Youth have a better chance of making informed reproductive health decisions if they have access to information and services. Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (ASRHR) education is critical to ensuring that youth and adolescents receive accurate information.
The Maa Trust (TMT), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Community Health Partners (CHP), has trained 48 Talek region youths as peer mentors through the Integrated Community Healthcare Project (ICHP). These young people will serve as peer mentors to other young people in the area. They will be expected to meet with other youths in the community and make school visits to share their skills through the training.
The trainings for peer mentors covered the following topics:
i. Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health Rights(ASRHR);
ii. Economic empowerment- fundraising as a youth;
iii. Interaction with other youths and children, as well as identification and empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (PWD);
iv. Code of ethics;
v. Counselling- academic and career guidance;
vi. Cultural appreciation and educational challenges confronting pastoral communities;
vii. Self-esteem, peer pressure and lived experiences;
viii. Mentorship strategy and tools for mentorship;
ix. Leadership skills- technology and innovations;
x. Job hunting, application, CV writing, and interview preparation;
Mobilization of activities.
The participatory approach used during the training ensured that the youths did not shy away from discussing issues affecting them at school or at home.
“If we want our children to grow up happy and healthy, we must provide them with the information, resources, and skills they need to make good health decisions. Universal access to sexual and reproductive health services is not only a human right to ensure community empowerment and gender equality, but it is also critical for international development.” Simon Kipila, Health, and Water Manager.
We are grateful to the following project partners for making this important work possible: África Digna CHASE Africa Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association Norad Hemingways Ol Seki Mara Camp, Remembering Lions, Community Health Partners, and Kenya's Ministry of Health.
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