‘Chuo Cha Maisha’ (Swahili for ‘Institute of Life’) is a training programme in Christian Life Skills that I initiated in 2006 within Don Bosco Youth Educational Services – Tanzania. It empowers young people, aged between 14 and 30, to celebrate adolescence and thus prepare themselves for adult life. It has as its motto: “Uhai Tele – Life in Abundance” – Jn 10:10.
29 May 2011 -Sunday witnessed the fifth ‘graduation’ of 250 youth who participated in this training programme that lasted 20 days of training, spread throughout one year. Every day of training consists of at least 6 hours of participatory sessions. I was privileged to be the chief guest at this year’s graduation function, held at Don Bosco Youth Centre, Upanga, Dar es Salaam (Photo below: one of the 5 groups). It was a very gratifying moment for me to see this programme still in growth – now 5 years of age! Thanks to Fr Ferrington Rayen and to Fr Augustine Sellam, who have taken this forward. So far, 1400 youth have been trained in the one-year programme in the archdiocese of Dar es Salaam; over 3000 youth have been trained in shorter programmes in Tanzania and Kenya; and almost 700 trainers have been empowered to use the manual in their ministry. The English version of the programme is called, ‘Scaffoldings‘.
In the Dar es Salaam programme, the trainers are members of Don Bosco Youth for Youth, a team of young volunteers. They visit their peers in the parishes/youth centres and offer training on twenty themes that are found in the Training Manual of Chuo Cha Maisha: Self Awareness and Acceptance, Interpersonal Skills, Making Moral Decisions, Assertive Communication, Critical Use of Media, HIV/AIDS, Study Skills, Leadership Skills, Conflict Management, Stress Management, Financial Management, Creativity Skills, Career Skills, Youth Spirituality etc.
The trainers follow a manual that I developed with the help of Mr Prosper Dionis. The Chuo Cha Maisha provides lunch for the trainees on the days of training, thanks to the financial support from Darmsheim/Dagersheim Catholic Church in South Germany. Particular thanks to Hajo Remmert – the pastoral assistant, and to Karl Klemme – the leader of the Africagroup.