ResponsibleME
What We Do
Creating Responsible Learners
We provide a holistic approach that promotes healthy and considered life choices around sexual behavior, career advice, self-development, nutrition, effective communication, friends and family – ResponsibleME is an outreach program that offers a real solution to educators and learners.
We provide school programs, school policy programs and family support programs as we acknowledge the importance of a child’s support system during development.
School Programs
Our Schools Program equips educators and learners with the language and skills to inspire them to seriously consider the consequences of their behavior and the choices they make. ResponsibleME focuses on a variety of areas that impact learner's development.
Body - Sex Education
Informing learners of safe sex practices, contraceptive options & menstruation.
Business Ignite
Developing skills and practical knowledge in learners to increase employment opportunities.
Teenage Pregnancy
Awareness around pregnancy & provide support pre & post birth to return children to school.
Nutrition
Learn about nutritious foods and balanced diets, growing their own vegetable garden.
HIV/AIDS
Creating awareness & a sense of responsibility with regards to HIV/AIDs.
Environment
Environmental sustainability in schools and communities through project based learning.
School Programs coming soon
These are some of our upcoming programs we are launching. If you would like to work with us on one of the programs below please get in touch.
Early Child Development
Targeting children and their families in the first years to ensure proper development.
Infrastructure
Improving school facilities and building homes for members of the community.
Mobile Health Bus
The mobile bus provides basic healthcare services: general checkup, optometry & dental.
School Policy Programs
ResponsibleME works closely with School Management and Governing Body Representatives through our School Policy Workshops to ensure that the rights of all learners and educators are respected.
When it comes to discrimination and the stigma attached to the increasing number of learners and educators infected with HIV&AIDS, specific policies need to be in place to ensure that:
- Learners and educators with HIV are managed appropriately
- Further HIV infection is prevented
- A non-discriminatory and caring learning environment is created
- Ensure that there is accountability for implementing and failing to implement the plan
- The rights of all learners and educators are respected
- Quality education prevails
A national policy on the management of HIV&AIDS in schools has been drafted by the Department of Education for public learning institutions. Each school must implement the National Policy of HIV&AIDS for Learners and Educators in Public Schools. However, some schools and governing bodies lack the know-how to develop, integrate and implement their own school specific policies in keeping with the principles of the national code of conduct on HIV&AIDS. ResponsibleME assists schools in assessing their specific needs and ensuring that these are integrated into a practical and well implemented policy.
The workshop focuses on the 5 priority areas of:
- Prevention
- Providing care and support of learners affected by HIV&AIDS
- Providing care and support for educators affected by HIV&AIDS
- Working together to continue to protect the quality of education
- Manage a coherent response
By the end of the workshop each school will be able to:
- Design their own school specific HIV&AIDS School Policy draft based on the 5 priority areas, and school specific environment
- Draw up an action plan to support the school specific HIV&AIDS policy
- Outline measures to ensure communication and implementation of policy is put in place
- Outline a measurement initiative to ascertain whether school policy is on target/and review thereof
Family Support Programs
The Family Support Program develops inter-generational communication and more open relationships between children, parents, grandparents, etc., facilitating greater transparency and conversation around risky behaviors.
The workshops help to coach and prepare parents to develop better communication skills in order to create a safe, open, trusting and supportive environment within their households.
Through promoting dialogue for disclosure and support, we tackle the tough issues such as cultural barriers, fear of stigma, trust, gender violence and HIV&AIDS prevention and management in 3-hour workshop sessions.
Key focus areas of the various sessions include:
- The difference between HIV and AIDS
- Modes of transmission
- Prevention and how to reduce the rate of HIV infection
- Stages of infection – the lifecycle of the virus
- Treatment – ARVs, adherence and effectiveness
- Importance of using a condom when infected
- Myths and facts about HIV&AIDS
- Breaking stigma
- Disclosure – the importance of disclosing to spouse, partner, family, children, friends and co-workers
- Tools and tips to facilitate disclosure
- Care and support for the infected and affected people
The groups actively participate in discussion through ask-and-answer sessions as well as group activities. The following comments are representative of the feedback received during these engagements:
- The content made the participants feel comfortable and encouraged many people to disclose their status
- Through the success of the workshops, many people wanted follow-up sessions
- SGB members in attendance highlighted the need for this information and more similar workshops
- Afterwards, people discussed passing on the message, disclosing and testing
- For most participants, it was their first time attending a workshop on HIV&AIDS
- People related personal stories which was very meaningful and impactful
Get Involved
Find out how you can become part of the ResponsibleME family.