Afya Yangu Initiative

Visual narratives are a powerful tool that can be used to educate street children about key health issues. They are engaging, informative, and easy to understand. I believe that visual narratives have the potential to make a significant impact on the health of street children.

Here are some additional details about the problem and its scale:

Poverty: Poverty is a major factor that contributes to the problem of street children. Many street children come from families that live in poverty, and they are forced to leave home in order to survive.

Lack of parental care: Many street children do not have parents or guardians who can care for them. This may be due to death, abandonment, or neglect.

Exposure to violence and abuse: Street children are often exposed to violence and abuse. They may be beaten, raped, or robbed. They may also be trafficked for labor or sexual exploitation.

As a result of these factors, street children are more likely to be sick and to die young than children who live in homes. They are also more likely to experience mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety.

We believe that Afya Yangu Initiative has the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of street children. It will help them to stay healthy, access quality health care, and build a better future for themselves.

Here are some relevant statistics:

According to the United Nations, there are an estimated 150 million street children worldwide.

The majority of street children live in developing countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, there are an estimated 25 million street children

Survey we conducted in Dandora dump site in 2022 shows that children spend 64% 0f their time cleaning streets, picking waste and carrying recycling luggage. 23% of the respondent children engage in illegal work. Whereby they act as agents for criminal they are used to steal or break into a premise and on behalf of adult criminals. 20% of the respondents confess selling and or using intoxicants such as khat, cannabis. Street children are directly involved in the excavation of waste. These children come together at landfills (dumpsites), mainly at Dandora. Having been evicted from the City Centre, life at the garbage dump allows them to generate some revenue. The excavation that they carry out is to resell to middlemen material of value that they find there (metal, plastic, paper)

The solution is to use visual narratives to educate street children about key health issues. Visual narratives are stories that are told using images, such as comics, cartoons, animation and short films. These stories can be used to communicate health information in a way that is easy for street children to understand.

There are a number of benefits to using visual narratives to educate street children about health issues. 

First, visual narratives are engaging and attention-grabbing. Street children are more likely to pay attention to a story that is told using images than to a story that is told using text. 

Second, visual narratives can be tailored to the specific needs of street children. For example, a story about the importance of handwashing can be created that features characters who are familiar to street children. 

Third, visual narratives can be used to reach a large number of street children. Comics and cartoons can be distributed for free, and short films can be shared online.

Here is an example of a visual narrative that could be used to educate street children about the importance of handwashing:

• Title: The Importance of Handwashing
• Characters: A street child named Asha, a doctor, and a group of germs
• Setting: A busy city street
• Plot: Asha is a street child who lives in a busy city. She is always on the go, and she often forgets to wash her hands. One day, Asha gets sick. She goes to the doctor, who tells her that she needs to wash her hands more often. Asha learns her lesson, and she starts washing her hands regularly.

This is just one example of a visual narrative that could be used to educate street children about health issues. There are many other topics that could be covered, such as nutrition, substance abuse, and mental health.

Visual narratives are a powerful tool that can be used to educate street children about key health issues. They are engaging, informative, and easy to understand. I believe that visual narratives have the potential to make a significant impact on the health of street children

Afya Yangu is a solution that seeks to serve 6000 street children in Nairobi Informal settlements. Street children are a vulnerable population that face a myriad of health problems, including exposure to poor hygiene, malnutrition, and substance abuse. These factors contribute to a variety of health complications, including infectious diseases, malnutrition, and mental health problems. Afya Yangu aims to educate these children on key health issues, provide them with access to health services, and empower them to advocate for their rights.

Currently, street children are underserved by the healthcare system. They often do not seek care due to cost or the stigma associated with being a street child. Additionally, they may have difficulty accessing care due to a lack of documentation or insurance. As a result, street children are more likely to be sick and die young than children who live in homes.

Afya Yangu's solution addresses the needs of street children by providing them with access to affordable, quality health care. This includes providing free or low-cost medical care and preventive care such as vaccinations and health screenings. The solution also raises awareness of the health needs of street children through public education campaigns and advocacy efforts with policymakers and service providers. It also advocates for better policies and services for street children, including increased funding for their healthcare and changes to policies that make it difficult for them to access care.

Afya Yangu's solution has the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of street children. By providing access to affordable, quality health care, street children can receive the care they need when they are sick. By educating them on key health issues, they can avoid preventable illnesses. By empowering them to advocate for their rights, they can improve their lives and build a better future for themselves.

In conclusion, Afya Yangu's solution aims to improve the health outcomes of street children in Nairobi Informal settlements. By addressing the gaps in healthcare that currently exist, this solution has the potential to make a significant difference in the lives of street children. Through access to quality healthcare, education, and advocacy efforts, street children can receive the care they need, stay healthy, and build a better future for themselves.

