Speaking at the 2015 CCIH Annual Conference, Carl Henn, MSPH, Director, HIV/AIDS Twinning Center, American International Health Alliance, explores a partnership in Kenya involving AIHA, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops General Secretariat and DePaul University to integrate Christian and African values to prevent HIV infection in youth.

1. AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
ALLIANCE PARTNERSHIP: KCCB AND DEPAUL
We do
development
differently

2. AIHA, KCCB-Kenya, and DePaul University
• AIHA is funded primarily by USG donor agencies (CDC, HRSA, USAID, etc.)
• Twinning Center for HIV/AIDS: Five year, $80 million HIV program. Funded
by the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) via COP process.
• Rapid realignment underway to support PEPFAR 3.0 priorities (90-90-90)
• Unique model is “twinning.” Key elements; how and why twinning works:
• Peer-to-peer relationships, institution-to-institution partnerships; AIHA support
• Subject matter experts motivated by vocation or by aspiration to volunteer!
• Voluntary contributions and leveraging of resources (often 1:1 match!)
• Demand driven; recipient institutions participate in selecting partners
• Model works. Organizations actually compete for a chance to volunteer
• KCCB as the host institution; DePaul University as the “resource” partner
American International Health Alliance, HIV/AIDS Twinning Center Program

4. Background - Kenya, KCCB, and DePaul
KENYA
• Nearly half the population lives below the poverty line (UNICEF)
• Fourth largest HIV epidemic in the world by number infected
• >1.6 million people are HIV positive, including 190,000 children (UN)*
• Relationship between poverty and HIV is complex
PARTNERS
• KCCB – Assembly of the Catholic Bishops in Kenya; through the
Education Commission, the Church runs 30% of all educational
institutions in the country throughout 26 dioceses.
• DePaul University – The U.S.’ largest Catholic university; based in
Chicago.
American International Health Alliance, HIV/AIDS Twinning Center Program

5. School-Based Twinning Partnership in Kenya
American International Health Alliance, HIV/AIDS Twinning Center Program
AIHA
HIV/AIDS Twinning Center
DePaul University
(“graduated” in 2013)
Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops
(KCCB) National Team
KCCB Dioceses (24) and Parishes
KCCB Schools (1,600+)
• Multidisciplinary – implementing a
multi-pronged and community-based
partnership
• Volunteer-driven – annually leverages
over 400,00 expert volunteer hours

6. Programming Package
• Goal: Increase KCCB capacity to:
• develop, implement, monitor and evaluate school-based
and radio-based HIV prevention programs for youth,
• Reduce new HIV infections among youth, and
• use an integrated approach in Kenyan primary schools.
• “Making Life’s Responsible Choices” (MLRC) program, a
school-based life skills intervention for youth (ages 11-14)
• “Families Matter! Program” (FMP), a community-based
intervention parents and caregivers of youth (ages 11-14)
• “Love Life, Talk and Live!” a radio messaging campaign
• Radio Waumini, a nation-wide Catholic radio station
• Reinforces positive behavior change lessons
• Interviews, music, skits, and other dynamic and engaging
messaging techniques for the larger community
American International Health Alliance, HIV/AIDS Twinning Center Program
Communities
At-Large
(RADIO)
Parents &
Caregivers
(FMP)
Individuals
(MLRC)

7. Making Life’s Responsible Choices (MLRC)
• Targets in-school youth (ages 11-14)
• Seven modules provide a holistic approach:
Self-Awareness
Human Sexuality
Healthy Relationships
Drugs/Substance Abuse
HIV/AIDS and STIs
Behaviour Change
Child Safety and Protection
• Incorporates Christian & African/Kenyan values
• Train-the-Trainer (TOT) teacher model
• School-based intervention during school year
American International Health Alliance, HIV/AIDS Twinning Center Program

