Dear Colleague,
There has been debates on stepping stones acceptability and efficacy
with various population in the recent past. Despite the achievements
so far reached, There has not been any forum to share these successes
in paticular by the implementers of this award winning strategy. For
this reason Institute of Preventive Health together with other like
minded partners have seen the need of coming together to share the
successes and challenges so far achieved in implementing Stepping
Stones Training methodology. This was a welcomed move by Alice
Welbourn the writer of Stepping Stones Manual. It for this reason that
we seek to involve you in process of realizing the success of this
same activity.

The Institute of Preventive Health (IPH) is a Training Organization
based in Kenya, Have in the past organized and facilitated several
stepping stones training in different organizations in Kenya.  We are
glad to inform you that IPH is organizing the National Stepping Stones
Conference  between 7th and 9th Dec 2011.

From last six years IPH has been promoting Stepping Stones module at
all levels from International to National, state and village level.
The conference will be conducted in a participative method. The
participating organizations of the SS program shall be given
opportunity to share their experiential skills and knowledge about use
of SS to address, Gender, Communication, sexual & reproductive health
rights and HIV/AIDS to appreciate the gains achieved so far by SS in
Kenya develop strategies to  help improve SS delivery to change life
perspective.

The keynote address will be by internationally accredited SS
ambassadors so far we have the consent of Dr. Chris Ouma of Unicef and
more to be communicated in due course. This will be a 3 days shared
session pitting various trainers and implementers in SS training
program in Kenya.

The conference registration fee for each participant will include
refreshments and training materials.

Fee for Residence : 15,000/= PP
Non Residents : $200 PP

Theme:Opportunities for scaling up Stepping Stones

Why this conference: Since its inception SS methodology has been
accepted as a best practice in behavior change. Many players have used
the methodology but very little have been shared on practical
experience especially from Kenya. The new edition of SS- Plus was
developed in Kenya but not much has been documented about it. For this
reason this conference will give opportunity for SS implementers
opportunity to document more successes and address challenges in
implementing SS.

How can participate: All SS managers and coordinators of the
implementing agencies and beneficiaries are invited to participate. We
also cordially invite community leaders who are implementing or
intending to implement SS in future. The participant organization
needs to take care of their travel and accommodation and other
incidental expenses.
For application form and other similar details about the training
program kindly contact us through email or telephone.

Thank you,

For more information kindly contact
Director Institute of Preventive Health,
P. O. box 1142-40100,
 Kisumu- Kenya
Mob No: +254-722-870222
Office No: +254-57-2501765
Mail Id: kinga.afya@gmail.com

 

Martin Opondo Obwar

Candle Light memorial in Kangundo 18th May 2008

Permanent (Kenyan – EA) Address: P. O. BOX 4860, 40103 KISUMU – KENYA (EA)	Email: opondobwar@yahoo.co.uk , opondobwar@gmail.com Tel: +254722870222/+254733538768
I am Martin Opondo Obwar an upcoming social scientist, manager, planner, trainer and adviser of community development projects. With special focus in the planning and management of development projects, and in community empowerment. ... Key Qualifications: Over eighteen years of experience five years of progressively responsible positions in community development and HIV project management in Kenya and formation of community structures to fight against the HIV AIDS pandemic, Research and related issues. Profession: Trainer Programmer and Project planner HIV Programs Consultant; Adviser in training for community work; Resource mobilizer Community based monitoring and evaluator; Community Health Worker First Aider Substantive Issues: Advocacy, networking & lobbying Policy formulation; HIV/AIDS; Poverty reduction & Income generation; Capacity development & Management training; Mobilizing and organizing; Community empowerment. Social Objective: To serve the lowly, needy and oppressed members of the society empowering them to overcome the social injustice. Career Objectives: To participate in the socialization process of the Human family. To contribute to the international, national and local HIV/AIDS eradication development process To contribute to the international, national and local poverty alleviation/eradication development process. Experience Related to Those Objectives: Over eighteen years of progressively responsible positions in community development and applied process of social sciences: planning, promoting community participation, program management, resource mobilization, HIV/AIDS, development.
Training and Educational Skills: Set up trained, and organized various short term courses in practical and applied topics including, Organization Development, Community Mobilization; Resource Mobilization; Advocacy, Networking and Lobbying; Behaviour Change Communication, Human and Organizational Capacity building, Animation, Management and Planning. HIV/AIDS Activist and has taken lead in promoting involvement if PLWH through formation of support groups for PLWA and Stigma reduction issues. Highly experienced in dealing with Women, Youth and Children’s Issues. Formal Education: 1985/1986 A' Level Aga-Khan High School Nairobi 1981/ 1984 O’ Level Aga­-Khan High School 1973/1980 C.P.E . Manyatta Primary School Kisumu Kenya
Personal Information: ... Full Name: Martin Opondo Obwar Date of Birth: 1965, September 15th September 1965 Place of Birth: Kisumu, Kenya East-Africa Citizenship: Kenyan Passport: A878752.		Family Status: Married. ... Family Members: Grace Akinyi Owino, Marceline Anyango Opondo, Aurelia Opondo, Laurent Abraham Opondo, Jacinta Angela Amimo Opondo
Detailed Employment History:
2006 October, to date Program Assistant in Zingatia Maisha HIV adherence project, AMREF- Kenya based at Kangumdo District Hospital. Description of tasks: - Link the community Based organizations with Health institutions. - Help in formation of support groups for PLWHA - Facilitate Community Trainings on importance of adherence in use of ARV - Conduct operational field based research activity on behalf of AMREF - Mobilize the community members to participate in secondary prevention activities. - Help in di-stigmatizing the health staff members and the communities. - Develop capacity of PLHA support group - Train PLHA support group in conjunction with the MOH staff - Facilitate and support community based M&E of project activity - Promote networking with relevant partners, stakeholders and collaborators for implementation of project activities – DHMT, Health facilities, community members and other stakeholders. 2002 - 2006 Position: Programs Coordinator, Youth Empowered to Succeed (YES): Founder Description of tasks: Managing the Organization Resource mobilizer Represent the organization in other for a Conduct Capacity building sessions Coordinate Community fora like World AIDS Days, World AIDS Vaccine Days, Candle light memorials Coordinating di-stigmatization programs 2000-2002 Community Liaisons Officer CDC/KEMRI Participated in Starting 7 VCT Sites in Kisumu Training Teams of VCT Counselors Mobilize the community members to attend VCT services Liaise with organization wishing to start VCT Services Coordinating and arranging for Mobile VCT Services in communities 1994- 2000 Counselor CDC/KEMRI Vertical Transmission Project Counsel and test all participants interested in joining the sturdy. Collect data and keeping records of sturdy participants. Offer psychosocial support for the Partners of the sturdy participants who are positive. ... 1992 – 1994 Team Leader CBHC – Catholic Diocese of Kisumu Establish Community Health Teams and Monitor their activities Train Community Health Workers on health matters Start Behaviour change groups Conduct AIDS Trainings and follow up the trained peer educators 1989 – 1992 Youth Health Coordinator – Pandpieri Catholic Centre Organize and coordinate youth activities and programs Train youths community health workers on health matters Start Behaviour change groups for youth Conduct AIDS Trainings and follow up the trained peer educators Locations: Kisumu City, Kenya (EA)