Life Skills

by Everlyne Nzilani

It was 26th of April on Thursday in the afternoon at one of our weekly journalism club meetings.  Becky Gitau, our life skills teacher for the day, took charge of our class following a request from our journalism teacher Thomas to take us through a life skills session. We all were eager to all learn something new and after introductions of the new teacher to us by our teacher Thomas, we were all left behind to learn with Aunty Becky.

Upon greeting us once more, Aunty Becky asked us to introduce ourselves so as she could know us better. “Life skills are skills which help us cope with our day to day life,” she told us. All of us sitting attentively on the brown benches gave a listening ear to as she embarked to help impart knowledge on life skills especially to us young people. Her session was very interactive, considering the topic of the day.

Students enjoying the life skills lesson

 We were able to be taught about life goals that each of us should have, and this was defined as, “things we want to achieve in life.”  As the session went on, we all were requested to ask ourselves who we are, and what we want in our lives, and for a moment, the room went dead silent as a grave, as each one of us went into deep thoughts thinking of what possible answer to give back.

Thereafter, we were introduced to a new word, “productivity” which means to be someone in life, and it’s also self awareness. We are able to get a better understanding of the word productivity and moved further on how to make better decisions in life.

These are some of the key points when making decisions in life:

• Take time to think about the problem
• Think of the negative and positive effects of your decision 
• And learning how to make your own decision no matter what happens in life.

We realized how fast time flew as the day’s session came to an end with some pledges of more such sessions with Aunty Becky whom I found to be very resourceful in what we had learned today. I shared with some of my friends that it was better we had the session before our journalism class for the day which now makes me think and view things differently.

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Everlyne is a member of the Uweza Journalism  Club.  She is in class eight at Ayany Primary School.

Counseling Program at the Center

Students in Kibera were on break from school for the month of August and we took this opportunity to launch a daily counseling program for youth at the Community Center. Many of the participants were players from the Uweza soccer team. The program lasted for three weeks and was lead by Becky, Uweza's Counseling Manager and Joyce, Uweza's Girls Soccer Coach. We hope to continue this program once or twice a week for the rest of the schooly ear.

Below is a blog post written by Becky about the program.

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This was an am amazing moment to relate with sponsored children as we talk heart to heart matter of life.

From day one we created a rapport where started by setting the ground rules of journey we walk together.

The aim of this counselling program was to help the young people deal with the difficult situation they face in their lives as they grow up. Beside soccer program the management of Uweza came up with this educating counselling program so that they can be all rounded teenager/ youth.

However, there was a lot of relationship with the soccer and counselling where kids could identify with e.g discipline in life and in the field, focus in life, books, and in the field, friendship among others attribute we were learning. Both boy and girls did topics together which was very interactive and healthy.

During this learning lesson I provided them with a supportive environment that will help them build their self confidence, acquire knowledge, dispel myths, develop positive values and attitudes , and adopt responsible practices when in school, at the field , at home , with their friends or at the centre. Every day they would do a home work or a reflection of the things they have learnt and this helped me to assess how far they are getting the information

Some of the topics we went through are as follows.

Self awareness and self worth : The purpose of this lesson was to help them build self confidence, self acceptance and to value themselves. Typically adolescents are not happy with who they are or their situation, they want to be taller or shorter, to have money to live in a different house etc. This topic can protect them from negative influences and accept who they are and what they have.

Body changes during Puberty : Mostly teenagers learn about body changes of puberty and sex from their peers, they may hear information that is confusing and lead them to risky behaviour. The session was to provide teenagers with correct information about changes in their bodies. It also includes new things they needed to consider during this time like personal hygiene.

Consequences of premarital and extramarital sex : Curiosity and peer pressure are very real forces in the lives of teenagers. The purpose of this session was to help teenagers value the purpose of sex in marriage and to understand there can be negative consequences, physical, emotional, spiritual and mental- when they have sex outside marriage relationship.



The facts about HIV/ AIDS and STIs: This session was dealing with facts about HIV/ AIDS and STIs. It contained many facts, though I tried to keep them vey simple and clear, kept them engaged and involved with the knowledge they were receiving.

Valuing Abstinence : Though they were aware of consequences of premarital sex, they may still decide to have sex in spite of risk to their health and well being. They may be seeking, acceptance, admiration and affection from their peers. In this session i was trying to help them discover that they can still have these things without being sexually active.



