1. i
DEPARMENT OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
COURSE TITLE: FIELD BLOCK PRACTISE
COURSE CODE: DS 200D
ATTATCHMENT CONDUCTED AT LIVING POSITIVE KENYA
NGONG CONSTITUENCY KAJIADO COUNTY KENYA.
PRESENTED BY: DSS/283/14/15
LECTURER: DR MULI
DUE DATE: 9/03/2016

2. ii
DECLARATION
I, Otieno Edwine Jeremiah do hereby declare that this piece of work with great pleasure has been
generated out of my truthful struggle, contribution as well as my effort specifically for academic
purposes and with an original transcription of my fieldwork activities during my placement with
Living positive Kenya community based organization. It has never at any one moment been
presented by anyone to any institution for academic award.
SIGN ---------------------------------- DATE-----------------------------------
OTIENO EDWINE JEREMIAH
(STUDENT: DSS/283/14/15)
SIGN----------------------------------- DATE-----------------------------------
MSS. NAOMI WANGUI MAINA
(AGENCY SUPERVISOR)
SIGN ---------------------------------- DATE-----------------------------------
MR. CLEOPHAS MULI
(UNIVERSITY SUPERVISOR)

3. iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to extend my gratitude to the almighty God for enabling me complete my field work
training well and writing report which is like a pain-staking exercise which demands a lot
sacrifice in term of time and resources.
Really with great pleasure and respect, I thank all those persons who assisted me in fulfillment of
this fieldwork attachment and reports as a study requirement. I am particularly indebted to my
beloved sister Mss. Valerian Atieno and My. Mother mss Cecelia Adhiambo Gunda with a
special respect and everlasting appreciation granted for the moral and financial support they have
given me which enabled me to successfully complete my field attachment and the report.
Special thanks and acknowledgement also goes to Mr. Michael Tedd Okuku, for being a role
model, mentor and for the greater support he showed me during my study in the university and
field attachment, and guidance. I am also indebted to Mss Marceline Obudo for the counseling
and guidance you gave me and thank a lot; you made this study a success.
I am grateful to my Agency supervisor Mss. Maina Naomi and University supervisor Mr.
Cleophas Muli for the wonderful work done in as far as my attachment work was concerned. Be
blessed without you I would have not made it. Special thanks goes to all the staff of living
positive Kenya Ann Wambui, Felicity Koech, and Enoch Kipchumba without forgetting my
entire lecturer Mr. Kiswili and all the Lecturers at the department of development studies and
social work. Thanks very much.
Lastly, Appreciation to my dearest family members Sr Roseline Gunda, Kevin Onyango; Ernest
Ocholla and Eunice Aoko and friends Marcy Olimba, Stephen Nchama, Irma Maringo for
tirelessly working and supporting me in my academic endeavors. Thanks for being there for me
at all times and costs.

4. iv
ABSTRACT
This report is about field attachment program conducted at living positive Kenya a community
based organization Ngong location Kajiado County in the rift valley region in Kenya. Under
development studies and social work Department from 4th Jan to 31St March 2016.
The report was written after a period of 3 months of field activities which included; Orientation,
Attending to clients; home visits conducting morning devotion attending microfinance meeting
Training, office work, field visits, case management, counseling, recording cases, psychosocial
support and psycho education program not forgetting to mention , writing home visits reports,
monthly departmental report and minutes writing.
This report has mainly four chapters, chapter one talks about the knowledge of the agency, which
include the organization profile, philosophy of the organization, how the agency is organized and
its management structure, services offered and the clientele and lastly how it networks with
agencies of the same interest.
Chapter two focuses on activities that was undertaken, how the information was gathered, the use
of theories and models integrating theories and the practice, and how intervention was planned it
as highlight the emerging issues which are the external factors that directly affect women.
Chapter three in details talk about development of social work skills this include clear records on
how specific skills was developed these skills include counseling skills, listening skills,
interviewing skills, communication skills and note taking team work skills and record keeping
skills. It then concludes with general recommendation of the activities including the skill I need
to further develop in.
Chapter four talks professional growth my ability to apply the social work values, principles’ and
ethics during my internship, lessons learnt and challenges faced, it also include the
recommendation to the agency and the university as well and the general conclusion.

5. v
Table of Contents
DECLARATION ..............................................................................................................................i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ..............................................................................................................iii
ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................................iv
DEDICATION................................................................................................................................ix
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS/ ACRONYMS .................................................................................x
1.0 CHAPTER ONE ....................................................................................................................... 1
KNOWLEDGE OF THE ORGANIZATION................................................................................. 1
1.1 Introduction........................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Organization Profile .............................................................................................................. 1
1.2 1 Historical Background of the Agency ............................................................................ 1
1.3 THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE ORGANIZATION............................................................... 3
1.3.1 Vision of the organization .............................................................................................. 3
1.3.2 Mission statement ........................................................................................................... 3
1.3.3 Policies and objectives of the organization .................................................................... 4
1.4 Organizational structure ........................................................................................................ 4
1.4.1 DIAGRAMMATICAL STRUCTURE OF LPK ............................................................ 4
1.4.2 Board members............................................................................................................... 5
1.4.3 Project Co-coordinator.................................................................................................... 5
1.4.4 Community development officer.................................................................................... 5
1.5 Accountant ............................................................................................................................ 5
1.5.1 Administrator.................................................................................................................. 6
1.5.2 Communication and Sponsorship Co-coordinator.......................................................... 6
1.5.3 Administrative Assistant................................................................................................. 6
1.6 Services offered and Clientele............................................................................................... 6
1.6.1 Target Groups:................................................................................................................ 6
1.7 HIV intervention ................................................................................................................... 7
1.7.1 Home based care............................................................................................................. 8
1.7.2 Skill Training .................................................................................................................. 8
1.7.3 Development of Business Plans.................................................................................... 10

6. vi
1.7.4 Day Care and Sponsorship............................................................................................ 10
1.7.5 OVC’S program............................................................................................................ 11
1.7.6 Farming Project ............................................................................................................ 11
1.7.7 Gift shop ....................................................................................................................... 12
1.8.1 Networking and collaboration with other agency......................................................... 13
1.8.2 Marist International University College ....................................................................... 13
1.8.3 HEART (Health Education Africa Resource Team) .................................................... 13
1.8.4 ONE HORIZON ........................................................................................................... 14
1.8.5 Stephen Lewis Foundation ........................................................................................... 14
1.8.6 DREAM CENTRE ....................................................................................................... 14
1.8.7 Kenya Community Development Fund (KCDF).......................................................... 15
1.8.8 AFYA+ ......................................................................................................................... 15
2.0 CHAPTER TWO .................................................................................................................... 16
ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN AND HOW INFORMATION WAS GATHERED AND THE
USE OF MODELS AND THEORIES ......................................................................................... 16
2.1 Introduction......................................................................................................................... 16
2.2 Orientation........................................................................................................................... 16
2.2.1 Home visits ................................................................................................................... 16
2.2.2 Spiritual Support (morning devotions) ......................................................................... 17
2.3 Microfinance Meetings ....................................................................................................... 18
2.3.1 Psychosocial Support (PSSP) ....................................................................................... 18
2.3.2 Psycho education .......................................................................................................... 20
2.3.3 Clients counseling session one on one.......................................................................... 21
2.4 Training ............................................................................................................................... 22
2.4.1 Business follow up and project update ......................................................................... 22
2.4.2 Office Work .................................................................................................................. 23
2.4.3 Emerging issues ............................................................................................................ 24
2.4.4 Gender Based Violence ................................................................................................ 24
2.5 Drug and Substance Abuse ................................................................................................. 24
2.5.1 How Information was Gathered.................................................................................... 25

7. vii
2.5.2 Primary data collection................................................................................................. 25
2.5.3 Observation................................................................................................................... 25
2.5.4 Types of Observation.................................................................................................... 25
2.5.5 Interviews ..................................................................................................................... 26
2.6 Focused group discussions.................................................................................................. 26
2.6.1 Meetings ....................................................................................................................... 27
2.6.2 Secondary information.................................................................................................. 27
2.6.3 USE OF THE THEORIES IN PRACTICE .................................................................. 27
2.6.4 Psychoanalytic Theory.................................................................................................. 27
2.6.5 Problem Solving Model................................................................................................ 30
2.6.6 Locality Development Model....................................................................................... 33
2.7 EVALUATION................................................................................................................... 35
3.0 CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................................ 37
SKILLS DEVELOPED IN PRACTICE....................................................................................... 37
3.1 Introduction......................................................................................................................... 37
3.2 Counseling Skills................................................................................................................. 37
3.3 Listening Skills.................................................................................................................... 37
3.4 Interviewing Skills .............................................................................................................. 38
3.5 Communication Skills ......................................................................................................... 38
3.6 Taking Notes/Keeping Records .......................................................................................... 38
3.7 Team Work Skills................................................................................................................ 39
3.8 General Remark on Activities Undertaken and Field Activities......................................... 39
3.9 Handicapped skills .............................................................................................................. 40
3.10 Business management skills.............................................................................................. 40
4.0 CHAPTER FOUR................................................................................................................... 41
PROFESSIONAL GROWTH....................................................................................................... 41
4.1 Introduction......................................................................................................................... 41
4.2 Principles and Values in Social Work Profession............................................................... 41
4.3 Control emotional involvement........................................................................................... 41
4.4 Principle of confidentiality.................................................................................................. 41