Husisha Initiative Organization was established in 2018 with the mission to  reinvent how people learn, share knowledge, tell stories, and inspire human rights based approach in Informal settlement in Kenya. Over the years, our organization has been dedicated to promoting lifelong learning and human rights in Informal settlements in Kenya.

We have made significant progress in achieving our mission through various initiatives, programs, and projects. Our organization has worked tirelessly to address critical issues facing our community, including  ensuring that lifelong learning opportunities are accessible to all individuals, regardless of their socio-economic status.

Afya Yangu Initiative will involve collaboration between multiple stakeholders, including health professionals, artists and designers, social workers, and community leaders. The collaboration will involve the following:

Co-creation of health education messages: To create health education messages that are pertinent to and appealing to street children, the project team will collaborate. Health professionals will give accurate and current health information, and designers and artists will create compelling graphics to accompany the messaging. Social professionals and community leaders will offer their perspectives on the difficulties faced by street children and how to improve the messages' effectiveness and accessibility for this group.

Co-creation of visual narratives: The project team will collaborate to create visual narratives that effectively and engagingly communicate the health education themes. The visual components will be made by artists and designers, and the narratives' substance and cultural applicability will be discussed with health professionals, social workers, and community leaders.

Involvement of street children: Street kids will be a part of the project's development and testing of the visual storytelling. By doing this, the communications will be certain to be relevant and interesting to the intended audience.

Partnership with local organizations: The project team will collaborate with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) that assist street children. These groups will give street kids access to the visual narratives and aid in their dissemination.

Collaboration with government agencies: The project team may work with Kenyan authorities in charge of public health and child welfare. Inquiring about feedback on the project and coordinating initiatives to promote public health among street children may be part of this collaboration.

We have three permanent employee and four part time volunteers who are mainly visual artists. Our team has diverse qualifications that reflect the different areas of expertise required for the project. Background in graphic design, illustration, visual storytelling, or animation. Collaborators in public health, nursing, medicine, or health education. Experience working with vulnerable populations, such as street children, in previous projects. The team members will bring together their different skills and knowledge to create effective health education messages that are engaging, culturally appropriate, and accessible to street children.

Husisha Initiative Organization serve diverse range of individuals and groups include:

Over 5000 Marginalized Community members: Members of marginalized communities, such as women, children, refugees, persons with disabilities, and members of minority groups, have benefited from human rights and lifelong learning projects. Gumzo and Gile projects have empowered these communities to understand and assert their rights and increase their access to education and training opportunities.

Over 3000 Students: Students at secondary level of education have benefited from a healthy self esteem project called Jiamini. Link :https://trialanalytics.s3.eu-w... Collaborated with local schools and community-based organizations to provide access to quality STEM education for girls in Korogocho informal settlement. Effectively addressed online child sexual exploitation and abuse in Nairobi Informal settlements to protect children from harm in the digital space.

100 Educators: Teachers and other educational professionals have benefited from projects that focus on Increased access to educational resources. ICT-based materials have been easily accessed online, providing students with greater access to educational resources .

10 Civil Society Organizations: Strengthened Civil Society Organizations in their capacity to advocate for human rights, engage in policy dialogue, and monitor government actions related to education and human rights.

Afya Yangu Initiative requires funding to cover the costs associated with its development, implementation, and evaluation. These costs  include:

1. Project team salaries and stipends: The project will require a team of health professionals, artists and designers, social workers, and community leaders. Funding will be needed to pay their salaries and/or stipends.

2. Materials and equipment: The project will require materials and equipment such as art supplies, printing materials, and audio-visual equipment for the development and dissemination of the visual narratives.

3. Training and capacity building: The project team may require training and capacity building in areas such as health education, child welfare, and community engagement.

4. Venue and logistics: The project will require a venue for workshops and meetings, as well as logistics such as transportation and accommodation.

5. Monitoring and evaluation: The project will require monitoring and evaluation to assess its effectiveness and impact. This may include data collection, analysis, and reporting.

Visual narratives are a powerful way to convey information, tell stories, and communicate complex ideas.

Participatory engagement in identifying the key health issues: collaboration, co-creation, and co-design between stakeholders, including diverse street children. By engaging these stakeholders in the innovation process, their needs, preferences, and insights are taken into account, leading to solutions that are more relevant, impactful, and sustainable.

Creative storytelling techniques - Experimenting with different storytelling techniques, such as nonlinear narratives or interactive elements, will help create more engaging and memorable visual narratives.

