The Rafiki Program - The Anonymous Questions

The Cup Foundation has reached 20,000 adolescent girls and 10,000 boys in Kenya with a program called Rafiki since 2015. During our trainings - that usually take place over two to three sessions in schools - our beneficiaries – underprivileged girls and boys aged 11-16 years old - are being offered the opportunity to write anonymous questions. The questions can be about anything. What they are thinking or worrying about or any other little thing they feel afraid or ashamed to bring up in front of others. Which many times mean things they haven’t told anyone yet. These questions are important - for the youths themselves - but also for us and the development of our comprehensive curriculum and manual that is an alive and ongoing process in progress. The youths’ questions have provided us with a road map and clues to what is going on in many Kenyan children lives and minds.

Trust is an often-overlooked topic when designing sexual educational programs for youths in schools (mostly aimed for teachers). The lack of a trusted adults for youths while growing up is what one could call a “root” problem. A challenge that is closely linked to - and often the direct result of – the general taboo surrounding topics related to sex and reproductive health. Who a 13-year-old girl feels most comfortable to listen-and-talk to about sensitive issues is a key question that needs to be considered and we believe that there is a need for change from the current situation. Teachers and parents cannot be relied upon anymore as the persons in the society that is responsible for teaching our younger generation sex ed. They aren’t best equipped for a variety of reasons which is why the situation today is bad, not only in Kenya but in many places around the world.

We believe in training young adults that are close in age and share a similar background with the youths to become specialized youth supporters, so called peer educators or Rafiki’s. Rafiki means “friend” in the Swahili language and that is exactly what this idea and program is all about. Offering children and adolescents in schools the support that only good friends give; someone they can trust, someone that keep secrets and who is there when needed. A Rafiki is a confidant, big brother or sister and buddy as well as a role model between the ages of 18 – 28 years old who have an interest in health issues, human rights and the well-being of others and wants to make the world a better one.

Using peer education in support and prevention programs has proven to be successful many times before. This program ensures all school children have somebody - a Rafiki or a peer available in their school continuously. Someone who is present on weekly or monthly basis a day or two. And the idea is that these young adult trainers and supporters will get a new official role within the health sector carrying the title Rafiki. A name to be proud of printed on the back of cool t-shirts. By basing the Rafiki teams at health clinics independent from the school, a link to the much-needed youth friendly health services will be firmly established. The Rafiki methodology is a sustainable "Support and Prevention" initiative that will ensure youths grow up supported and are given the information needed to help prevent serious health issues such as teenage pregnancy, unsafe abortions and HIV/STI′s leading to early school dropout.

The education provided by Rafikis in school will include the current sexual education and live skills curriculum as well as the questions-and-answer-methodology that penetrates to the bottom of their current problems and needs. The questions that are posed anonymously on small papers, allow hidden worries to be set free in a safe space. And by answering the questions in front of everyone, other students can learn or identify with them as well, creating a wider understanding and tolerance for differences. The need for information and support by someone like a Rafiki has been proven again and again to be of high necessity by the thousands of collected anonymous questions since 2015 by The Cup Foundation. It is not only about information but support, someone who sees and hears them, one on one, as the image accompanying this blog shows clearly "My father always touches my private parts".

The anonymous question exercise has also showed us the need for a holistic approach. In the next blog I will present one of our exercises in the “Rafiki Trainer-to-Trainer Workshop” that starts off mapping problems to finding solutions and the Rafiki’s role in doing so. If you have any questions about the Rafiki program or Trainer-to-Trainer Workshop or anything else, please be in touch on [email protected]