8. viii
4.5 Principle of Acceptance ...................................................................................................... 42
4.6 Principle of Self determination ........................................................................................... 42
4.7 LESSONS LEARNT FROM DAY TO DAY ACTIVITIES.............................................. 42
4.8 CHALLENGES FACED..................................................................................................... 43
4.8.1 Limited Resources ........................................................................................................ 43
4.8.2 Long Distances and Bad Weather................................................................................. 43
4.8.3 Resistance by the Clients .............................................................................................. 44
4.8.4 Luck of Proper Planning............................................................................................... 44
4.9 RECOMMENDATION TO THE ORGANIZATION........................................................ 45
4.10 Recommendation to the Department of Development Studies and Social Work ............. 45
5.0 CONCLUSION....................................................................................................................... 47
5.1 References ........................................................................................................................... 48

9. ix
DEDICATION
This report is dedicated to my grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Gunda, in the memory of my beloved
grandmother Benedict Nyanjua.

10. x
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS/ ACRONYMS
ARV - Antiretroviral
ARVT - Antiretroviral Therapy
SDGS - Sustainable Development Goals
CHWs - Community Health Workers
CCC - Comprehensive Care Centre
KCDF - Kenya community development fund
GBV - Gender Based Violence
CDO - Community Development Officer
AIDS - Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
CBO - Community Based Organization
CDW - Community Development Worker
HC - Health Centre
HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HIV/AIDS - Human Immune Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
IGA’s - Income Generating Activities
LPK - Living Positive Kenya
LPM - Living Positive Mlolongo
PSS - Psycho Social Support
PLWHAS - People Living With HIV and AIDS
WLWHAS - Women Living With HIV and AIDS
USAID - United States Agency for International Development
WEEP - Women Economic Empowerment Program
UNDP - United Nation Development Program
HDR - Human Development Report

11. 1
1.0 CHAPTER ONE
KNOWLEDGE OF THE ORGANIZATION
1.1 Introduction
This report is an important part of the academic document that contributes to the final grades on
the transcript, and it helps in the fulfillment of the requirement for the award of Diploma in
development and social worker, Marist international University College.
The purpose of this report shows the practical training experience that I was tasked, expected to
perform coupled with the applied techniques and principles of the problem-solving situations I
learnt from class also integrating theories with the practice.
This chapter in details discusses mainly information of the organization this, include historical
background of the organization, it also in details tackle organization philosophy, which include
its objectives, vision and Mission statements, the chapter will then look in depth how the
organization is organized in terms of management and the factions of each structure, in addition
the chapter highlight the services offered by the organization and the relevance of the services to
clientele, this chapter will then conclude with how the organization network and collaborate with
other development agency of the same interest to offer effective services that can provide
sustainable development in satisfying the persistent social problems.
The Acquired Immune-deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is principally a sexually transmitted
disease. Medical scientist agrees that Human Immune-deficiency virus (HIV) cause the
syndrome. Currently, 80% of HIV positive people in Africa acquired it through sexual
intercourse. Ten percent are infected through blood transfusion donated by HIV positive people,
and 10% through contact of blood in circulation system with the HIV contaminated objects like
shaving blades, injection needles and other objects used in piercing the body for medical,
cosmetic and other purpose (Karewa, 2000). Due to epidemics and pandemic nature of AIDS
many strive to help people infected to leave a healthy life.
1.2 Organization Profile
1.2 1 Historical Background of the Agency
Living positive Kenya is a non-profit community based organization (CBO) with no religious or
political affiliations it’s operating within Gichagi and Mathare informal settlement, Kibiko,

12. 2
Ololooua in Ngong division Kajiado County in the rift valley region. The organization was
founded in 2005 by Mary Wanderi and Mary Wambire who worked in a children’s home, she
was a case manager and her work involved filling, she realized that the children were given more
attention than their parents as most of the children only had one parent who were mothers, the
mothers would then be affected by the social problems that would affect their health and
eventually die, Mary Wanderi then quit her job to start an organization which was called shelter
care which was operating under a tree shelter to help the women under this they did counseling
and register women. The organization was registered with Kenyan ministry of gender, children
and social services in the year 2009 as (CBO).
The organization started by 15 women who because of luck of ARV drugs and the stigma of HIV
during the 2005 died, the organization has grown and Mary Wambire relocated to Mlolongo and
started living positive Mlolongo LPM. LPM has then established another branch in Athi River.
The main aim of the establishment was to fight stigma associated with the HIV infection upon
the infected, encourage a change of attitude towards this global pandemic, and empower women
psychological, by providing emotional support, economic empowerment. However the
organization came to realize it is also important to extend the services to the OVC.
This project tends to justifies the UNDP report that states “Health matters. Virtually everyone
hopes to lead a long life with a minimum of disease and disability. Most households invest
considerable portions of their income in health care, either directly to providers or indirectly
through taxes to support government health services”.
UNDP identified health as a central component of the first Human Development Index in the
1991 Human Development Report (HDR). A decade later, with publication of the World
Development Report 2001, the World Bank shifted from a primary focus on economic growth to
more inclusive attention to health, education and social exclusion. Three of the MDGS
highlighted the importance of health in matter related to development however this was not
achieved and included in SDGS.
Health is a precondition for and an outcome and indicator of the three dimensions of sustainable
development. There is a strong and reciprocal relationship between health outcomes and other
measures of social and economic progress. Chronic and catastrophic diseases are one of the main
factors that push households from poverty into deprivation.

13. 3
The current focus of LPK is promote positive living and making impact in the lives of AIDS
orphans and vulnerable children, its mission is to alleviate suffering of the HIV and AIDS
infected and affected and their children by providing them with health care, education, income
generating programmers and rehabilitation . All these are done under the three pillars activities
identified as HIV intervention, OVC program, and WEEP program.
Living Positive Kenya Organization Women in WEEP class learning tailoring skills
1.3 THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE ORGANIZATION.
This is one of the rare resources that organization has, it determines the organization culture and
relation in regards to delivering social services, and it also determines what services the
organization offers.
1.3.1 Vision of the organization
The organization’s vision is giving life a new hope:
1.3.2 Missionstatement
Living positive Kenya works to improve the physical psychological health, as well as the social
economic status of women, training and by advocating for health right for the infected and the
affected by HIV and AIDS through home base care and counseling, microfinance and trade
skills.

14. 4
1.3.3 Policies and objectives of the organization
The organization objectives are:
 To promote the health of HIV/AIDS infected women. And change their negative health
and nutrition habits
 Empower the women psychologically, physically and economically.
 To provide basic care, protection and education to the neglected children and OVC’s.
 To provide educational training and information about HIV and AIDS in order to
contribute to its prevention.
 To enhance the development of all the informal settlement community and reach a
sustainable change of attitude towards HIV and AIDS in particular and life in general.
1.4 Organizational structure
The organization has a vertical kind of management, it has a pyramid kind of structure; this
includes board members consisting of eight persons, the Project coordinator, Community
development officer, Accountant, Administrator, communication and sponsorship coordinator.
All of them have got different duties to ensure that the activities of the organization are run
smoothly.
1.4.1 DIAGRAMMATICAL STRUCTURE OF LPK
Board Members
Communication
Coordinator
Administrator Accountants
Community
Development
worker
Administrative
assistance
Project co-coordinator