Interactive Comics - Interactive comics combine traditional comic book storytelling with interactive elements such as animations, sound effects, and clickable panels. This allows readers to engage with the story in a more immersive way. Also connecting to google analytics to track user traffic and events.

Collaboration - Collaborating with other creatives, such as artists, designers, and writers,  brings new perspectives and ideas to the public health visual narrative development process.

• Improved Knowledge of nutrition and food safety among  Street children

• Elimination of unsafe abortion among  Street children .
• Reduction in substance abuse  among  Street children
• Improved hygiene among Street children
• Availability of learning resources on public health tailored toward   Street children
• Reduced incidence of HIV and sexually transmitted infections.
• Access awareness of sexual health and reduced risky behavior.
• Psychosocial support

The staff of the Husisha Initiative Organization will be responsible for designing the evaluation tools and preparing evaluation reports. However, a team of stakeholders will be convened to evaluate the overall performance of the Afya Yangu Initiative in a series of reviews. These stakeholders will be representatives of the partnering organizations, street children department and social workers. They will be asked to rate each of the project's objectives and give feedback on expanded programming.

Indicators

Number of new HIV infections per 1,000 uninfected population, by sex, age and key populations

Tuberculosis incidence per 100,000 target population

Number of target people requiring interventions against neglected tropical diseases

Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease

Coverage of treatment interventions (pharmacological, psychosocial and rehabilitation and aftercare services) for substance use disorders

Alcohol per capita consumption (aged 15 years and older) within a calendar year in litres of pure alcohol

Death rate due to road traffic injuries

Proportion of target group of reproductive age who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods

Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution

Mortality rate attributed to unsafe water, unsafe sanitation and lack of hygiene (exposure to unsafe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for All (WASH) services)

Mortality rate attributed to unintentional poisoning

Reporting

Husisha Initiative Organization will develop and share quarterly reports with beneficiaries, stakeholders and Solve. We will keep all the project documentation(minutes, reports, financial documents) for 3 years.

Goal: The goal of this project is to promote public health awareness among street children in Nairobi Informal settlement.

Inputs:

1. Visual Narrative Project: This project will be created to educate street children about public health. It will consist of visually engaging and easy-to-understand content such as videos, posters, and comic books.

2. Trained Volunteers: Volunteers will be trained to facilitate the delivery of the Visual Narrative Project. They will also provide additional support and guidance to street children.

3. Collaboration with NGOs and local authorities: Collaboration with NGOs and local authorities will be essential to identify the areas with a high concentration of street children and to gain access to them.

Activities:

1. Development of Visual Narrative Project: The project will be developed by a team of designers, public health experts, and child psychologists. The content will be culturally appropriate and tailored to the needs of street children.

2. Training of Volunteers: Volunteers will be trained on how to deliver the project, engage with street children, and provide support and guidance.

3. Collaboration with NGOs and local authorities: The project team will collaborate with NGOs and local authorities to identify the areas with a high concentration of street children and to gain access to them.

4. Delivery of Visual Narrative Project: Volunteers will deliver the project to street children in identified areas. The project will be delivered in various formats such as videos, posters, and comic books.

Outcomes:

1. Increased Public Health Awareness: The project will increase public health awareness among street children, enabling them to make informed decisions about their health.

2. Behavioral Change: The project will encourage street children to adopt healthy behaviors such as handwashing, safe sex practices, and the avoidance of drug and alcohol use.

3. Empowerment of Street Children: The project will empower street children by providing them with information and resources to take control of their health.

4. Community Engagement: The project will engage local communities and stakeholders in promoting public health among street children.

Impact: The impact of the project will be seen in the reduction of health-related issues among street children, leading to better overall health outcomes and improved quality of life. The project will also have a positive impact on the broader community by promoting public health awareness and community engagement.

Using creative and accessible approaches to health education, we will help ensure that street children have the knowledge and tools they need to stay healthy and thrive.Technology powering Afya Yangu Initiative solution:

1. Participatory approaches to Identify the key health issues that are most relevant to street children in target area. 

2. Visual narratives development that address each of these issues in a clear and engaging way. Using a variety of media, such as illustrations, comics, animations, or short videos to cater for different learning styles.

3. Partnerships with local organizations that work with street children, such as NGOs or government agencies, to distribute the visual narratives in places where street children are likely to be found, such as shelters, drop-in centers, or public spaces.

4.  Use of social media to share the stories with a wider audience.

5. Effective Project Evaluation: Gathering feedback from street children and other stakeholders, tracking engagement with the visual narratives, and measuring changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to the targeted health issues.

Afya yangu initiative will be inclusive and promote equity and diversity:

Consult with diverse communities and stakeholders: Ensure that the experiences and viewpoints of street children from various backgrounds are incorporated into the generated visual storytelling. Consult community organizations, parents, guardians, and educators to make sure the stories are readable and accessible to various cultures.

