Life-Centred Learning in the Context of HIV and AIDS: Monitoring and Evaluation of Home-Based Caregiver Training

Abstract

South Africa faces a serious challenge in its inability to stem the HIV tide. Recent survey results revealed 469 000 new HIV infections in 2012. This means there are 6.4 million people or 12.2% of the population living with HIV. In a context where education to prevent infections are not successful, education to manage the disease and enhance healthy living for the infected and affected becomes paramount. This article reports on an example of such education provided by a large health non-governmental organisation (NGO). It discusses the design piloting, evaluation and monitoring processes involved in creating a life-centred learning programme in response to HIV and AIDS. This work was undertaken as an action research project and produced much learning for all involved. The first part of this article deals with the learning that took place during the course by learners (caregivers) and discusses some of their future learning needs. The second part discusses the learning that took place within the partnership between Caregivers International and the Centre for Adult Education (CAE), specifically catalysed through the action-reflection process. Implications from this research include the need for post-course support of learners and for attending to the injustice of placing the burden of care on the most vulnerable sector of society.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n20p1646