Dangers of drugs, alcohol and the influence of the media: Young people may want to make good choices, but there are many influences and temptations that can persuade them to make bad choices and decisions. Using drugs and alcohol can put them in to a great risk to their life and
health. This session aimed at helping them to be aware of these dangers and to consider how these things can affect their health, goals, and decision. It also focused on negative peer influences and build skills to help them overcome peer pressure, allowing following what is right.

However, this program is good but it needs a lot of follow up, because the environment the said teenagers are growing in is among the contributing factor to risky behaviours. Thus, there is a lot of work to be done for these teenagers if this information is to sink through and be put into practice.

The program was wrapped up with skit, poem, song and drama which was like a summary of what we were learning throughout the two weeks. With the help of coach Joyce it was very good.

Life for Girls in Kibera

Last week, we started a three-week session of counseling classes at the Community Center. Becky has been working with boys and girls ages 9 and up and exploring topics such as self-esteem, strengths and weaknesses, and the changes that come with puberty.

As a homework assignment, the girls wrote essays about their lives and they provide a glimpse into what life is like for girls growing up in Kibera.

Essay #1: Football Team

I am thirteen years old and in Standard Six. Before I join the football team I was feeling lonely at home. I was just playing with my friends. The time reached one of my friends came and told me there is a team of Football girls. She told me I go and join the Football team. The first day I was afraid of playing. I did not know if I can play Football. The time reached I continue practising Football and now I know how to play Football.

Essay #2: A Journey To My Life

It was a chilly morning when our class teacher told us to imagine if our life will end up in a miserable life. And I was wondering if my life will end up while I shall have my both parents. By good luck, my dear Lord has just blessed me with both my parents Mother and Father and a family of three brothers and two sisters.

One day my aunt told me to visit her at her house. I reached there and she told me that to tell her my Ambition. I told her that when I grow up I will be a lawyer. And God will be with me for ever in my family got that they were my beloved parents, I hugged them and I was so happy not different from a king in his palace.

Essay #3: A Journey by My Life

It was the year two thousand and seven when I was in Class Three my father dead and then my life is not bad but one thing that I see hard when my father dead I see only one thing that every body has his father but me I don't have my father so that my life is hard but I concentrate with everything that I am doing. But when I was growing up then my mother also dead when I was in class four but I have stress of two weeks but the next week all the stress that I have gone away until now I was in class seven on the year two thousand and eleven.

But right now I am staying with my brother but he is not the first born, the first born is not staying here in Nairobi, he is staying at home with my last brother and me I am staying with the second born and me I am the last born at our home...and the time I am right now my life is very nice and I am happy with every body on our house but the [school] fees is problem.

Essay #4: Untitled

I was born in 1998, at that time my parents did not have money to take me to school and to buy food for us to eat and inside the house we did not have chairs, table, television and any other things. We can turned to pray. As for me, I was very sad because others were very rich and get food every day and eat and sleep but us we just sleep because we did not have food!

But my father and mother always talk to me never ever cry my child, one day God will bless us, he is not sleeping he is seeing us. After that my life started changing and we were getting food and somewhere to sleep until now we were very happy and healthy.

Essay #5: My Life

I'm coming from a family of seven children. I'm coming from a very suffered family. I can't say suffering because we are not suffering now. It was all over. We used to live a life of terrible things, even the school fees was a very big money to pay. And my dad searched a cheaper school for him to be able to pay. I worked hard focusing to something. I never cared about my problems. I prayed and worked hard at school just to get what I wanted and by a good luck, God heard my prayer and sent a sponsor.

And that is where my way began to open. It was very hard for her to transfer me to another school. But she managed to transfer me to the school where I'm now at. She paid everything for me until where I am now. A month later, my father found a job and all our dreams began coming true. And now our problems are over. We are focusing to a wonderful dream.

Congratulations Becky!

Becky Gitau, who has worked with Uweza as a counselor since 2008, is graduating from Pan African Christian University today with a B.A. in Counseling Psychology. She hopes to continue with on her education and receive a Masters in Clinical Psychology.


Congratulations Becky!!

November Counselors Report

Sorry for the delay on this one! Click here to read the report from our counselors about their work during the month of November.

Counselors October Report

Click here to read the Uweza counselors report about their work during October.

