Using the power of soccer to fight HIV/AIDS

VAP in collaboration with Centre for Men’s Health at Leeds Metropolitan University, UK have completed writing a new book titled Sports-Based Health Interventions-Case Studies From Around the World. The book is an edited collection with chapters describing different projects and interventions from around the world and a cross the range of public health activity which involve a sports element, theme or take in a sports setting. The book has been published by springer publishing, New York. VAP authorized a 5,000 word chapter on the Skillz Kenya program as well as Kick ‘N’ Test, VCT and TB screening football tournaments.

Seed Grant for Story telling project.

After a successful application, VAP was awarded a seed grant by GlobalGiving that would go towards collecting stories from the program participants and the entire community to gauge and evaluate VAP’s programs impact.  VAP has previously been doing the story telling collection as one way of backing up its quantitative monitoring and evaluation systems and the awarding of the grant is so timely as the research, monitoring and evaluation crew have been working round the clock to strengthen this section. The stories will be collected by volunteers and be analyzed the research monitoring and evaluation team.

VAP’s learning journey with GlobalGiving-

Global giving has been one of VAP’s old school partners and in May 2010, Mr. John Hecklinger; GlobalGiving’s chief program officer had an opportunity to visit VAP for the first time. GlobalGiving will forever be remembered for its significant mark in the heart of VAP for being the first partner whose online fundraising funds helped VAP to purchase a second hand Pentium four computer for $ 200 that eventually catapulted VAP from being an office less(briefcase) organization to an office based organization. During the visit, this is what John had to say http://tools.blog.globalgiving.org/2014/05/16/vijana-amani-pamojas-learning-journey/

VAP was part of the organization that took part in the matchmaking event organized by International Initiative for impact evaluation (3ie).The event took place on 28-29th April in Nairobi with an aim of matching HIV/AIDS programme implementers with researchers in order to explore possibilities of partnership. Expression of interest were invited from HIV program implementers who intended to partner with researchers to submit a proposal to 3ie’s thematic window for evaluating pilot programmes using Hiv oral self-testing.
The pilot programme impact evaluations (IEs) are phase two of an Hiv self-testing evidence programme. Phase one involved formative research that would inform the design of the pilot programmes and the results of the formative research were presented at the matchmaking event. Phase two of the evidence program would provide grants for implementing pilot interventions using Hiv pilot interventions. The goal of the research is to provide evidence that Kenya National STI and AIDS, control programme(NASCOP) can use in determining whether and how to implement and scale up the availability of Hiv oral self-tests and related services such as access to counseling and linkage to care.
VAP has been focusing on impact evaluation of its program conducting randomized trials that measure up take of behaviors including: Antiretroviral treatment and HIV testing. Stigma has also been identified as a major barrier to HIV testing among men 18-30 and we hope and believe that oral self-testing could be key to addressing this barrier. Participation in the matchmaking event provided a valuable opportunity for VAP to learn and contribute to important research on oral self-testing.VAP is interested in integrating oral self-testing in our annual Kick & Test football events and feels it could greatly increase our testing results.VAP is proud for the opportunity to interact with impact evaluation specialists to design an intervention that could transform HIV testing in Kenya and beyond.