Health and Life Skills Education

Our Nia Yetu curriculum is shared by teachers, mentors, and community health workers across Kenya

Due to deeply ingrained social taboos, adolescents in Kenya do not receive reproductive health and life skills education in consistent, rights-based ways. In response to this challenge, ZanaAfrica developed Nia Yetu, a 25-session facilitated health and life skills curriculum adapted from best practice resources in adolescent health education and informed through the insights of the girls and communities we serve. Nia Yetu covers a range of important yet highly stigmatized topics including:

  • Puberty, reproduction and family planning

  • Gender, power, rights, consent

  • Sexual and gender-based violence

  • Decision making, agency, self-confidence

  • Healthy relationships and mental health

Nia Yetu is an effective and interactive curriculum that can be shared by teachers, mentors, and community health workers. It provides both accurate and engaging health and life skills information for youth to enhance their self-efficacy, agency, and decision-making.

The modules included in the Nia Yetu program can be seen below.

“Nia Yetu is a dream come true. The modules include accurate information on age-appropriate topics, it is participatory and fosters knowledge, attitudes, values and skills to enable adolescents to develop positive views.”
— Teacher, Class 7, Kilifi County Kenya

Nia Yetu Curriculum Table of Contents:

Module 1: WELCOME TO PUBERTY
Session 1: Getter started, Values
Session 2: Setting Goals
Session 3: Adolescence and Puberty
Session 4: Menstruation
Session 5: Menstrual Health Management

Module 2: GENDER
Session 1: Male and Female Reproductive Systems
Session 2: Self Esteem
Session 3: Communication
Session 4: Introduction to Gender
Session 5: Gender Stereotypes

Module 3: GENDER, POWER AND RIGHTS
Session 1: Human Rights
Session 2: Power Dynamics
Session 3: Sexual Violence and Exploitation
Session 4: How to Report and Avoid Cases of Sexual Violence
Session 5: Being Assertive
Session 6: Decision Making

Module 4: HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, HEALTHY DECISIONS
Session 1: Healthy Relationships
Session 2: Romantic Relationships
Session 3: Sexuality and Behaviour
Session 4: Teenage Pregnancy
Session 5: Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and HIV

Module 5: BEING TRUE TO YOURSELF
Session 1: Resisting Peer Pressure
Session 2: Drug use and Abuse
Session 3: Managing Stress, Anger and Conflict
Session 4: Program Wrap up