Beyond football

The specific problem that our project aims to address is the low prevalence of youth testing in higher learning institutions for HIV and AIDS in Kakamega County, Kenya. According to the Kenya AIDS Response Progress Report 2020, only 32% of young people aged 15-24 in Kenya have been tested for HIV, and only 7% of those who are living with HIV are aware of their status. This is a significant problem because early diagnosis and treatment of HIV are crucial for improving health outcomes and reducing the spread of the disease.
In Kakamega County, the problem is particularly acute. According to the 2018 Kenya Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (KENPHIA), the prevalence of HIV in the county is 6.9%, which is higher than the national average of 4.9%. Young people in the county face a range of challenges that make it difficult for them to access HIV testing services, including lack of knowledge about the importance of testing, fear of stigma and discrimination, and limited access to youth-friendly testing services.
Our project aims to address these challenges using football incorporated with comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) education and increasing access to youth-friendly HIV testing services in higher institutions of learning in Kakamega County. By providing young people with accurate information about HIV and AIDS and promoting access to non-stigmatizing testing services, we hope to increase the number of young people who get tested for HIV and are aware of their status.
Factors contributing to the problem of low youth testing for HIV and AIDS in Kakamega County include limited access to youth-friendly testing services, lack of knowledge about the importance of testing, and fear of stigma and discrimination. Our solution addresses these factors by working to increase access to youth-friendly testing services, providing comprehensive SRHR education that includes information about the importance of testing, and creating a safe and supportive environment that encourages young people to get tested
The scale of the problem is significant, not only in Kakamega County but globally as well. According to UNAIDS, there were 38 million people living with HIV globally in 2019, and 1.7 million people were newly infected with HIV that same year. In addition, 690,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2019. The low prevalence of youth testing for HIV and AIDS is a significant challenge that contributes to the spread of the disease and hinders efforts to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS globally.

Our solution is an innovative project that uses football drills to integrate sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) education and HIV testing services for young people in higher institutions of learning in Kakamega County, Kenya. Each drill includes a sexual reproductive health message that is shown as they play. Some of the drills include: heading to teach youth how to be courageous in the face of challenges, ball control to teach youth the importance of having influence or control over their feelings or sexual urges, shielding the ball to teach youth that we must do everything in our power to protect ourselves from sexually transmitted infections and getting tested, and learning about various methods of prevention of early pregnancies The project aims to empower young people to reach their highest potential by providing them with the information and tools they need to make informed decisions about their sexual reproductive health.

The project works by partnering with youth and football teams in higher learning institutions in Kakamega County to integrate SRHR education and HIV testing into their training and matches. The football drills are designed to teach young people about the importance of HIV testing, safe sex practices, and contraceptives  
The project uses technology to provide young people with accurate and relevant information about SRHR and HIV testing. This includes a mobile app such as SMART test APP that provides information on testing services and locations, as well as a social media campaign on Twitter Instagram, and Facebook that raises awareness about the importance of getting tested for HIV.
As young people participate in football sessions and matches, they are provided with the opportunity to get tested for HIV in a non-stigmatizing and youth-friendly environment. The testing is done using rapid HIV testing kits, which provide results in just a few minutes. Young people who test positive for HIV are linked to care and support services to ensure that they receive the treatment and care they need.
Overall, our solution aims to integrate SRHR education and HIV testing services into a popular and engaging activity that young people enjoy: football. By incorporating HIV testing into the football drills, we hope to increase the number of young people who get tested for HIV and are aware of their status. By providing young people with the information and tools they need to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health, we hope to empower them to reach their highest potential and lead healthy, fulfilling lives.

Our solution serves young people in higher institutions of learning in Kakamega County, Kenya. This includes college and university students who are between the ages of 18-24 years. These young people are a critical population to reach with sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) education and HIV testing services because they are at high risk of HIV infection and face a range of challenges that make it difficult for them to access these services.

Currently, young people in Kakamega County are underserved when it comes to SRHR education and HIV testing. Many young people lack accurate information about HIV and SRHR and face significant barriers to accessing youth-friendly testing services. Stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV and SRHR are also common, which can prevent young people from seeking testing and treatment.
 The solution to address their needs is to empower the youth using football incorporated with SRHR drills. This approach aims to engage young people in a fun and interactive way while promoting healthy behaviors and positive attitudes toward HIV testing and SRHR. By using football as a tool, the program can reach a larger number of young people. The program will also provide football coaching sessions, where SRHR drills will be integrated into training sessions. The drills will cover topics such as HIV prevention, testing, and treatment, safe sex practices, and gender equality. The program will also provide information and resources on SRHR, including access to HIV testing and counseling services. The program will be designed to be youth-led, empowering young people to take ownership of their own health and well-being. The program will also involve the community, including coaches, parents, and local healthcare providers, to ensure that young people are receiving the support they need. Overall, the program aims to improve access to and the quality of HIV testing services by empowering the youth with knowledge and skills related to SRHR. By using football as a tool, the program aims to engage young people in a fun and interactive way while promoting healthy behaviors and positive attitudes towards SRHR.

Our team is well-positioned to deliver this solution because of our deep understanding of the communities we are serving and our previous experience working with higher institutions of learning in Kakamega County on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) education. Our team lead and members are all familiar with the cultural and social norms that shape the attitudes and behaviors of young people in the community.

Our team lead has extensive experience working on SRHR programs in Kakamega County and has developed strong relationships with local stakeholders, including college and university administrators, healthcare providers, and youth organizations. Through these relationships, our team has gained valuable insights into the challenges that young people in the region face when it comes to accessing SRHR education and HIV testing services.

To understand the needs of the target population, we are engaging in a participatory design process that involves working closely with young people in higher institutions of learning in Kakamega County. We are conducting focus group discussions and individual interviews to understand young people's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to SRHR and HIV testing. We are also working with college and university administrators to identify the most effective ways to integrate SRHR education and HIV testing into football drills.

As we develop the solution, we are guided by the input, ideas, and agendas of the communities we are serving. We are working with local stakeholders to co-design the project and ensure that it is responsive to the unique needs and perspectives of young people in Kakamega County. This includes leveraging our previous experience working with higher institutions of learning in the region and using football as a tool for SRHR education.

Our team is also working to ensure that the project is culturally sensitive and appropriate. We are working with local partners to ensure that our messaging and approach are respectful of local customs and traditions and that they are delivered in a way that resonates with young people in the community.
Overall, our team is well-positioned to deliver this solution because of our deep understanding of the communities we are serving and our previous experience working on SRHR programs in the region. We are committed to co-designing the project with local stakeholders and ensuring that it is responsive to the needs and perspectives of young people in Kakamega County. By leveraging our local knowledge and relationships, we are confident that we can deliver a solution that will have a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of young people in the region

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