Kanywegi is a community hit hard by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. An estimated 25% of the community is HIV+, several times the rate of the national average.  Despite the seriousness of the epidemic, there is poor HIV/AIDS education in Kenyan primary schools coupled with widespread ignorance, misconceptions and myths. GIVE acknowledges the importance of education and sees children as a window of hope in fighting the epidemic. Schools in Kanyawegi are under-supported and often lack staff, educational materials, and a conducive learning environment. GIVE has a number of initiatives to not only improve HIV/AIDS awareness in the community, but to improve the overall standard of education. GIVE works closely with the superintendent, head teachers, teachers, and students of 18 primary schools to achieve these goals.

GIVE has created a comprehensive HIV/AIDS curriculum in cooperation with community stakeholders and drawing from our experience teaching HIV/AIDS in primary schools for the past 4 years. The curriculum has recently been incorporated as another examinable subject within 18 primary schools. Three teachers from each school were trained by GIVE educators to teach the curriculum throughout the school year for a sustainable means of education from respected, local educators. GIVE also promotes HIV/AIDS awareness though a soccer tournament held each year involving girls and boys from each primary school. During the tournament awareness is created through posters, songs, dances, and question/answer sessions with prizes.

The Kanyawegi school zone is the worst performing zone out of 10 others in its municipality. There are multiple reasons for poor academic performance, but poverty plays a leading role. GIVE has rebuilt and built new classrooms at schools that are in particularly bad condition. Schools cannot afford to produce exams, a critical part of a quality education, and consequently many students are unprepared for national exams that determine future education options. GIVE funds exam production for all 18 primary schools in the zone, along with the new HIV/AIDS exam, to ensure students are writing exams. An Education Day bringing together teachers and student is held each year to celebrate and acknowledge hard work, success, and improvement. Certificates and trophies are given out based on the results from the GIVE funded exams and we hope this special day will encourage teachers and students to improve their performance.