Country: South Africa, Zambia,
Tanzania and Kenya
Church or
denomination: Non-denominational
Project
summary: MAP’s
work in HIV/AIDS prevention and care is growing throughout the African
continent. MAP will implement this
year, a new pilot initiative to incorporate HIV/AIDS training into the
curriculum of four Anglican theological institutions in South Africa, Zambia,
Tanzania and Kenya. Funded by a grant
from the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund, the HIV/AIDS Theological Initiative
builds on MAP’s successful work in Kenya this past year with St. Paul United
Theological College in Limuru, Kenya.
Plans are underway to expand the initiative next year to include other
institutions in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Angola, Rwanda, Uganda, Malawi,
and Namibia, eventually reaching 20 theological colleges of various
denominations in nine countries.
Background/
History: For
close to 50 years, MAP (Medical Assistance Program) International has worked with
Christian hospitals, mission organizations and churches throughout Africa in
the promotion of Total Health. MAP has
become known as an effective trainer of trainers in community health, a
reliable partner in the case of disasters and relief situations, and a
consistent supplier of donated and low-cost essential medicines. During the past decade, MAP has emerged as a
leader in mobilizing African Christians in the fight against AIDS.
MAP’s work over the past 10 years in the fight
against AIDS has been particularly effective due to MAP’s “faith based”
approach and its unique ability to bridge denominational gaps. MAP is able to bring together diverse church
leaders and lay leaders to work toward a common goal. MAP has produced Biblically based, culturally sensitive HIV/AIDS
educational materials, trained local pastors and health workers, and hosted
significant HIV/AIDS conferences for Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, Anglican,
African Inland Church, and a wide range of African independent churches. MAP’s HIV/AIDS focus in Africa has included:
§
HIV/AIDS
pastoral counseling training
§
Church
and AIDS policy advocacy
§
Building
HIV/AIDS networks
§
Training
in home-based HIVAIDS care
§
Peer
educator training in HIV/AIDS for youth
Goal: Incorporate HIV/AIDS
training into the curriculum of four Anglican theological institutions in South
Africa, Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya
Objectives: Increase the capacity and effectiveness of MAP’s work in Africa
through creation of an Africa Office, with responsibility for strategic
planning, and resource and network development for all of MAP’s Africa
programs.
Who does the
work? MAP’s
Africa Director, Dr. Peter Okaalet is a strong force in Africa Christian
circles and is often sought out for his input into program development by
organizations across the continent. With a medical degree combined with Masters
degrees in theology and divinity he has a clear understanding of the deep
issues surrounding HIV/AIDS – medical, cultural and spiritual. Dr. Okaalet has served as MAP’s East Africa
Director for five years, and has been a key leader in Africa in development of
a “faith-based” approach to combating HIV/AIDS, and in particular in the
development of the Africa HIV/AIDS Theological Initiative. A team that is
teaching, doing curriculum development, and evaluating the program supports
him.
The MAP Africa office will be responsible for the
following:
§
Coordination
and development of the Africa-wide HIV/AIDS Theological Initiative – expanding
the pilot project during the next five years to nine countries and twenty
schools of theology
§
Africa
regional strategy development to include coordination of ministry direction and
development of priorities
§
Overall
Africa regional leadership for all MAP Africa offices (East, West and
Southern):
§
Mentoring
and leadership recruitment and development
§
International
representation of MAP – Africa
§
Development
of new ministry opportunities in Africa
§
Networking
§
Resource
Development: mobilization of global and regional human and financial resources.
Main
activities: Resource
development, strategic planning, and network building take significant time. To
properly implement a continent-wide effort to incorporate important HIV/AIDS
training and materials into the curriculum of African theological institutions,
MAP must have clear guidance, strong network development and good
planning. Significant resources must be
developed to support this effort.
Presently, there are practically no Christian
training institutions in Africa that have a formal curriculum component dealing
with the many issues of HIV/AIDS. Yet,
most likely the first task of a new pastor leaving seminary will be to preach
at a funeral of someone who has died of AIDS, and to help the family cope with
the grief and the future. Through MAP’s
HIV/AIDS Theological Initiative, MAP seeks to enable new clergy to respond to
their congregations’ needs with knowledge and compassion.
MAP’s two Africa regional offices – MAP East Africa
in Kenya and MAP West Africa in Cote d’Ivoire – are actively involved with
local churches equipping pastors in the field with the skills to deal with the
AIDS crisis. Along with training for
these pastors and lay leaders MAP assists in development of a network of
pastors, lay leaders and youth ministers.
The network provides a forum for further training and sharing of ideas
and good practices. As the Theological
Initiative begins in the pilot countries and expands next year to other
countries throughout Africa, the local network development work will proceed in
tandem, providing a source of encouragement for the newly graduated
clergy.
The rapid spread of MAP’s HIV/AIDS ministry to
countries across Africa, requires clear overall coordination. In order to guide the AIDS program strategy
and network development, MAP plans to establish an Africa Office. The Africa Office will provide coordination,
strategy development and planning for expansion of the HIV/AIDS ministry as
well as other MAP programs. With the
support of this new office staffed with indigenous personnel, MAP’s regional
offices in Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire and possibly a new regional Southern Africa
office will be able to maintain a high level of effectiveness in direct service
to the people in their region.
Expected
outcomes: Evaluation
will be on-going as MAP works closely with leaders of the four pilot
theological institutions to refine MAP’s curriculum materials and align them to
fit within each institution’s teaching framework. Development of contacts at theological institutions for phase two
of the project will be documented. A
final report will describe new resources and partnerships developed throughout
the region.
Results: N/A
Lessons
Learned: In
recent months, the U.S. government and other private funding organizations have
openly recognized the effectiveness of faith-based organizations in performing
humanitarian, health and other types of charitable work. This effectiveness can be particularly seen
in the fight against HIV/AIDS. With
prevention information everywhere, it is becoming strikingly clear that it is
only a change in behavior that will stop the spread of this disease. There is no better institution to address
behavior change than the Church.
Financial and
other resources: Episcopal Relief and Development Fund
Further
readings or documents: N/A
Contact
information: