Relationship between Rite of Initiation Counselling Program and Developmental Needs of Adolescents in Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi

Abstract

Although the Catholic church in Kenya has come up with a rite of initiation counselling program, which is meant for both boys and girls to initiate them into a new stage of growth. Rites of initiation counselling program relationship with adolescents’ development needs in Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi is not conclusive. Hence, the current study aims at examining the relationship between rites of initiation counselling program and developmental needs of adolescents in Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi. The study objectives were to: determine the developmental needs of adolescents; evaluate the nature of the rite of initiation counselling program; examine challenges associated with rites of initiation counselling program and identify measures that can improve rite of initiation counselling program in Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi. The study was based on Erikson’s theory of development and Kohlberg theory of moral development. The target population was 114 chaplains, 114 rites of passage coordinators and 89600 adolescents drawn from Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi. Stratified and simple sampling was used to select a sample of 53 Chaplains and 53 rites of initiation counselling program coordinators and 144 adolescents drawn from Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi. Primary data was collected through administration of self-developed questionnaires and semi structured interview. Descriptive and inferential statistics analysed quantitative data using Statistical Packages for Social Scientists version 23. Findings were presented in tables and figures. Content analysis was used for analyzing qualitative data. This study presented the strengths and weakness of the program and thus offers the program developers an opportunity to reflect on the effectiveness of the program in its nature and performance in addressing the developmental needs of the adolescents. Findings of the study indicates that adolescents need to be guided on how to make informed decisions while selecting their friends, informed on how to take responsibilities of their actions and decisions in life and to be provided with an opportunity that would guide them in making career projections in their lives. Secondly, there was a clear procedure to undertake rites of initiation program in Catholic Arch diocese of Nairobi. Thirdly there was a positive and significant relationship between rites of initiation counselling program and developmental needs of adolescents in Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi. The rites of passage were challenged by unsupportive attitude from facilitators, lack of coordination of activities, unprepared facilitators and exclusion of guidance and counselling in church programs. It was recommended that there is need to seek for professional counsellors to volunteer to offer the rites of initiation counselling services. The study is of value to all stakeholders in the youth ministry.