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Peace House students receive new
knowledge
By Jenaya Rockman
Last Saturday students at Peace House Secondary School gathered to
celebrate the completion of an HIV/AIDS, health, and life skills
workshop conducted by volunteers from Global Service Corps (GSC). Five
volunteers from abroad along with four Tanzanian counterparts spent the
week teaching ninety pre-form I students about HIV prevention, health,
and life skills. When asked what he learned, Samwel Lemburis answered “I
learned how to protect myself from HIV/AIDS infection and I liked the
bridge model that shows how knowledge and skills can create healthy
behavior.” GSC’s program uses interactive teaching methods such as
games, role plays, and discussion to educate youth in HIV transmission
and prevention, relationship, decision-making, and communication skills,
nutrition, and decreasing stigma and discrimination. GSC volunteer Becky
Preusser from Ohio said “Peace House is a perfect environment to teach
in because of a combination of students’ willingness and excitement to
learn. Also the staff and administration’s commitment to learning is
undeniable and evident. All of these factors made this week enjoyable
and really facilitated our efforts as educators to spread HIV/AIDS
awareness and knowledge.” In addition to receiving health education the
students also had the opportunity to interact with the volunteers and
learn more about their home countries.
The week of workshops culminated with a graduation ceremony which was
attended by all Peace House students and many faculty members. The guest
of honor was Erick Donasian, a graduate of Arusha Secondary School, who
attended a GSC HIV/AIDS workshop in 2002 and who is still involved in
HIV/AIDS education for youth. He encouraged the students that they can
make a difference and should continue spreading the word to fellow
students. At the ceremony the students also presented dramas and songs
which they created throughout the week to highlight what they learned.
Four students opened the ceremony with a song encouraging their fellow
students to resist peer pressure and avoid unprotected sexual
intercourse. A drama later told of a young girl who skipped tuition to
be with her boyfriend and ended up pregnant, warning that irresponsible
decisions can lead to negative consequences. Form I and pre-form I
students also presented a display of their acrobatic skills. The
ceremony ended with closing words from Walter Elipokea, “Thank you for
what you have taught us. Through what you all have taught us we promise
you that we are going to use the knowledge in our lives and pass it on
to other people.”
The goal of Global Service Corps’ programs in schools is to equip
students with both knowledge and skills needed to live a healthy and HIV
free life. Student leaders are then trained in peer education techniques
so they can then go on to train fellow students. Twenty four Peace House
pre-form I students also attended a week-long Peer Educator Training
Workshop which equips them with skills needed to run a health club in
their school. Since 2001, GSC has worked to bring HIV, health, and life
skills education to 20 secondary schools in the Arusha area. For more
information on Global Service Corps’ programs go to
www.globalservicecorps.org.
Peace House Secondary School is dedicated to providing quality education
to disadvantaged students and currently has over 200 students enrolled
in form I and pre-form I. For more information on Peace House check out
www.peacehousefoundation.org.
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