15. 5
1.4.2 Board members
 Their main function is monitoring and evaluation of the project they also monitor the
activities every month
 They are responsible on issues pertaining to planning advising and supervision of in the
implementation of all project activities.
1.4.3 Project Co-coordinator
 Co-ordinates the women economic empowerment program(weep),
 Coordinating the activities of the interns.
 Public relations and net working.
 Developing and initiating projects in collaboration with the finance.
 Perform managerial duties to the board e.g. call for meetings, keep files,
 Communicate with donors.
1.4.4 Community development officer
 Facilitates psychosocial support through counseling and therapy for women who are
infected with HIV and AIDS.
 Case management of all WEEP clients; follow up all the IGA’s to ensure food
sustainability.
 Local resources mobilizations to support home based care and also enable LPK to extend
care to more women and children in need.
 Counseling and psychosocial support, including supervising self care activities such as
individual spiritual growth. Development of training models and manuals, for business
training and skills training.
 Identifying institutions and, individuals to work with to strengthen the client businesses
and micro financing.
1.5 Accountant
 Handle petty cash,
 Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports,
 Budget preparations, raising requisitions,
 Preparing check,

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 Filing the financial documents.
 Receiving and checking requirements from the department.
1.5.1 Administrator
 Develop proposals and submit for funding agencies.
 Works as human resource department.
 Collaborates with the project coordinator to approve payments and quotations
 Prepare reports.
1.5.2 Communication and Sponsorship Co-coordinator
 Co-ordinates sponsorship of the children with needy cases
 Mobilizing sponsors for the OVC’s. Children to different boarding schools this are the
children of the women client at LPK.
 Communication e.g. sending emails to donors, running social media sites of LPK such as
face book, Instagram, twitter.
1.5.3 Administrative Assistant
 Takes care of the office Kitty
 Assist community development officer
 Collect reports from departments and dispatch them
 Assist community development officer
 Assist sponsorship coordinator
1.6 Services offered and Clientele
1.6.1 Target Groups:
LPK involves the following target groups based on their registration at the KMGCSS as a
community based organization which are mainly directed to the Community Development grass
root level
 people living in slums
 Women/ women’s groups,
 Youths and Orphans,
 OVC’s, Vulnerable and marginalized groups of people,

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 PLWHAS,
The organization through their three pillars carries out the following activities, HIV intervention,
WEEP, and OVC program. LPK has develop a unique model that has three phase in nurturing
and reinstalling women back to the society fully empowered and independent. This model
consist of three phases which last for 18 months or 1,½ year, the phase consist of different
activities as sometime they have to combine the phases the model and the services will be
discussed later in this chapter.
Other services offered by LPK focus on the affected people, this include the care givers such
like the grandparents, and the guardians of the children, this program aims at helping the affected
children paying their fee and proving them with stationary.
According to UNDP 2010 states report. The most successful responses to HIV combine strong
health services with strategic action in other sectors that address underlying socioeconomic
factors that influence the epidemic – such as income, the service proves that LPK services are
relevant in addressing HIV pandemic.
LPK core mandate and strengths allow it to make unique and invaluable contributions towards
HIV prevention LPK recognizes the value of both stand-alone programming specifically
designed to improve HIV and health outcomes, and integration of HIV and health sensitivity into
other areas of work. The following take place in LPK unique strategies which last in a period of
18 months.
Phase 1: HIV intervention
Phase 2: Skill building
Phase 3: Business Plan Development
1.7 HIV intervention
This is the first phase it involve a lot of activities, it is mainly facilitated by CHW and the social
workers in the organization, after one knows her status she is taken through counseling on drug
adherence, sometimes the client is given a mentor who take her through counseling, talk therapy
is always provided to the clients, where every Thursday a psychosocial support is provided, the
psychosocial is always guided by a qualified social worker. In this phase the organization also
provide the women with medical care, the government provide free ARVS but does not provide

18. 8
medicine to treat opportunistic diseases, such as TB, pneumonia and etc. all this is done in
different program as disused bellow.
1.7.1 Home based care
This is done in the client residence, the intervention include home visits, where the clients are
followed up on their health matters to the bed ridden food should be provided to them, other
medical expenses such as transport is also provided to the women to cater for their hospital fare,
when drugs prescribed by the doctor not given the organization by drugs for them.
This is a very weighted intervention, this because the intervention gives the client sense of worth
and dignity, the client feel that there are people who care for her especial those that are rejected
with the family and the close relatives.
The program also help to reduce huge bills that may accumulate in the hospitals, if the case can
be handled at home, this program also help the clients to adhere to drugs as the CHW follows the
clients keenly. Home based care brings the family together and encourages community
participation in taking care of the patient, stigma and discrimination is also reduced.
Home based care is carried out with the help of the trained CHWs, home based caregivers and
social workers who provide the patients especially the bed ridden with food, medical care,
psychosocial counseling and nursing services. This is done until the patient is recovered and well
enough to join support group.
The organization ensures that the patient is linked to a medical institution where she get access to
Anti-retroviral, and treatment for reproductive health complications such as cervical cancer and
Fibroids.
1.7.2 Skill Training
The organization train women on skills this help in personal development, the skills are done for
the women in the WEEP class that take a period of 18 months, the skills include, tailoring,
candle making, soap making, net production, and bead work other skills development include
business plan, record keeping and business management.

19. 9
Mosquito net production Tailoring skills
This is done under a program called WEEP for the women qualified to join the class for the
training, during this period the organization also does a lot of program which include paying the
women rent and allowance of four thousand Kenyan shilling is given to the women to cater for
their upkeep while undergoing skill development and those that have children are also taken to a
day care of which is owned by the organization in this day care women does not need to pay fee
and therefore have peace of mind, the organization also provide food for the women in class the
meals are usually nutritious that fit their health stratus. During this time women also save that is
table banking.
Table banking microfinance

20. 10
1.7.3 Development of Business Plans
This comes after the end of skill training, women at this phase the women are believed to be
fully empowered both psychologically and physical they believed that they need to start a
business in order to open a new page without fear of stigma, and stress that come with it full
empowered with skills women a business plan is developed based on their interest and the skills
acquired. In this phase the women choose a business based on skills and interests, consultants
help them build a business plan, They are taught economic and business principles during
support group meetings in this meetings speakers are invited to teach the women on business
training, This is essential for the women to be empowered wholesomely in entrepreneurship the
topics include book keeping record keeping, customer relations, challenges encountered when
running a business. This program is supported by HART therefore the women graduate after the
graduation the women are given a start up money that is ten thousand Kenyan shillings
(ksh10000). Start up money
1.7.4 Day Care and Sponsorship
This is a program that help the children infected and affected by the HIV and AIDS the program
aims at providing at introducing the children to the formal education, this project mainly assist
women who are in the WEEP class, it provide care for their children while they undergo
economic and skill acquirement, day care also give the children in the informal sector an
opportunity as they only pay little amount of money. Under this program children are always
provided with free hot lunch during the day. This project help the women to concentrate in the
class as they are assured of their child care in the day care, it also cut their cost in paying fee in
the day care. This program also acts as source of income to the organization, and enables the
organization to meet some of their needs. Most of the children who are in day-care belong to the
women in LPK program .These children are provided with hot lunch daily to meet their
nutritional needs.

21. 11
Playing with kids in class Marking the assignment Kids in class
1.7.5 OVC’S program
The organization identify the importance of education and the burden that parents infected and
affected with HIV and AIDS face; hence under this program the organization help children to
realize their dreams through education and other intellectual services
The organization has also mobilized additional private sponsors to send over 100 children to
boarding schools, both primary and secondary schools and then to the university until they finish
their education with all expenses paid by their sponsors.
The organization also provides guidance and counseling sessions to the OVC’s using child
therapy modes specifically tailored for children. Each OVC has CHWs attending to them to
ensure that they lead healthy and comfortable lives. The OVC’S are normally supported with
other partners of the organization with the help of the organization. This program
is done under AFYA plus which assigned women in the program to be in charge of them in
doing their assessment and writing their report.
1.7.6 Farming Project
LPK has a farming project, in this farm the organization plants vegetables and maize crops, and
the organization also keeps poultry and practice fish farming. This aims to provide nutrition
needs to the women and also acts as a resource of income, the faming skills are also taught
women as it supports the organizations activities from the income earned from selling the
products in the farm.

