The Kenyatta University, Family Welfare and Counselling Project is a group comprising of students and staff in Kenyatta University, who are fully trained on social-life education to offer Youth friendly counselling services to students within and outside Kenyatta University. The project started in the year 1980 mainly to curb the high pregnancy rate and wide spread of drug abuse. In 1986, a collaboration with the Pathfinders International was initiated to bring forth KUWFCP under the stewardship of the staff counsellors.
The students strongly felt that they did not desire to be counselled by the older staff counsellors but rather wished to be handled by the younger and preferably their peers hence in 1991 the peer counselling was initiated by Kenyatta University management and spearheaded by the Students.
In 2006, partnership with APHIA group led KUFWCP to shift their focus to HIV/AIDS, establish VCT services and initiated new modes of service delivery i.e. community outreach, meet-a-peer counsellor sessions, internet chats and peer magazines. Over the years the KUFWCP has evolved to be a well-known project whose mandate is to enhance responsible student’s decision making and provide access to appropriate youth friendly services.
The KUFWCP’s objectives include but not limited to:
1. To inform and educate student population about high risk and safe sex activities and provide them counselling and clinical services.
2. To reduce unplanned pregnancies via provision of modern contraceptives
3. To assist students with life planning skills
4. To diminish rates of pregnancies related discontinuation of studies
5. To bring about a reduction in high risk abortion seeking behaviour
6. To initiate and perpetuate a decline in HIV and STIs through information and condom distribution.
7. To support those not sexually active to delay their sexual debut.
The social-life education describes the education which aims at preparing young people for the challenges of life. The rationale for this group is to disseminate information to students who are vulnerable on campus. It helps students to understand themselves better, their family members, neighbours, their communities and the society at large. Among the topics covered in social-life education are Human growth and development, drugs and alcohol abuse, campus relationship, sex and sexuality, HIV/AIDS & STIs, stress & stress management, study habits and careers among others.
Kenyatta University Peer Counsellors play a vital role in building and moulding students’ lives by offering counselling services to empower them make informed decisions. We collaborate with other professional counsellors within and outside Kenyatta University for further management of our students. We are structured to help students navigate through campus with ease, promoting mental health awareness and assisting students with psychological needs by building a caring niche.
We hold various activities to interact and engage with students e.g. Talk shows, KU-Radio & KU-TV shows, In-reach & Outreach activities, mental health & Reproductive Health sensitization programs, Door-To-Door counselling and Virtual Meet-Ups.
KENYATTA UNIVERSITY PEER COUNSELLORS
WE LISTEN, WE CARE.