From November 22-26, 2016, ACISJF Africa organized a Seminar on the Prevention of early Pregnancy and Accompaniment of Child Mothers. The Seminar was conducted by EVA (Education for Life and Love) and took place in Mayanga, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.
The meeting was attended by thirty-two participants from different countries, Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Congo representing the following associations: Catholic Feminine Brotherhood, Scouts, Congo Guides Association, Elisa, Bilenge ya Mwinda, Talithakoum, CCEF, Youth Ministry, Association for Women, ACISJF Africa, ACISJF Congo, Voice of the Heart, HAC, Naomie Association, AGC IMCA, and Radio Magnificat.
The Seminar was moderated by:
• Ms Annette Epanya, National Coordinator of the EVA Program at the Episcopal Conference of Cameroon;
• Ms. Clarnette Sodon, Psychologist and Psychotherapist in Cameroon, Coordinator of the ACISJF Central Africa Sub-Region;
• Doctor Robert Koubaka, Obstetrician Gynecologist at the University Hospital Center (CHU) of Brazzaville (Republic of Congo).
The opening ceremony began with a meditation led by Reverend Father Charlemagne Diawara Malonga.
Six modules, each with sub-themes, were developed
• Module 1 focused on the foundations of EVA. The speaker presented the EVA program, an important program that intervenes to mold the Human. It is a program on the integral education of adolescents, girls and boys. The implementation of the various EVA strategies was also discussed.
• Module 2 focused on human sexuality: a global vision, or the general problems young people face about sexuality as well as new sexual practices.
• Module 3 focused on the health and development of adolescents, both girls and boys. Participants were provided with relevant information on the physical, emotional and psychological characteristics of adolescents and young people, the situations in which they live and the problems they faced in order to propose desired solutions.
• Module 4 focused on the concepts of STI, HIV and AIDS, which were at the heart of this reflection, in order to know what must be remembered and what must be done to prevent the multiple deviances observed by youth.
• Module 5 addressed reproductive health. Participants learned about the multiple risks associated with teen pregnancies and abortions, in order to strengthen their skills in this area.
• Module 6 ffinally focused on communication techniques with young people. In this module, important tools were developed to enable EVA Trainers to conceive, organize and lead group communication activities and counseling.
The participants of the ACISJF-Africa Seminar made a commitment to:
- Organize training seminars for ACISJF-Africa educators, trainers, facilitators and advisors in respective countries of the Central Africa subregion;
- Create ACISJF-Africa centers to listen and inform youth and parents in the Central African subregion;
- Advocate for the integration of EVA into all Catholic education systems in the Central African subregion
- Seek the participation of other structures and movements, and the active involvement of church and state authorities, in the EVA training program.
Mrs. Florence Lumwamu, President of ACISJF-Africa, congratulated the participants on the commitments made.
Abbé Adolphe Ounounou thanked the ACISJF for organizing this seminar, which now reinforces the capacity of educators to intervene with young people. He also appreciated the participants' commitments to make concrete the achievements of the seminar in their different countries.
Brazzaville, 26 November 2016
Yvon Jocelin Nkouka, General Rapporteur