22. 12
Poultry Faming Rabbit
Fish Farming
1.7.7 Gift shop
Gift shop is located at LPK’s office and sells beadwork, clothes, candles, cards, handbags and
other items made by the women in the Women Empowerment Program (WEEP).These items are
sold to visitors and to other outlets. The profits go to support the women and their families. In
most of the time money got from the gift shop goes to women microfinance savings and share.
The gift shop also help in marketing the women products, this also help women to sell their
products even when they are in class, however they only sell products occasionally as most of
the targeted group are visitors that comes to visit LPK;

23. 13
A section of display in the gift shop
1.8.1 Networking and collaboration with other agency.
LPK is a partnership organization that get partners to reach their goals they have both local and
international partners that help them to achieve developmental objectives in alleviating poverty
among their clients. LPK networks with various organizations to ensure the women and the
OVC’s are assisted economically, medically, psychologically and emotionally. And also these
partners fund OVC’s academic costs. These organizations include;
1.8.2 Marist International University College
This a local university that provide interns for the organization the interns are able to get
experience as part of their academic qualifications, the student also offer services to the
organization this help the organization to achieve their objectives as students provides
recommendation on the ongoing problems, by conducting my microfinance student provide
saving and economic skills and the entrepreneur skills which are beneficial to the organization;
1.8.3 HEART (Health Education Africa Resource Team)
This organization has an orphan prevention initiative that aims to save the lives of mothers
suffering from advanced stages of AIDS and those that live with HIV/AIDS. The organization
has a program known as Women Equality Empowerment Project (WEEP) that empowers women
living with HIV/AIDS. Therefore, their children are spared from becoming orphans.
HEART collaborates with LPK to empower women through WEEP programs .The women who
graduated in 2011, 2012, 2013 were funded by HEART throughout the 18 month WEEP
program, they were assisted to meet their nutritional needs, medical care and start up business.

24. 14
1.8.4 ONE HORIZON
This organization funded the 2015 graduates and the ongoing weep class.
The organization financial help to the WEEP classes so that they can meet their expenses.
The organization also build houses for women, the women save and buy land while One Horizon
build houses for them, this help the women to leave in a clean and good shelter.
1.8.5 Stephen Lewis Foundation
Steven Lewis foundation is based in Canada it provide women with lot of financial support The
organization support women of WEEP class with paying their rent and providing money for their
up keep when undergoing training. The organization also supports women in buying their
training materials example cloths and this they need while undergoing training at WEEP, centre.
The organization support living positive with administrative fee, this includes paying of the staff,
social workers. This foundation also assists in providing women with transport and financial
support for home base care that is used for HIV intervention.
This organization also helps in administrative support of the organization example paying the
social worker and other staff members. Through this foundation living positive is also get
international donors which help in assisting OVC’S in paying school fee. Other services
provided with Stephen Lewis foundation include;
1. This organization funds the OVC’s.
2. Buy for them books, pay their teachers.
3. Provide for them the school feeding program.
1.8.6 DREAM CENTRE
This is HIV voluntary and counseling centre that works with LPK to offer ARVs and medical
treatment to the patients living with HIV/AIDS. The medical centre also known as
Comprehensive Care centre (CCC) this is because it takes care of people living with HIV/AIDS
and offers them with TB prevention medicine, also the centre offers counseling and creates
awareness to the HIV positive breastfeeding mothers on how to take of their babies. The centers
also provide medication for the infected children with medication and treatments of the
opportunistic diseases, the centre also educate CHWS of which they provide with the
employment;

25. 15
1.8.7 Kenya Community Development Fund (KCDF)
This is a government initiatives project that is meant for local development the organization alien
with the initiative to outsource money for school fee, this because they are given first priority
This development give first priority to the CBO that helps the OVC’S
This organization major work is building classrooms at Day care. Currently there is a classroom
under construction to accommodate the expanding numbers of children
1.8.8 AFYA+
AFYA + is an organization that deals mainly with the OVC’s, the organization is also involved
in the intervention of HIV/AIDS amongst the women. AFYA + works with LPK to support the
vulnerable OVC’s who are the children to the women at LPK, It provides the children with
linkages to CDF and BURSARY funds to cater for the children education especially those in
secondary school. The organization provides the children with shoes that help them to put on
while going to school and also ensure the children have bedding and writing materials. Also the
organization provides OVC with stationeries; example books and pens. AFYA works hand in
hand with the CHWs to ensure all the children are taken care of and are living in good conditions
e.g. them have beddings and shelter. AFYA+ works with LPK to offer teachings to the support
group regarding to their health, the topics taught include drug adherence, disclosure, hygiene and
many more.

26. 16
2.0 CHAPTER TWO
ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN AND HOW INFORMATION WAS
GATHERED AND THE USE OF MODELS AND THEORIES
2.1 Introduction
The chapter introduces the activities that I was engaged in while at LPK for the period of
13weeks from 4th /Jan to 31st march 2016 and showing the different activities that I participated
in, showing my duties, accomplishments, roles, and input in the particular activity and explaining
the process of the activity in a way that brings out my display of the skills required in the
practice. These include; orientation, attending to clients, home visits bed ridden, business follow
up, microfinance meeting, support group psychosocial support meeting, guidance and
counseling, recording cases, case management, writing, typing monthly reports, and taking
minutes for microfinance meeting. This chapter will also highlight the emerging issues not being
solved by the organization but very important. The chapter will also show how the information
was gathered and tool employed to get information. Later on this chapter I will discuss the use of
theories and models used to facilitate each activity that I undertook.
2.2 Orientation
This was done from the date I reported on the 4th Jan 2016. The induction/ orientation were done
by the Community Development worker (CDW) who was the Agency’s Supervisor with the help
of other staff members.
she gave me a very pleasing and interesting welcome and encouraged me to develop a strong
relationship between the clients in order to obtain the information, she also encourage me to
develop a reciprocal learning experiments that is we learn as well as we teach the women
They also taught us more about the profile of the Organization with the help of administrative an
Officer (AO). I took a brief tour of the premises of the organization noting which office was
located; this helped me during my placement. The following are activities undertaken in LPK on
HIV intervention during my internship;
2.2.1 Home visits
This is done under HIV intervention I conducted several home visits with the help of CHW, who
was in charge of the program, it involve visiting a client in her home, to understand their

27. 17
situations better. This visits enables following up of clients and attending to their needs
individually and know where they need assistance.
The main aim of home visits is to enable the organization to understand the women at
personalized level and enable the social workers to assess the situation at the client’s home and
the type of intervention to be undertaken.
In one of the home visits that help me to understand the individual problems, at times doing little
house chores for the clients and providing counseling that normally a rise from fear of death, in
understanding the client i could link their past experience and their present experience, in some
cases I was able to determine the suicidal cases. In such cases I would use the persons experience
to change the mentality I would also challenge the client drawing a clear picture how the children
would be after their death. In cases of drug adherence as there is a close relationship between
stress and drug adherence I would provide psycho education, both to the children and the mother
I would then let them repeat, example facts about HIV how to take care of the patients,
importance of drug adherence. At times when the clients never had drugs recommended by the
doctors we made recommendations and the organization would provide money to purchase the
drugs.
A home visit, doing house chores for bed ridden Providing counseling to client
2.2.2 Spiritual Support (morning devotions)
Apart from emotional support and economic support, and drug adherence another important
support is spiritual support this help the women to cop up with the life challenges, it reduces
stress and depression it also work better for change of attitude towards others and themselves,
during my internship there was a program of morning devotion, that all the members including
the staff had to attend in order to show team work and unity. I conducted morning devotion very

28. 18
often this was to encourages women and give them hope despite the pandemic and epidemic
nature of HIV and AIDS, I was tasked with reading the bible and elaborating the scriptures for
them, the women then sing and pray This enables the women to get spiritual healing and to start
the day with Lords guidance. At this time I challenged women to contribute to the s scriptures
reading or narrate according to their own understanding this help them understand better the
scriptures‘.
2.3 Microfinance Meetings
This is part of the WEEP program it is done every Thursday afternoon the women have a table
banking where they contribute money and save, in this program I recorded the saving book the
amount they contribute, and I also taught the importance of saving as well as maintaining a
healthy relationship with other members. The women in weep program are encouraged to form a
group, the women take soft loans and emergency loan known as (Gumbatu) in their language of
understanding, the group is well organized as they have a chair lady, secretary and the treasurer,
I was task by taking minute for them and recording it in the group profile, I also drafted for them
a constitution as every group is required to open an account after 6moths, I also filled application
form for opening bank account. This initiative is very important as it fosters independence
amongst the women as many organizations have same initiative to empower women
economically and they are successful.
2.3.1 Psychosocial Support (PSSP)
PSSP is a very important activity it help to address the ongoing problem among PLWHAS this
rage from economic social and psychological and the most interesting activity that. I undertook.
The activity involve members sharing their own experience this has been proved WHO It was
felt by members of the group that people going through the same experience would have more
understanding of what their peers are feeling than those not in the same situation. During this
process I was able to develop topics, I then used guided action to facilitate the sessions, the
topics develop include self awareness, the main aim was the women to understand themselves
and familiarized themselves with their status, in this session I used brainstorming and asked each
person to describe who they are, I and who they want to be and how best they would love
themselves, this topic also aimed at building their self esteem, in regards with their status. The
second topic that I conducted was relationship and behavior, the main aim of this topic was to

