THIS IS AN ONGOING ACTIVITY. THE NARRATIVE IS UNCHANGED EXCEPT FOR UPDATED

REFERENCES TO TARGETS AND BUDGETS.

The only changes to the program since approval in the 2007 COP are:

• Geographic Coverage: The Meru North district which is the Samaritan's Purse MET program geographic

coverage has been sub-divided into two districts (Igembe and Tigania) but this does not change the

operations of the MET program;

• During 2007, Samaritans Purse and APHIA II Eastern will analyze the similarities and differences between

the MET and the nationally rolled-out KARHP program, both targeting in-school youth and adults, and make

any program revisions necessary to provide comprehensive prevention programming.

1. LIST OF RELATED ACTIVITIES

This activity relates to activities in Voluntary Counseling and Testing and care programs at faith-based

hospitals including Maua Methodist Hospital, Tigania Catholic Mission Hospital, and Nyambene District

Hospital.

2. ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

Samaritan's Purse implements an ongoing abstinence and behavior change program for youth called MET

(Mobilizing, Equipping, and Training) that focuses on helping youth make healthy choices that prevent new

HIV infections through practicing abstinence, secondary abstinence, and faithfulness. In FY08, SP will focus

on increasing primary abstinence among the never married youth (15-24 years), increasing accepting

attitudes among never married youth, and increasing the uptake of VCT services among individuals of ages

15-24 years. In a follow-up survey conducted in February 2007, these areas of focus were identified as

deficient. To address these concerns, SP intends to continue the standard MET approach cycle of activities

with modifications to existing activities and addition of new ones. Specifically, SP will involve people living

with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) in addressing issues of stigma by providing platforms where PLWHAs will

address stigma and its effects in fueling the spread of HIV/AIDS. As part of the standard cycle of MET

activities SP will continue involving youth in visiting PLWHAs homes to interact with families and change

their perception of them. SP will conduct youth day conferences, abstinence open days, soccer

tournaments, and Community Theater that pass important messages on abstinence as well as distributing

bumper stickers bearing different AB slogans and encouraging participation in national holiday celebrations

as effective fora to mobilize young people towards healthy behavior change. To increase the uptake of VCT

services among individuals SP will collaborate with already existing VCT centers, health centers and APHIA

II Eastern to avail mobile VCT services in communities where SP conducts workshops. Additionally, SP will

conduct VCT open days where community members will be enlightened on the importance of VCT in HIV

prevention and offered an opportunity for testing. SP will train 1,600 individuals to provide HIV/AIDS

prevention programs that focus on AB. Those trained will reach 68,000 youth with community outreach

HIV/AIDS prevention programs that promote AB. These sessions will take place in 42 communities in the

Tigania, Ntonyiri, and Igembe supervisory areas within Igembe and Tigania Districts. In addition to ongoing

program monitoring, follow-up surveys in February and August of 2008 will provide management with data

on the program's impact on knowledge, attitudes, and practices of young people in the target area.

3. CONTRIBUTIONS TO OVERALL PROGRAM AREA

The MET program targets include 68,000 individuals reached through community outreach programs that

promote abstinence and/or being faithful, and these targets correspond with the Kenya Five-Year Strategy

goals. Those unmarried youth and their peers reached will receive specific messages to choose abstinence

as a life-saving option, and faithfulness will be emphasized for married youth. More narrowly, a significant

percentage of those reached will promote a message of new behavioral norms and legal protections

responsive to the special vulnerability of girls. Another contribution to the Kenya Strategy goals is that a

significant portion of the targets will have messages about the heightened risk of orphans and other

vulnerable children. This activity also focuses on youth as a priority population by promoting youth

campaigns aimed at encouraging a change in sexual behavior, discouraging drug and substance abuse,

focusing on negative peer influence as a way to prevent new HIV/AIDS infections in the community and

developing links between BCC programs and care services for PLWHA.

4. LINKS TO OTHER ACTIVITIES

The MET Program creates linkages between the grassroots implementers and other services. To

underscore the emphasis on abstinence and being faithful, linkages to services for STI treatment and VCT

are necessary. SP will refer youth in need of these services to Maua Methodist Hospital (MMH), the

Nyambene District Hospital (NDH), Kangeta Youth Friendly Center and the Ministry of Health (MoH)

supported VCT center in Maua town. SP will network with APHIA II Eastern in providing VCT services to

individuals who turn up during VCT open days. Youth and youth leaders will participate in the care of

PLWHA, and make referrals to the PEPFAR funded ART and palliative care programs at MMH and NDH.

Linkages between SP's Community Based Volunteer Teams (CBVTs) and APHIA II will help equip CBVTs

with drama skills to pass AB messages through the magnetic theater training.

5. POPULATIONS BEING TARGETED

The MET program targets primarily youth, including girls, boys, primary and secondary school students.

Additionally, program activities target adult men and women, HIV/AIDS-affected families, out-of-school

youth, community leaders, religious leaders, and volunteers. Groups and organizations targeted include

community-based organizations, faith-based organizations and rural communities.

6. KEY LEGISLATIVE ISSUES ADDRESSED

The program addresses gender equity in programming through behavior change messages, mentoring of

vulnerable girls and young women and respectfully challenging male norms and behaviors through

community conversation on sexual abuse and exploitation of children and youth. Training community

mentors and increasing dialogue with community and government leaders aims at reducing violence and

coercion. Open dialogue about HIV/AIDS helps break the stigma and identify the cultural norms contributing

to abuse of children.

7. EMPHASIS AREAS

This activity includes major emphasis on information, education, and communication. Minor emphasis areas

are community mobilization/participation, training, and linkages with other sectors and initiatives.