Teen Talk Light
I want to bring open round discussions on Sexual Reproductive Health Hygiene and Adolescence to teens in the ghetto, rural and sub-urban areas who have no access to such Education.
A lot of early pregnancies and school drop outs among the teens is increasingly being reported. One sad reason most girls even drop out since they lack money to purchase things like sanitary towels. some girls end up into early marriages and drop out of school cause of poverty, so they are simply looking for a way to survive and cater for their needs. I strongly believe all this is happening due to lack of knowledge or inadequate education on such topics like Sexual Reproductive health which is a topic rarely discussed freely in African families. Likewise the boys are dropping out of schools, some get into drugs and some go to an extent of becoming gangsters. They involve themselves in such because they fell they have no other options of catering for their basic needs. Research has it that "in Kenya, about 65 percent of women and girls can’t afford sanitary pads. Underserved girls often skip school when they have their periods and fall behind, which raises their risks for dropping out." These are problems facing the common boy or girl in a certain village. Its true that most African parents rarely discuss topics like Adolescence to their children. Its painful when girls have to engage in early sexual activities just to get money to purchase things like sanitary towels. Some in the process end up pregnant hence drop out of school. Some even end up into early marriages. I strongly believe that all this going around in teens life is due to inadequate or lack of educations on such topics like Sexual Reproductive Health and Hygiene and Adolescence. Every girl or boy growing up should be exposed to such topics at an early stage. Back in my community, Kibera slums in Kenya I have grown and witness such happen and I want to change that. I have seen girls and boys go a stray since they lack such knowledge and also lack a role model.
I want to work with a team who will help mobilize, mentor, educate and carry out round discussions on Sexual Reproductive Health, Hygiene and adolescence. Together we issue sanitary towels, soaps and underwear to girls. For the boys we issue soap, underwear, vests.
I want to have one on one talks with the teens where we share, engage and above all make these less fortunate teens feel they have other better ways of dealing with their situations. Together with a team we move to different villages and slums as we mobilize and do the same.
Furthermore, I want to come up with an online platform where those who can access internet and devices for internet use can share and read other peoples stories. provide solutions generally an active platform to learn from each other. This online platform will also contain education on Sexual Reproductive Health and Hygiene.
I am targeting the teenagers and youths in the Rural areas, villages, slums and sub-urban areas who haven not had a chance to get knowledge on topics about Sexual Reproductive Health, Hygiene and Adolescence. I want to provide a space where these teens can better understand themselves and most especially their bodies. When we for example provide sanitary towels to the girls who can not afford them, slowly we will reduce the number of girls who choose to stay home during such periods, or those who get into early sexual activities just to secure some little money to purchase pads. Also with the boys through such an education they will well understand themselves, their bodies and most especially respect their fellow female friends. I feel like they will get to understand importance striving to be successful despite where they come from and the challenges they face like poverty.
My team and I have participated in community services back in the slums in Kenya. We have reached a good number of girls and boys in the slums and I feel like we should now extend that to a wider community and youths. We have issued sanitary towels, milk, underwear and shaving tools to girls in Kibera slums, for the boys we issued milk, underwear, vests and shaving tools. Together we have carried round discussions on sexual reproductive health, hygiene and Adolescence. We well understand what girls and boys in the slums go through since we have been born and raised in the slums. Personally I have seen my sisters and friends struggle to purchase sanitary towels because they lack the money to do so. I can well relate and understand what teenagers in the slums go through. I can not imagine what other teenagers in the villagers and from poor families survive.
I was supported by an Organization known as SHOFCO (Shining Hope For Communities) to carry out such a community services more than three times. I took part in an essay contest, " Do the Right Thing Essay contest" where I won and I used the money I was awarded to carry out a community service. I have well learnt, taken training on topics like Sexual Reproductive Health, Hygiene and Adolescence. I have been born and raised in the slums of Kibera, where I have seen my fellow youth struggle with the same challenges, make bad decisions, drop out of school, early pregnancies. drug addiction and many others. They engaged in such since they grew with no role model to look up to and lack of such education.
- Other: Addressing an unmet social, environmental, or economic need not covered in the four dimensions above.
- Growth: An organization with an established product, service, or business model rolled out in at least one community, which is poised for further growth
I believe this is an important area where very few people have taken into consideration. Most of the teens are going a stray due to lack of such knowledge let known to them at an early stage when needed. I feel like many youths are being affected with such but choose to not talk about them or seek help cause they have grown knowing only one wrong way.
I want to reach as many less fortunate teens as possible and educate a large number. This will help reduce cases like early pregnancies and schools dropouts and other activities they take part in that rather destroy their lives. I want to see smiles on their faces and listen to their stories and together come up with solutions. I hope to reach as many under-privileged teens in different communities, slums and villages.
My team and I will come up with an online platform where teenagers get to share their stories, Read other peoples stories and also provide solutions to their fellow teens problems. The main idea is for them to learn from each other.
in the passed years I have served more than 500 teenagers in the slums of Kibera. I plan to now move to other slums and villages and reach more than 2000 teenagers in a year.
Lack of funds to keep the project running.
Inadequate or few people in the team to reach a larger group.
Lack of funds to purchase the items given to the teens.
Lack of a center to be running our project and lack of centers to mobilize the teens and teach them.
Lack of teaching materials.
Currently have not partnered with any. The organization SHOFCO used to support me carry out these community services.
When I took part in an essay contest, "Do The Right Thing Essay Contest" I won and the money I got from that I use it for the community service.
I want to issue sanitary towels, underwear, shaving tools and soaps to girls, and for the boys, I want to issue vests, underwear, shaving tools and soaps.
I will fund my work through donations and grants.