29. 19
explore their past experience and their past life, during this session I was able to understand the
trauma of the past experience they underwent in this, there is particular client who said that she
hate men and would never accept any in her life after the husband cheated on her, in this case
and to help her with the past experience I used the story of another person in the group to change
her mentality, the story was different in that despite some men are bad others are good, I also
gave her a mentor who would help her understand the trauma and the present life, other issues
that arise is there relationship with the other members, the women felt that when they disclose
their status to the newly partners they fear the partner would leave them, some also felt that when
they reveal their status, partners will take advantage of their status with all this perception I
taught the women on the importance of self disclosure I explained to them that they should feel
free to disclose their status to their children at the right age this will dependent on the
understanding level. The third topic was about stress management, in this case I taught the
women the how to manage the stress following a strategies with I gave this include identifying
the stressor, past experience in dealing with stress, sharing the problems with others, knowing
their limits especially responsibilities, avoiding unnecessary stress and eventually facing the
problem also having faith in God. Later we discussed unhealthy ways of handling stress and how
they affect the individual. A lot of issues emerge in this session this include women being
affected with the trauma they underwent, this affect their relationships with others even how they
view others, in area that emerge about the decoded couple who do not use protective, during
conjugation this because they want to be like their partners, issue of women being frustrated in
their past experience making them to hate men, during this time I deployed a lot of cognitive
behavior therapy. Other issues that emerged I would ask the client to meet me during her free
time to see on how to go about it. There are three ways in which psychosocial is done, this
include group counseling, talk therapy and exercise which include yoga.

30. 20
Psychosocial support in session Yoga exercise this help to relax their mind
The women undergo various physical exercises e.g. dancing, rope skipping and yoga. This is an
important session’s to the clients because some of them have come from being bed ridden and so
exercises helps to loosen the muscles. Counseling is done in a group or individually depending
on the issues to be addressed. This helps the women to get in touch with their problems and
come up with solutions on their own.
2.3.2 Psycho education
This is a form of guidance counseling that provides the client with facts about something or
about events, under this activities it involve impacting knowledge, it focus on the intellectual
training. due to lack of awareness children leaving with HIV parents tend to neglect their parents,
during my internship I was able to handle three cases that was presented to me, the first case was
a case of a 12year old child who was resisting medication, I used play therapy to get her attention
and to interact with her, I was able to determine that the child was undergoing a lot of stress due
to bullying at school, this affected her drug adherence, the child also lucked a clear follow up on
her medication, I addressed this issue by talking to the child on the importance of medication
later she repeated the same. The second case was a case of an 18year old girl who for the luck of
information had neglected her mother who was HIV positive, through this psycho education on
the facts about AIDS she realized that her mother can leave even longer. The third case was a
case of a 15 year old girl who because of fear could not go to school as she feared cholera she
started shivering when her desk mate stated vomiting and trembling, I taught her facts about
cholera, ways of transmission, prevention and how one should protect herself.

31. 21
Another case that I handled was a case of a twenty year old girl who develop hostility after
losing her mother, brother and her husband, she then started taking drugs which are very hurtful
to her health, I organized a topic based on drug and substance abuse which I took her through the
negative effects and diseases associated with each abused drug. I would like to thank the CHW
who at this time helped me she also gave me the ideas on how to go certain problems while
conducting the process she also ensured that we are not strangers to the clients every time she
introduces us to the client and therefore created a good environment to solve the problems with
her the clients were able to open up to us.
2.3.3 Clients counseling session one on one
Counseling in an interaction between the professional and the client, it is where by the profession
help the client to help themselves with the principle of self determination which is the core of
counseling. During my internship I provide one on one counseling to three clients I was able to
understand some problems are attributed as a result of our childhood experience in one of the
cases where a woman could not do any business and only depend on the organization, I was able
to realized that during her childhood her father never let her do anything this made her to be lazy,
I therefore advised her to work on her childhood experience, I also had to change her mentality
of AIDS patients to be very vulnerable to work and being provided with everything.
Another case I address was a mother of a 15 year old boy her child was resisting medication and
sometime spending time with the street boys and at the videos, in this I understood the root of the
problem to be influence from the street boys, I advised the mother to show her child more love
than before, then talk to her son by repeating to her the importance of medication this worked
well as the problem was solved. The third counseling case was a case of a woman, the husband
was a dunked who would use her money on alcohol, the husband also did not want to know her

32. 22
HIV status, the woman then felt shame as sometimes he would be beaten up, I tried to
understand that the man was stressed up and because of his wife status he felt the only way to get
rid of stress was to take alcohol another thing was the pride that he had he never wanted the
fellow men to know her status, the first step was to convince the husband to go for HIV testing
she told me the husband accepted I also told her to talk to the husband on negative effects of
drug abuse.
2.4 Training
During my placement I conducted a support group meeting in two occasions in one occasion I
trained the women on matters concerning health this was to sensitize women on cholera as there
was an outbreak of cholera, I taught on matters of hygiene and prevention of cholera. The second
occasions I Taught women on matter concerning business this include how to start a business,
importance of record keeping and marketing strategies I also taught the women how to chose a
good business. The response was good as other women came to me to help them develop a
business plan.
Support group session
2.4.1 Business follow up and project update
Business follow up is very important, I was task by business follow up this was to know how the
women are faring with their businesses and the challenges they are facing in most of the time I
realized that record keeping is a challenge to the women, I advised the women budgeting and to
avoid unnecessary expenditure.
The organization also had other projects like kitchen garden witch facilitate nutrition assessed
the kitchen garden and advised them on how to maintain the kitchen garden this include
watering. The rabbit project that the women kept in this area I learnt a lot on the importance of

33. 23
rabbit Another project was poultry farming the women kept chicken and this provided them with
food in some case we would advise members to share the produce with the members who had
none.
Rabbit hatch Complete kitchen garden
2.4.2 Office Work
There has been a lot of office work during my placement and in within the office operations, I
was tasked with a lot of activities which includes the following: organizing files this I did on my
first day, filing the OVCS documents; It was a policy and a must by the social work department
to write reports on every home visit made and business follow up.
For those work carried out at the field, I was meant to write with evidence my observation, client
situation, services provided and recommendations from home visits with adequate supervisions
by the Agency’s Supervisor.
Office work typing reports
For this, writing those home visits reports helped me gained the practical experience of reports
writing and to whom a particular report should be written. This therefore gave me the skills in
recording, summarizing, recommending, identifying the objectives, and drawing ways forwards
which may be easily retrieved. The activities that I was tasked in helped me to become a better
community worker because I can now work with people of different levels and apply appropriate

34. 24
report writing, monitoring, appraisal of projects, guidance and counseling as well as
administrative work. This has created a favorable environment in learning positive attitudes
towards work and persons because of the high levels of concretization as an adult.
2.4.3 Emerging issues
During my field placement I met cases which the organization could not solve directly, however
in most of the cases they are what the organization does not deal with directly.
2.4.4 Gender Based Violence
While GBV against women is generally high in Kenya despite being prohibited, the rise in
violence against women with HIV and AIDS is associated with a mentality that they are
vulnerable. In many cases, this is arising due to the progressive destruction of traditional family,
community customs and support structures. This has combined the pervasive and seemingly
endless poverty. I experienced the cases of GBV among clients especially those living with their
husbands and their past life experience; the most common GBV among WLWHDS include
physical assault/ violence, psychological abuse, denial of access to food/property, husbands with
holding resources for care of children and payment for their school fees, medical expenses and
overall economic abuse. This has contributed to stress, depression, and separation of the families
as this is the most case leading to single mothers.
2.5 Drug and Substance Abuse
The key driver to the GBV in among WLWHAS which was a challenge was Alcohol and Drug
abuse. According to the baseline study I conducted the client’s men were found to be the major
consumers of Alcohol in the community. This thrive poverty among the women as only women
are left to care for the children. The widespread drug abuse has led to deep and negative impact
on the physical and psychological health of women which has linked to a more destructive
behaviors including domestic violence. I therefore learnt that from the Gender lessons I grasp
from class with its manifestations, alcohol and drug abuse is one of the key drivers of GBV
among WLWHAS. It escalated domestic violence making men and women turned out to be
aggressive in society that undermines the environment necessary for peaceful and productive
homes. This taught me a lesson that, as a community worker there is need for more sensitization,
and I had already discussed

