CAMP'S DEADLINE

Due to emerging number of people and plea the camp's deadline has been extended until 31st July 2009!! All are welcomed as this is the best opportunity to learn great ideas,socialise,exchange ideas and views and have so much fun

YOUTH CENTRE NAIROBI

Established in 1987, Youth Centre Nairobi is one of the oldest Family Health Options Kenya’s (FHOK) youth centres located in Eastleigh 1^st Avenue 2^nd Street. The centre started as a pilot after an evaluation conducted to find out the effectiveness of an earlier project (Family Life Education) targeting in-school and out-of-school youth with SRH information revealed the need to integrate SRH information and services provision to young people.

Recognizing that youth are more comfortable discussing sexuality issues among one another than with adults, FHOK introduced peer youth education 1989, and started focusing on Peer Youth Education approach to reaching the youth with sexual and reproductive health information and services. Since then, Peer Youth Educators (PYEs) have been serving as youth resource people in schools, youth groups and in the community in general.

The core objectives of YC are:

• To provide reproductive health information and services to the youth aged 10 to 24 years who are not yet sexually active in order to assist them to delay the onset of sexual activity.
• To provide reproductive health information and services to the youth aged 10 to 24 years who are sexually active to assist them to prevent and thus reduce the incidence of reproductive health related problems.
• To support the government efforts in ASRHR and complement the efforts by actively undertaking ASRHR activities for in-and out-of school youth, parents, teachers, the community and opinion leaders.

The Youth Center Nairobi offers the following services and activities are carried out.

• Youth clinic services

The clinics provide S.T.I’s; diagnosis and treatment, Counselling on SRH related issues, Management of SRH problems, Pregnancy tests, Family planning services, Treatment of minor ailments and Follow-up.

• Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT)

This includes Counselling and Testing on HIV/AIDS, Referral Services on Preventive therapy, T.B therapy, ARV, PMCT and Post-Test Clubs. The clubs are instrumental in involving young people living with HIV and AIDS in the youth project and reducing stigma and discrimination against those infected

• General counseling on- Sexuality, Growing up, Relationships, Prevention of pregnancy, Consequences of unsafe abortion, Abstinence, STIs and HIV/AIDS, Contraception, careers, Substance and Drug abuse and others.

• Vocational training (Binti Africa)

The project partners with less disadvantaged adolescent girls especially; adolescent mothers and orphans in addressing their vulnerability to SRH related risks. Vocational skills in hair dressing, tailoring, computer basics and catering are integrated into life planning skills to not only address their SRH concerns but also to attain self-reliance.

• Capacity building- on going trainings on life planning skills, peer counseling and participatory educational theater.

• Peer education activities conducted through- Lectures, Group discussions, video shows, Individual talks, Theatre performances, Training of PYEs, Formation of PYEs clubs and health information centers both in secondary and primary schools, and Recreational activities. PYEs are involved in the development of IEC materials including booklets, pamphlets, brochures, newsletters e.t.c, which assists them to disseminate SRH information to their peers.

• Resource Mobilization

Supports resource mobilization for capacity building and scale-up of comprehensive youth-friendly and youth-focused ASRH and HIV & AIDS programming

• Membership Drive

Mobilizes more young people to participate in youth programming

• Advocacy Campaigns

Continues advocacy efforts for enactment of favorable policies and legislation to promote youth RH rights and needs.

• Youth Friendly Services

The Youth Centre has been successful in attracting young people, integrating ASRHR interventions for young people, meeting their reproductive health needs, and ensuring that services are accessible and acceptable and delivered in the right manner to a diversity of young people. The centre is also run and managed by trained young people giving them an opportunity to participate in all aspects of the centre and retains a pool of resourceful young people. Currently the centre is in the forefront in providing a learning opportunity to both the government and other stakeholders planning to establish youth friendly centres across the country.