Use inclusive language and imagery: Make use of inclusive language and depictions that are considerate of people of different origins and identities. Avoid using unpleasant words or pictures that could offend or provoke certain groups, as well as stereotypes.

Address intersectionality: Acknowledge the multiple and intersecting identities that street children may have, such as  ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, and socioeconomic status. Ensure that the narratives reflect the diversity of experiences and challenges faced by street children.

Promote accessibility: Make sure that every street child, regardless of ability or disability, can access the visual narratives. Consider about utilizing accessible forms like sign language interpretation, audio descriptions, or subtitles.

Evaluate impact:Collect data on the impact of the project on diverse groups of street children to ensure that the project is achieving its goals of promoting public health awareness in an equitable and inclusive manner.

Afya yangu building blocks of the Business Model Canvas:

1. Customer Segment. We aim to reach and serve street children, parents, caregivers and civil societies organizations working with children.

2. Value Proposition. Significant impact on the health and well-being of street children, who are often excluded from accessing vital health services and information.

3. Channels: A multifaceted approach that incorporates social media, local media, community engagement, education programs, and online platforms. By utilizing these channels effectively, the project can reach a broad audience and make a significant impact.

4. Customer Relationships. Involves building trust, engagement, effective communication, empathy, and personalization. By prioritizing these elements, the project will build strong, long-term relationships with its stakeholders

5. Revenue Streams. The Afya yangu initiative will generates funding from grants, corporate sponsorship and advertisements

6. Key Resources. Requires a range of key resources, including funding, skilled personnel, technology and equipment, partnerships, and materials and supplies. By leveraging these resources effectively, the project can achieve its goals

7. Key Activities. Involves conducting a needs assessment, developing visual narratives, disseminating them through various channels, assessing their impact, and adapting the project as necessary. This iterative process will help to ensure that the project is effective in achieving its goals

8. Key Partnerships: Potential partnerships that will be established include:

1. Health Authorities: Partnerships with local health authorities will help to provide access to health resources and expertise, and will support the dissemination of the visual narratives through clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities.

2. NGOs: Partnerships with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that work with street children will help to leverage their experience and expertise in working with this vulnerable population. NGOs will also help to disseminate the visual narratives through their networks and outreach activities.

3. Community-Based Organizations: Partnerships with community-based organizations will help to build trust and engagement with the local community, and can support the dissemination of the visual narratives through community events and activities.

4. Schools: Partnerships with schools will help to reach a wide audience of children and their families, and can support the integration of the visual narratives into school curricula or other educational programs.

5. Private Sector: Partnerships with the private sector, such as corporate sponsors or media outlets, will help to provide funding and resources to support the project's implementation and dissemination.

9. Cost Structure: Involve several elements, including:

1. Personnel Costs: This includes the salaries, benefits, and other compensation for the project team, such as project managers, visual artists, writers, photographers, and community outreach specialists.

2. Technology and Equipment Costs: This includes the cost of purchasing or renting technology and equipment such as cameras, computers, editing software, and other equipment necessary for producing and disseminating the visual narratives.

3. Material Costs: This includes the cost of printing materials, art supplies, and educational materials necessary for producing and disseminating the visual narratives.

4. Dissemination Costs: This includes the cost of disseminating the visual narratives through various channels, such as social media, local media, community engagement, education programs, and online platforms.

5. Overhead Costs: This includes the indirect costs associated with the project, such as office space rental, utilities, and administrative expenses.

Here are some strategies that will help to ensure financial sustainability:

1. Build Partnerships: Building partnerships with local organizations, such as NGOs, schools, and healthcare facilities, will help to leverage resources and expertise. Partnerships will  also help to share costs and increase the project's reach.

2. Develop a Business Model: Developing a sustainable business model will  help to ensure that the project generates income that can be reinvested into the project. This can include selling merchandise or charging for services, such as workshops or training programs.

3. Control Costs: Controlling costs is critical for ensuring financial sustainability. This will  include reducing overhead costs, such as office space rental and administrative expenses, and exploring cost-saving measures, such as using open-source software or outsourcing tasks to freelancers.

4. Monitor Performance: Monitoring the project's performance is critical for ensuring financial sustainability. This involves tracking key metrics, such as revenue and expenses, and identifying areas where improvements can be made.

We have received donations from the following local organizations in the last two years:

Bayaan Health Education Organization

 Civil Society Urban Development Program

Uwezo Awareness Organization

Jiamini simulation Development

Most of the administration funds comes from investment funding. We have invested in rentals in Kariobangi North