35. 25
2.5.1 How Information was Gathered
The information was gathered from two main sources, that is primary sources of information
primary and secondary source of information deployed both quantitative and qualitative methods
of information gathering at the same time not suspending my own experience.
In my time at field work I used both the methods to gather information from the staff and the
women on WEEP program at LPK.
2.5.2 Primary data collection
The primary data are those which are collected afresh and for the first time, and thus happen to
be original in character, this data is normally collected when we do activities, or ongoing duties,
it requires a lot of accuracy since it also have limitations, during my placement in the field
practice I found this method to be very effective, data collected is usually first hand information.
2.5.3 Observation
The observation method is the most commonly used method especially in studies relating to
behavioral sciences. In a way we all observe things around us, but this sort of observation is not
scientific observation. Observation becomes a scientific tool and the method of data collection
for the researcher, when it serves a formulated research purpose, is systematically planned and
recorded and is subjected to checks and controls on validity and reliability. Under the
observation method, the information is sought by way of investigator’s own direct observation
without asking from the respondent. For instance, in a study relating to consumer behavior, the
investigator instead of asking the brand of this is a data collection procedure that guides the
researcher in gathering data from key areas through sight.
2.5.4 Types of Observation
Participant Observation-This getting involved to people’s day to day life of the people while
collecting information without them knowing you are collecting data.
Non-participant Observation-This is carrying out observation without participating in the
activities of the people and the people are aware that you are collecting data about them.
In my field practice I used Participant Observation to gather information by getting involved in
the women’s daily activities such as skill training, microfinance meetings, net making, support

36. 26
group meeting and also interacted with the children at day care .From these activities I made
observations made I collected information regarding to LPK.
2.5.5 Interviews
The interview method of collecting data involves presentation of oral-verbal stimuli and reply in
terms of oral-verbal responses. This method can be used through personal interviews and, if
possible, through telephone interviews, however during my internship I used personal interview
in different level. In most case I got in dialogue with the clients and staff members to collect
information.
Structured interviews - Such interviews involve the use of a set of predetermined questions and
of highly standardized techniques of recording. Living positive has a already structured forms for
assessing clients this include business follow up, and individual assessment forms, I also
prepared my interview guide in which I used to obtain information.
Unstructured interviews - are characterized by a flexibility of approach to questioning.
Unstructured interviews do not follow a system of pre-determined questions and standardized
techniques of recording information. In a non-structured interview, the interviewer is allowed
much greater freedom to ask. Using this method I engaged in dialogue with the staff and the
clients, this involve asking questions it allowed me to investigate in-depth.
Focused interview - is meant to focus attention on the given experience of the respondent and its
effects. This I used when conducting focused group discussion; I focused on a specific topic, and
specific experience of the clients.
Clinical interview - is concerned with broad underlying feelings or motivations or with the
course of individual’s life experience the interviewer has the freedom to decide the manner and
sequence in which the questions would be asked. In this method I investigated women past
experience, how they feel when they were diagnosed, and the trauma they underwent I was able
to obtain information and how to solve a specific social problems.
2.6 Focused group discussions
This method involves people of the same social problem, class, social status and eventually age,
this was being conducted in psychosocial support group, support group meeting, and
microfinance meeting. In this case there is a specific topic that is being discussed, other sources

37. 27
of focused group psychosocial support people share their information of their past and the
present experience I was able observation and acquire information, and while using this method I
used brainstorming and asking questions.
2.6.1 Meetings
During my internship at LPK several departmental meetings were held this gave opportunity
collect information, the departmental were held to plan for the activities, highlight challenges
faced in the field and share the idea on how to go about them. Some time the agency supervisor
would share with as some agency knowledge.
2.6.2 Secondary information
This is information that is found from publications like magazines .LPK Organization has got
documented information in organization’s brochures and files which i borrowed from the
administrator and read to gather information. I was able to obtain some information from LPK
website and internal sources.
However to understand and conduct my field work effectively by the use of theories and to
integrate them with the practice I used I used academic journals and books.
2.6.3 USE OF THE THEORIES IN PRACTICE
A theory is a combination of ideas concepts that help to explain a phenomenon. In social work
theories help to understand how and sustain maladaptive behavior and how people can be helped
to change behavior. Like other professions development practice grounded in theoretical
approaches. In my placement in LPK I used both model and theories in understanding problems
and solving the problems that I meat during my placement in LPK.
2.6.4 Psychoanalytic Theory
The main proponent of this theory Sigmund theory, it was proposed in (1856-1939) this theory
was based on hypnosis and his family upbringing.
This theory help in understanding human behavior it focuses on two main aspects in viewing
human nature. This theory I used most in counseling sessions where I was able to solve many
problems and help the clients relates with their past to understand their present problems.
a) Concept of psychoanalysis

38. 28
b) Conscious and unconscious
c) Structure of personality
d) Anxiety
e) Personality development
f) Conscious and unconscious
This theory states that human behavior is largely a result of unconscious motivation this is
usually attributed to our past and childhood experience. While conducting counseling I found out
that most of the patient acquire HIV due of luck of self esteem , this because most were raise in
extreme poverty and would be win easily because of luck being instilled with confidence; in their
childhood experience. The problems are deeply rooted in our childhood experience and we are
not conscious of them. These early childhood experiences are significant in later personality
development in later personality of a person, and the affects of these experiences continue to
influence the adult without them being aware of it. During my placement at LPK most of the
counseling case I realized that most of the problem are attributed to the childhood experience, in
one of the cases where a certain woman have been in WEEP class and in the program for period
of nine months and could not use the skills to sustain herself this because she was used to be
given anything by her father when she was young this made her to think that women are only
provided with men. Since she was the last borne the parents never allowed her to do any duties in
the house this contributed so much on how she perceive things in the real life.
2.6.4.1 Structure of personality (mind)
There are three systems in the mind that is id; ego and superego this is an unconscious process.
Id - this is the biological component which a child is born with. It is described as pleasure
seeking illogical/lack of rationale and unconscious this predominantly in the human life. This
structure is one of the causes of HIV and AIDS acquirement in most of the cases it was survival
reasons that made the women to acquire the virus, one reasons that they would be forced to drop
out of school due to poverty to support their families some were orphans who had no one to care
for them in this case they would engage in maladaptive behavior for survival despite they were
aware of it consequences.
Ego - this is the centre of rationale /intelligence. It function on reality principles it is the
executive of the body its goes in between id and super ego, this structure manifest its self after

39. 29
the women have undergone counseling they are able to reasons things out and even adhere to
ARVT and the first achievement and the first step to healthy and positive life
The Super Ego - the third sub system is the judicial aspect which maintains the moral code
perfection it thrives on ideal more than reality of the ego. In this structure of personality women
are afraid to violate their own norms and values, this happens with the women mentors who are
required to maintain good standard of moral to act as example to women they are mentoring in
LPK this women are normally CHWS also leaving with the virus.
2.6.4.2 Anxiety and defense mechanism:
This normally arises when the ego is unable to balance the psychic energy between the ID and
the super ego an anxiety state arise there are three types of anxiety;
Neurotic anxiety - is unconscious worry that we will lose control of ids urges resulting in
punishment for in appropriate behavior this usually happens to the women they get into drug
abuse and the spread of the virus even though they are aware of its measure.
Reality anxiety-is fear of the real world events the cause of this anxiety is usually identified, this
happens to the women when they are bedridden they think they are going to die and suicidal
thoughts start s to come to them, however some are very much aware that due to their poor
adherence to drugs is the cause of being bed ridden, this anxiety contribute too much in drug
adherence as they fear being bedridden due to lack of drug adherence and other opportunistic
diseases.
Moral anxiety-fear of violating own morals women who have undergone counseling fear not to
violet their own morals especially mentors.
2.6.4.3 Defense mechanisms
The most common defense mechanism among women with HIV and AIDS are denial,
repression/suppression and rationalization.
Denial - this is the usually the first defense mechanisms that women undergo after the first
diagnosis most of them tend to distort reality and denial the truth that they are infected in most
cases the women even resist medication, this occur to protect the ego from things individual
cannot cop up with.