Counselors September Report

Click HERE to read the Uweza counselors September report.

Counseling Retreat and August Report

On August 30, our counselors, Collins and Becky, organized a counseling retreat for the kids at Tunza Children's Center in City Park in Nairobi.

From their August report:

"We managed to take 56 kids plus one helper (Mike) and Mama Tunza to the Nairobi City Park. We got a 62 seater passenger bus for transport from Kibiko to the park and back conveniently. We also managed to pay for the park fees and we had enough snacks and drinks for the kids.

Moreover, we had a beautiful programme for the day. In the morning sessions up to lunch hour we divided the kids into two groups with the help of two other professional counsellors (Susan and Anne). The topics for the morning sessions were: Relationships (family relationships, requirements for healthy family relationships, boy/girl relationships, what values to embrace to pursue purity of life, creating relationship boundaries), Self Confidence (self esteem and believing in self and its advantages), Self Management and Self Control (controlling the minds, what to watch and time management).

In the afternoon, the programme included: Team building activities and sporting activities where the kids were exposed to competing games and awards given for the winner as well as the kid who participated in many games was awarded with a book. The games were meant to compliment the morning sessions topics. We also enhanced the essence of unity and brotherhood in the team building activities.

We culminated the day with in house rules on the way forward as we look forward for another moment like that. The kids were very happy and appreciated the sponsorship and made a request to have such events at least every holiday if possible. Thank you very much for your continued support we would not have made it without your support."

Read the entire August Counseling report here.

Pictures of the retreat have been posted in the photo gallery on our website: http://uweza.org/framephoto.html

July Counseling Report

Click HERE to read the most recent report from our counselors.

Congratulations Collins!

Today Collins, who works with us as a Youth Counselor, is graduating from Pan African Christian University with a B.A. in Theology and Counseling. Congrats Collins!

June Counseling Report and New Counseling Initiative Web Page

Firstly, click HERE to read the June 2010 Report from our Counselors.

Secondly, we have created a web page for the Counseling Initiative (which includes all of the Counselors Reports since July 2009) so check it out! It can be viewed at: http://www.uweza.org/counseling.

As always, thanks for reading and thanks for your support!

Tunza Counselors April and May reports

According to their most recent reports (apologies for being a little late on posting them), a lot of issues are currently taking place at the center. We are really grateful that Becky and Collins are there weekly to work with the kids. They provide them with some sense of stability and a positive outlet for what they are going through. We will try and see what else we can do to help.

Click HERE to read the April report.

Click HERE to read the May report.

Tunza Counselor's March Report

Click HERE to read up on their progress!

Counselors January Report

Click HERE to read the report written by the counselors we have hired to work at Tunza Children's Center about their work during the month of January.

Counselors December Report

This month's report is pretty long and heavy, with a lot of major issues. A lot of the issues revolve around the older kids finishing school and transitioning into adulthood. We are very glad that the counselors are there to work with the kids during this time.

We are working with the counselors to set up a 2 or 3 day camp for the older kids in Feburary. It will be held somewhere away from the home and will give them time to sort out the issues that they are facing and will continue to face as they become older as well as a chance to receive advice and guidance.

Although a lot of the issues mentioned may be out of our control, we will really try and see what we can do to help the kids. Having the counselors to talk to them every week is already a big help so thank you to our donors for funding their services!

Click HERE to read their report.

Counselors are paid about $30 each ($60 total) per weekly session. If you would like to help us fund counseling for the Tunza kids through a one-time or monthly donation, go HERE.

Counselors November Report

Click HERE to read the report from the Tunza Children's Center counselors about their work with the kids in November.

Counselors October Report

This past month has been busy for the Tunza kids, with a lot of transitions taking place. They also continue to adjust to life in Ngong. The counselors have really helped them get through this time.

Click HERE to read their report for October.

Counselors September Report

The Tunza counselors, Collins and Becky, continue to be a great resource both to the kids at Tunza and to us in understanding the issues/problems facing the kids and how we can help.

Click HERE to read their report for September.

August Report from Counselors

Click HERE to read the report written by the counselors that we have hired to work with the Tunza kids about their work during the month of August.

Report from Counselors

The counselors that we have hired to work with the kids at Tunza have written a report for us about what type of issues they have been working on, the progress they have made with the kids and what still needs to be done.

See the full report here.