8. Judith, a teacher’s story
• “The lessons of MLRC teach coping
skills that are useful not only for
pupils, but also for teachers. I
came back a new woman,” she
says with a laugh. “It’s changed
the way I talk with my own
children. I don’t look for what they
did wrong all the time and I’m
much more open with them ...
even about subjects like HIV/AIDS.”
American International Health Alliance, HIV/AIDS Twinning Center Program

9. Families Matter!” Program (FMP)
• Target: parents/caregivers of youth enrolled in MLRC
• Community-delivered human sexual risk
reduction and parenting intervention
• Adaptation at two levels:
• Kenyan audience
• DePaul, KCCB, and developer for Catholic audience
• Complements MLRC by helping parents reinforce
communication & similar key messages at home
American International Health Alliance, HIV/AIDS Twinning Center Program

10. “Love Life, Talk, and Live!”
• Radio program on Catholic radio station, “Radio Waumini”
• Utilizes a theory-informed “intermedia approach;” promotes
behavior change by combining mass media and
interpersonal communication
• 15-minute programs reinforce key messages (MLRC, FMP)
• “Call-in session’’ encourages participation on HIV topics
American International Health Alliance, HIV/AIDS Twinning Center Program

11. Program Results (since 2005)
REACH:
722,153 youth (ages 11-14)
8,799 parents and caregivers
TRAINING:
3,418 teachers
1600+ schools (KCCB network)

12. Program Reach (since 2005)
• MLRC began in selected schools in
15 Dioceses in 2006 as a pilot.
• It has since been scaled up to 24 of
the 26 Dioceses throughout Kenya
• FMP piloted in one diocese in 2009
• expanded to a total of 4 Dioceses
• Targeted evaluation carried out in
2012-13
• Publication is pending
American International Health Alliance, HIV/AIDS Twinning Center Program

13. Achievements
• Reinforces the ability of youth to manage sexual risk behaviors that
places one at risk of HIV infection
• Equips youth with skills, knowledge and attitudes to help them avoid
risky healthy behaviors
• Provides facts on HIV/AIDS & other STIs, and the knowledge to make
informed decisions in matters of human sexuality
• Teaching-learning resources for teachers approved by Kenya Institute
of Curriculum Development (former Kenya Institute of Education).
• Embraced by other Christian denominations and other religions
• Improved parent/caregiver and child relationships are critical in HIV
prevention among youth
American International Health Alliance, HIV/AIDS Twinning Center Program

14. Sustainability
• MLRC is a homegrown HIV intervention for youth
• Embraced by parents, teachers, communities and religious congregations
• Decentralized from KCCB to the Parish level; Parishes have taken full
ownership of the MLRC program including in non-high risk areas
Voluntary Contributions:
• US: Technical experts from DePaul University
• Kenya: 3,380 MLRC teachers, 700 heads, 25 Education Secretaries and 15
Religious Education Advisors volunteer their time and skills;
• Approximately 500,000+ hours of voluntary effort contributed annually
American International Health Alliance, HIV/AIDS Twinning Center Program

15. Sustainability
• MOH HIV Policy (2013) advocates for appropriate, comprehensive
sexual education for youth
• MLRC meets criteria
• MLRC curriculum is in the process of being certified by a national
body (National AIDS & STI Control Programme-NASCOP),
• Upon certification it is eligible for full public funding
• MLRC is sensitive to various religious and cultural values
• It is successful among Christians and other faith groups
• MOE and Teachers Service Commission are fully invested in it
American International Health Alliance, HIV/AIDS Twinning Center Program

16. Contact Information
KCCB – General Secretariat
Augusta Muthigani, National Executive Secretary
Commission for Education & Religious Education
augusta@catholicchurch.or.ke
AIHA, Washington DC
Carl Henn, Director, HIV/AIDS Twinning Center
chenn@aiha.com
Silas Goldfrank, Senior Program Associate
sgoldfrank@aiha.com
American International Health Alliance, HIV/AIDS Twinning Center Program

17. THANK YOU!
American International Health Alliance, HIV/AIDS Twinning Center Program