40. 30
Repression/suppression -this is a form of defense mechanism that result from the past
memories this memories tend not to appear they continue to influence the women behavior, most
women are afraid of forming a relationship after their husband cheated on them and infected
them with the virus they strongly believed that all men are the same. Hence they don’t want to
form any relationship. This tends to be neutralized in support group and psychosocial support.
Rationalization - this is a defense mechanism that involves explaining an unacceptable behavior
or feeling in rational or logical manner avoiding the true reasons for behavior, women always
make an excuse that that if it was not for the poverty they could have not got the infection, hence
blaming the situation.
2.6.4.4 View of human Nature
People are regarded as bad, brutal/animal like driven by hidden hostile biological impulses and
instinctual drives of aggression and pleasure.
Two main instinctual drives are Eros and Thanatos;
EROS this instinct for, survival, it encompasses libido, nurturing and creativity pleasure.
THANATOS is the death instinct which accounts for aggressive drives this sometimes manifests
as unconscious wish to die or hurt someone.
2.6.5 Problem Solving Model
“This Model is widely used and particularly useful in social case work that is working with an
individual or particular case. This model argues that life is an ongoing problem encountering and
problem solving process. According to this model an individual is involved in everyday in
greater or lesser degree in consciousness and competence in recognizing and coping with
problems, however people may need to be assisted to mobilize internal energy to cope with their
problem.” This model has five steps that one needs to follow to address the problem.
I. Identification of the problem by the person
This model states that the affected individual must know the problem and define the problem.
The individual must acknowledge their problem, and the problem must be real, in order for the
problem to be solved. This means she/he must define the problem to the social worker, the
person must know how the problem affect her in real life. This focus so much on how

41. 31
organization was started when Mary realize that a lot of attention was being given to children
while the mothers were neglected and their health deteriorated and eventually die leaving the
orphans this is the process of problem identification. After women are diagnosed with the virus
they feel so lonely, and also withdraw them under stress, depression and coping up with new
diagnosis, it Is such shock to the women due to this women undergo trauma. When they are
found with the CHWS they define their problem to the social worker this include what they
undergoing and how that is affecting their life. LPK enrolled the women in the project. The
women then undergo counseling to understand their problems and get in touch with their own
problem, in the process they define their problem to a counselor who assists them to define their
problems and in-depth and get in touch with their problems, this is important because it is only
when the client knows what her problem that is when the problem can be solved.
The social worker then helps the client to make a realist goals as the clients develop it own
solution this is important as solutions are self centered from the client.
II. Subjective view of the person must be identified
During the counseling the social worker asks the client how she feels about the problem for
instance the client may feel depressed and lonely when the community stigmatizes her, some
clients may turn to alcohol in order to feel better which is not always the case. Most of the
women at LPK are widowed or abandoned by the husbands and they have children, they
confessed that they feel stressed about the situation and that the society blamed them for killing
their husbands with AIDS which is not always the case, these women also suffer stigma from the
society and they are not able to start up businesses since people will not buy from them these has
contributed to depression, alcoholism and drug abuse and some of them will secretly engage in
prostitution to earn an income leading to re-infection and feeling dejected. The women said that
being HIV positive has made them to lose place in the society due to stigma and discrimination.
III. Vital facts about the problem its causes and solutions
HIV and AIDS is a sexually transmitted infection, it affect both men and women however
women and children are more affected, HIV and AIDS is more prevalent among the poor this
because of the economic reasons especially people leaving in the slums this is due to economic
disorganization in Kenya where by the economic privileges does not reach the poor; culture too
contribute to HIV infection. The organization recognizes the cause and the facts about the

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problem in order to solve it. This is important as addressing the main causes lead to sustainable
problem solving. The other cause of HIV infection stated by the women is alcoholism and drug
abuse this is because when is drunk the ability to make rational decision becomes difficult these
has also contributed to them being infected. Due to how the society view HIV, also contribute to
stigma and fast spread of the infection most of the women in LPK have been abandoned by their
close relatives and neighbor as they view it as a burden and a disease for the deviant people this
make the women to hide their status to their partners which contribute to the spread of the virus.
In trying to solve the problem LPK identify that because of poverty the women cannot survive
hence they organize WEEP and counseling for the women.
IV. Putting into consideration the possible means and modes of solutions
The organization understands HIV infection as a social problem which brings burden to the
society rather than individual problem. After understanding the root cause of the problem the
organization came up with a strategies in solving the problem this ensure the problem does not
reoccur or does not persist. Economic empowerment so save women from poverty and
dependency this ensure that the women own a business or has a skills this is used to get
livelihood and to sustain themselves, organization also provide counseling which help the
women live positive life, the OVC’s program help them and their children to get education,
seminars creates awareness among the society and also sensitive people on the importance of
ending stigma this measures and consideration help to address challenges effectively.
V. Taking action
The organization the takes action they direct the clients to the health facilities example LPK
helps clients to mainstream attention to HIV and health into action on, poverty and the broader
effort to achieve independency. For example, LPK works with clients to understand the social
and economic factors that play a crucial role in driving health and disease, and to respond to such
dynamics with appropriate program outside the health sector. LPK also promotes specific action
on the needs and rights of women and OVC’S as they relate to HIV. Second, LPK works with
partners to address the challenges faced this they do through outsourcing money from partners
and health responses. Sometimes this is done through focused or specialized program, such as
promoting attention of the public to the infected through the seminar to reduce stigma.

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2.6.6 Locality Development Model
This model was proposed by different sectors of development these sectors include experts in
agriculture social work and community development the proponents argue that any change in the
society can only be achieved by large number of people getting in goal determination, they argue
that for there to be desired changes in the community people must take in the beneficiaries. The
processes of community development include the following steps;
I. Establish rapport with the members.
This involve establishing a good relationship with the member or the client, during my
placement I realize that the organization has establish a strong bound between the staff and the
clients, in this time I also establish a good relationship with the women at LPK I did this through
the principle that what think you are is actually what you make them feel. I assisted women with
their chores within the organization this helped me to win their rapport, this also became my
entry point in assessing the women individual needs, the organization are also able to assess the
needs of their clients because of the close relationship that exist between them and the clients,
they work with the women rather than working for the women. This made the women to open up
for me during my placement and share with me their stories.
II. Jointly appraising the situation / evolution of the situation.
In this step it includes procedures that are followed to identify the major problem facing the
clients, this is usually done jointly with the client LPK as an organization jointly discussed the
newly initiated projects by the clients this make them fell sense of ownership to the initiated
project, they are shown how the projects impacts on their lives. During my internship the
problem assessment I did together with clients who would tell me their problem and how to solve
it. The contribution of the women are usually valued in the meeting as women normally come up
with different suggestions, this made it easy to initiate relevant projects as most of the projects in
living positive are clients centered hence they feel ownership and sense of belonging, the also
feel worth and dignified.
III. Prioritization of problems in order of preference.
Problems are prioritized using different mechanism this include terms of consequences, agency,
consequences, availability of time and resources. The organization identify the urgency of

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counseling this is to help the women cop up with the diagnosis before the WEEP program comes
in, this saves resources and at every problem in an orderly manner. The organization has
organized their program in such a manner that they start with the most urgent need before
proceeding to the other needs this include individual counseling later the women join psycho
social support the WEEP program they, identify that with stress the women cannot concentrate in
class and with ought food they can go back in maladaptive behavior. The organization also
recognized that the women need medication and especially during the time they are bed ridden
they are provided with food and care until they are well enough to join the support group.
IV. Securing participation of people
The organization involve women in all the activities that is taking place as this model argues that
for unsuccessful are development to be realized section of people are left out , without prejudice
the organization includes all their members to take part in all the initiated activities. The
organization for example has a rule for every member of the organization to take part in morning
devotion which always fosters team work among the members. During support group meeting all
members contribute equally, they also participate in the microfinance this help them to share
good ideas that foster individual development. However the family members of the infected and
affected individual are also included in the program, the organization ensure that the children of
the affected and the infected are enrolled into the program and they also participate the
organization.
V. Development and standardization of effective communication channels
Communication is a very important tool in any entity it shows guidelines on what is to be done;
LPK has proper communication channel directed by communication administrator this help to
notify the women in the program any changes that might have occurred, women are always
notified in advanced whenever there is a visitor coming through communication administrator.
Also before the women are enrolled in the class they are notified of the contract and what it
entails by the social worker, while signing a contract with LPK they are explained in a language
which they understand to avoid conflict. The organization also notified the parents of the OVC’S
at the right time when the sponsor has dropped the child they then give the child a period for the
family to prepare for the responsibility, the organization also notified the parents when the child

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has got sponsorship, the children then write letters to their sponsors, in most of the time LPK use
face book, and internet sources to communicate with their stakeholder and sponsors.
VI. Development of organization stabilized channels
These are channel through which various activities can be undertaken to support community
initiatives. Within LPK women form groups e.g. those that are undergoing training form a
microfinance group here they save and even initiate their projects this help the organization to
build their capacity in terms of development, also the former graduates also form a group this
groups are called support groups where they are trained of different business skills.
VII. Streamlining stabilizing and stabilizing greater community leadership
Women groups have members as their leaders the member include chair lady treasure and the
secretary this leaders take full charge of controlling their group and are responsible for and
leadership duties and the day to day running of the group, they make their constitution and
implement it on their own. This has helped to increase the ownership of the group and good
relationship among them.
2.7 EVALUATION
This is the process of determining the worth or significance of development activity, policy and
program to determine the relevance objectives and efficiency of resources and sustainability of
resources. I always carried self evaluation after every activities undertaken, would always share
my experience with the agency supervisor who would appreciate the work that I have done,
before filling any report I would give it to the agency supervisor to go through it, in most of the
cases I would seek advice from her, I thank the agency supervisor this because without her
assigning me the task I would not have met my objectives also sharing my experience with my
counseling lecturer also motivated me it gave more moral in handling issues. Most often I would
get feedback from the client how they are faring on and coping with difference problems. In the
project that the organization undertakes I evaluated the social-economic process as I gave scores
for the groups that had the project’s impact on the community and its environment mainly
identifying the possible effects and mitigation measures the successful. However some never
used the skills acquired in WEEP class, I would like to apprise groups then benefited with 5/10
scores this because the majority were able to start their own businesses the contribution of the

