Abstract
On the one hand, faced with accelerating change in the society, African youth have become victims of situations that the society is unable to handle. This could be one of the causes of the fast spread of HIV/AIDS in the continent. To combat this situation, young people need systematic life skills training. On the other hand, religions have their social functions; they are agents of the socialization process of their adherents, especially in Africa, where religion still greatly affects social life. The essay concludes therefore that mainstream religions have greater responsibility and possibility to provide young people with training in life skills to better face the changing situations in the society. The essay goes on to delineate some strategies in carrying out this task.
- Introduction[i]
Youth as a stage in the development of the human person has drastically changed since the industrial revolution, culminating in the postwar decades. Similar change in Africa, largely since the post-colonial era, is taking place in front of our eyes with accelerating speed. Adolescents are physically maturing earlier due to improved food and health care, while their social maturity has been delayed due to reasons that include prolonged school-based education. The vicious cycle of increased early sexual activity – the spread of HIV/AIDS – the growing number of orphans, street children etc, can also be traced to this factor. Hence efforts towards HIV/AIDS prevention need a larger perspective and a concerted effort.
Systematic life skills training can help accompany the youth of Africa in handling this social change, and thus combat HIV/AIDS. What are life-skills? According to UNICEF, life skills
refer to a large group of psycho-social and interpersonal skills which can help people make informed decisions, communicate effectively, and develop coping and self-management skills that may help them lead a healthy and productive life. Life skills may be directed toward personal actions and actions toward others, as well as actions to change the surrounding environment to make it conducive to health.[ii]
Why should life-skills be taught? How can youth in Africa be reached for life skills training? Can schools, governments and NGO’s reach their targets without the help of religion? What advantages do religions have over other agents providing life skills training to young people? These are the concerns of this essay.
[i] Sincere thanks to Fr Roy Fosker for his work on this essay to improve its language and style.
[ii] http://www.unicef.org/lifeskills/index_7308.html (22/03/07)
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How to Cite this Book-Chapter (APA style):
Selvam, S.G. (2008). Christianity and life skills training of youth: Towards HIV prevention in Africa. In B. Simon (ed.), Society and Church in African Christianity (pp. 192-210). Neuendettelsau, Germany: Erlanger Verlag/Makumira Publications.