Fields of Life

Love for Life is an abstinence-centred relationships and sexuality education project delivers programmes each year to pupils in over 250 schools. Love for Life also works with parents and others who care for young people, supporting them and their communities so that it is easier for children and young people to be alcohol, drug and sex free. The programme was developed by Love for Life, a non-profit organisation based in Northern Ireland.  Their programme model is being adapted by a number of different organisations and agencies for use in other countries around the world. For further information on the parent programme: http://www.loveforlife.org.uk/

FOL's "Love for Life Programme", like that of "Love for Life" is founded on a Christian model of values and seeks to demonstrate these values in social action.  The work is underpinned with an acceptance of each individual as being incredibly unique and special, irrespective of what choice they make in any area of their lives. The FOL Love for Life programme has been adapted with guidance and assistance from the UK Love for Life's parent programme.  This adaptation was necessary in order to acknowledge and respect East African cultural differences.  The programme shares the "Love for Life" aims of influencing changes in the African society so that young people have a healthy respect for themselves, relationships and sex. All "Love for Life" lessons are taught by the FOL Health Advisor or suitably trained and qualified individuals who have been approved by the Health Advisor.  This ensures that cultural differences are clearly recognised and respected. 

Goals of the programme

The Love for Life programme aims:

• To inform and support young people and all those caring for them
• To empower them to make healthy choices regarding relationships, sex and other risk-taking behaviours
• To challenge them to commit to ongoing personal development
• To create community change towards this vision

The objectives of the Love for Life programme are the following:

• Develop and deliver programmes to young people and those caring for them in community and church settings
• Be a training, resource and research provider in the area of relationships and sexuality education
• Promote the Catalyst vision of creating a community in which it is easier for children and underage young people to be alcohol, drug and sex free
• Establish cooperative relationships with other statutory, voluntary, community and church agencies
• Work within a personal development model of ‘information giving, attitude and value formation and skill development'
• To play a strategic role in influencing Government and other key agencies so that this vision is centrally integrated in future policy development.