equips participants to run two or three day CABSA Churches, Channels of Hope workshops in their communities.
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;
• Motivated to be a channel of hope.
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.
• Should 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 learn new information in a short time frame).
• Should also have some prior experience of teaching, facilitation or public speaking or show the potential to facilitate sessions.
• Shouldhave the capacity to learn and express him or herself clearly in English (verbally and in writing).
Biblical Guiding Principles
The CABSA 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: Towards HIV competent faith communities
Discover how God sees you
Discover what God is already doing
Mapping assignment (to be completed before training)
Discover God’s dream
Defining HIV competent faith communities
Field visit assignment (to be completed after training)
Being a channel of hope
Planning ahead
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, Games, Pictures, DVDs, Storytelling and sharing experiences.
What will be expected from participants?
The CABSA Churches, Channels of hope programme forms an integral part of CABSA's strategy to mobilise and assist faith communities to become HIV competent. Therefore trained facilitators are expected to commit to a lifestyle that will challenge inaction, wrong information, unhealthy attitudes and stigma.
Facilitators are challenged to become channels of hope in their own 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.
Logistical details of the training
Duration
This training program is very intensive and stretches over seven days. The long hours and amount of homework and preparations requires in-house training. Training normally starts on a Monday at lunch time and finishes on Sunday at lunch time.
Ideal group size
20-30 participants.
Assessment
Participants will be evaluated on the following aspects:
• HIV and AIDS knowledge
• Christian response and understanding of the topic
• Facilitation skills
Assessment will be based on two facilitation sessions of each participant, three written papers and the completion of an assignment.
Resource material
Each participant receives:
1. A comprehensive manual that includes all the information covered during the training and more.
2. Master copies of the slides, posters and handouts,
3. A set of laminated discussion cards
4. A CDRom with additional reading, tools and power-point presentation
5. Additional booklets that complement the content of training.
Costs
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 is therefore negotiated individually and depends on various factors. The average amount is R7400 per person. Candidates are invited to apply for subsidies, when available.
More information
For more information please contact Aneleh Fourie Le Roux at training@cabsa.org.za or +27 (0)83 292 5358.
