Smart Life

Sexuality Mentoring AIDS Relationship Training, Life Skills and Family Education

THE SMART LIFE BEHAVIOUR CHANGE MODEL

Multi-level approach
The SMART LIFE Model consists of a series of programmes, which target all sectors of the community and muster a critical mass of all six sources of influence that support positive, social behaviour change, with regards to sexuality – the Church, the School, Parents, Educators, Care-givers and Social Workers. These together with children and youth, are all targeted by various age-appropriate programmes that have the same core values and message regarding sexuality – that of abstinence until the establishment of a life-long monogamous relationship. The whole community is leveraged to provide six sources of influence, working simultaneously to change behaviour.

Six sources of influences
This model has been affirmed by the global research project of Joseph Grenny, et al, and reported in their book, Influencer: The New Science of Leading Change

Influence sources connect vital behaviours to intrinsic motives and build the ability to do.

Motivation and Ability make up the first two domains of the model. These two domains are subdivided into Personal, Social, and Structural sources, all of which are engaged as the target groups and individuals participate in the SMART LIFE programmes. The resulting behaviour-change is continually reinforced, motivated and enabled by parents, educators, youth leaders and peer supporters, as well as the Church, the School and Social Services, as a whole.

Smart life is a value-based, character-building programme that provides training to the Smart Choices community through a Foundation training programme (for teachers, parents, care givers, health workers, counsellors or pastors) and a Facilitator training programme for Educators, who are teaching Smart Choices to the learners. This programme imparts principles, based on research to contribute to positive change in sexual beliefs, attitudes and behaviour among young people. It will equip and provide support for educators and parents to engage in interactive HIV and AIDS prevention education initiatives.