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agency supervisor who ensured we got the right information she was ready to approached this
created a good environment for learning.
Follow up visits to the women who had gone through WEEP class visited their homes and
business places most of them were successfully running their businesses and were happy this
because they were able to take charge of their lives this is taking catering for their families needs,
and were happy to live in their own houses which has made easier to save because money that
was used for paying rent could now be channeled in other important development activities.
The children in different schools are progressing well academically and socially, this i got from
checking their report books which is submitted at the end of .every term to the organization. A
good number of them came for mentoring and advice before they joined different Universities in
Kenya in September. From the interviews with their parents i noted the youth and children
forums carried out LPK has borne fruits since they are reforming and want to become better
members of the society.

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3.0 CHAPTER THREE
SKILLS DEVELOPED IN PRACTICE
3.1 Introduction
This chapter will focus on how skills were developed during my practice, it also techniques of
social worked that I increase my competency in, each skills developed also the chapter will
highlight on how each intervention lead to a skill development, this chapter will also highlight on
how I felt during the whole field work activities. I will also highlight my areas which I felt in
competent and require further development this will then conclude with a general remark on field
attachment activities.
3.2 Counseling Skills
During the field attachment, I was interacting with PLWHAS, It was really a good opportunity
for me to explore my counseling skills, by following stages of counseling this include creating a
good environment for the client and following the three steps In counseling, this include,
exploration, understanding and eventually action, during this time I leant how to ask open-ended
question that lead to self understanding and using different technique to explore the root cause of
the problem. I was also able to use different techniques in counseling different clients of different
level for example when counseling a child I used play therapy which was very effective. I learnt
that guidance and counseling skills is the best and one need to follow the counseling process
while maintaining the levels of privacy and confidentiality skills to identify the real problems
and come up with the practical solutions.
3.3 Listening Skills
This is the ability to give attention to the client; it does not only involve giving a ear but also
understanding the client. By paying attention and maintaining an eye contact. During my
internship I conducted psychosocial sessions, counseling sessions for the women shared their
experiences and different problem, I was alert and used my listening skills in those sessions to
grasp all the important points and I had to put them down after the sessions. All the possible
information about the clients, I systematically recorded them to allow easy interpretation and
used. For example, when I made some case studies on GBV that was showing the roots of all
domestic violence that starts from family level. And in my mandate, obligation to safeguard

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privacy and confidentiality, therefore, my records were under the maximum security and they
were not accessed by any other person whom I preferably learnt from the theory of privacy under
guidance and counseling for adult educators. Listening skills are a very important as it helped
me in writing the reports and in counseling to facilitate therapy.
3.4 Interviewing Skills
An interview is a dialogue between to people with an aim of obtaining information, it involve an
interviewee and interviewer, I conducted several interview this in business follow up home visits
and while conducting individual assessment report for the client in this way I learnt how to
conduct an interview by asking relevant questions that leads to information.
I also learned how to prepare an interview guide this was important as it save me time during my
interview sessions. For these skills I was also able to get the information for my report and I that
way my report in successfully written.
3.5 Communication Skills
Communication is the transfer of massage from one person to other, during my placement at
LPK, which is a social structure where people interact; there was no activity that could take place
without interaction through communication. In this way I learn how to communicate to women
on sensitive matters relating to sexuality, and relationship, these are sensitive talks that people
shy away from however I was able to communicate in an orderable manner that shows respect to
the groups. I also conducted several training which I heard to communicate with the people, I
handle a topic on hygiene and business in two support groups that I conducted, I felt good
women asked a lot of questions as they wanted to know more.
3.6 Taking Notes/Keeping Records
I gained note taking skills during microfinance meeting I was required to write down the minutes
every time I attended a sessions. In most of the time while updating women files this include,
their weight, CD4 counts and their next visit to the hospital I also gained record keeping skills
which I also learnt how to organize the information and key them in the files. For my own good
records management was one of the best issue that emerged during my field placement at LPK in
such a way that with the critical reflection and action of I as an intern about the nature and
character of programs at the Organization, This therefore made me realize that, it’s not the

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conscious of me as an intern that determines my being, but on the contrary, my social being that
determines my consciousness. It therefore, eased the work of records keeping simply because it
aids/helps the memory especially when the clients were counseled for a number of times and
they do have their own records since most of them never wanted to repeat the information.
My experience is that, this showed roots towards progress for easy tracking, and progress made
with a given client and guiding in the ways forward. The records kept regularly made an area of
interest because researchers and other interested parties used the records as case studies for the
advancement of knowledge about these problems or issues recorded and managed from the day I
started my field attachment, was the day I started making my records right up with my Log Book
and the attendance monitoring form which made my report finalization a success.
The records that were made helped a lot to develop my new ideas and reviewing my theoretical
knowledge as grasp from guidance and counseling lessons on records management. .
3.7 Team Work Skills
Team work is the ability to work collaboratively with a group of people in order to achieve a
goal; this includes positive working atmosphere and supporting each other to combine individual
strengths to enhance team performance. In this we were able to delegate responsibility among
ourselves especially during my off days my fellow intern would brief me on every activity he has
undertaken we worked to gather in most of the time sharing duties and responsibility I therefore
learnt that team work and respect always form the basis of an objective evaluation with no
burden simply because people work to get the best which is the determination and because
people value others, there is always a lot divergence of opinions involved thus creating peace and
unity with clear prosperity which therefore made the appraisal a success. There was cooperation,
respect, and team work that’s why the field placement went on smoothly and successful; that is
to say, there was freedom of speech, no oppression on one’s positions with very organized
mobilization and orientation maintained which created a mutual respect and understanding.
3.8 General Remark on Activities Undertaken and Field Activities
The field practice has build my capacity in solving different problems in the society and it was
very pleasing and enjoyable working with PLWHAS. I am certain that with the skills I was
equipped with in class are very useful as theories came into reality; I acknowledged the

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counseling skills, principle of development, units I clearly show their importance in the real
world. I also felt that practical work gives more reality this has made me a competent social
worker and a competent development agents.
3.9 Handicapped skills
Time management skills
During my placement at LPK one of the skills I was struggling with was time managements
skills I could not reach on time, sometime due to traffic jam I felt very bad about it however I
always explained this situation to my supervisor who was very understanding.
3.10 Business management skills
LPK is a multilingual organization that economic empowerment is one of the key activities in
many developmental activities business skills are require, however I could not give appropriate
advice on small business management, and maintenance, in areas like teaching women on
marketing their product which I could not handle.

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4.0 CHAPTER FOUR
PROFESSIONAL GROWTH
4.1 Introduction
This chapter mainly deals with professional growth my ability to apply social work principles
and development principles, it also include the result of its application, and how I felt about the
whole process of my activity, later This chapter presents the conclusions and the
recommendation drawn from the field attachment activities; lesson learnt; challenges and
emerging issues encountered.
4.2 Principles and Values in Social Work Profession
They are the guidelines that provide social worker with knowledge and skills of what are
expected of them, both roles and how they should perform the activities in a professional
manner, the principles is the core practice of the profession.
4.3 Control emotional involvement
This involve maintaining professional distance in relationship with the service users, I applied
this principle when handling bed ridden clients, who were so much emotional as they thought I
will give them material things, but instead of being sympathetic I was so empathetic trying to
control my emotions. I kept a healthy relationship between myself and the client very keen to
harm the clients during my internship. In this way professionalism manifested itself I did
everything professionally in the organization, this increased more trust between organization,
organization and the clients
4.4 Principle of confidentiality
This principle states that professionals should keep secrets of the clients from irrelevant persons
this include records and things shared, during my internship while conducting support groups
women shared their life experiences which I had to keep as a secretes, while conducting
counseling clients who tell me their inner secrets which I had to keep secrete, I remember vividly
when the client shared with me the case of GBV which I kept secret not sharing with anyone;