Keep hope alive

Overview of The Stay Alive Program

Video Presentation

Click here to watch the video presentation. If you are having trouble, click here.

Scope

By 2006, the Stay Alive Program has already reached over 750,000 children in nine African countries.

Summary

The Stay Alive Program was created to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic ravaging Africa and growing in virulence in many parts of the world. Stay Alive targets children ages 9-14 and empowers them to make smart choices before they become sexually active. Children learn about HIV/AIDS, what it is, how it is transmitted and how they can protect themselves from contracting it by being abstinent before marriage and faithful in marriage. Stay Alive empowers youth with the knowledge which literally, can save their lives. A brief history of the Stay Alive Program is available here.

Window of Opportunity

The Stay Alive program targets children in the age range of 9 to 14 years. Children in this age group are statistically the least infected by HIV, as shown in the following chart. They represent a “window of opportunity” to control the spread of HIV infection in the population – long term.

Stay Alive Mission

To empower the rising generation to stay alive by remaining HIV/AIDS free.

Stay Alive Objectives

  • To increase knowledge and understanding regarding HIV/AIDS.
  • To increase consequential thinking and responsible decision-making skills in participating youth and empower them to avoid HIV/AIDS.
  • To facilitate parent/guardian and youth communication on sensitive topics including age appropriate discussions on sexual issues to reinforce HIV/AIDS avoidance behavior.
  • To facilitate lifelong commitments by youth to abstain from sex until marriage and to be faithful to their spouse in marriag

Guiding principles of the Stay Alive Program

Consequential Thinking Skills

Teaching consequential thinking skills is one of the key components of the Stay Alive program. Learning how to make choices, while considering the consequences of those choices, are the tools children need to remain HIV/AIDS disease-free. The Stay Alive program is written to teach children this concept and to help them practice these skills in their daily lives.

Individual Worth

Stay Alive Programs help children and youth recognize that they individually are of great worth and deserve to Stay Alive. Through lessons and activities, children and youth identify their own strengths, talents and abilities, and ways in which they can serve others. When they truly understand their individual worth, children and youth are more committed to preserving and protecting their lives.

Abstinence

Stay Alive Programs are based on the concept that the most effective way to remain HIV/AIDS disease-free is by practicing abstinence before marriage and total fidelity within marriage.

Family

Helping children and youth understand that happiness can come from happy, healthy families is one of the goals of the Stay Alive Programs. The programs revolve around the family and the part each child and youth does now play, and will play in a family.

Empowerment

As children and youth learn to make responsible choices, personal empowerment is built. By utilizing these skills, children and youth are no longer “destined” to die from HIV/AIDS. They can then embrace a “Long, Loving Life” because they have been empowered with both the knowledge and skills that will help bring them that life.

Hope

When children and youth are empowered, despair and an expectation of death are replaced with hope and a desire to “Live a Long, Loving Life.”