MUKURU PEER EDUCATOR IMPACT STORY.
Deep in the heart of Mukuru Kwa Reuben, one of the largest informal settlements in Nairobi, where rumors and misconceptions about HIV/AIDS had spread across every village and often overshadowed facts, emerges a beacon of hope. Julius Wainaina, a peer counsellor at Youth Ventures Initiative (YOVI), who has been born and brought up in Mukuru knew the challenges firsthand. He recalls how while growing up, social vices like crime, drug use and teenage pregnancies were on the higher side and the community viewed the youth as being dangerous and unproductive people. Julius was recruited as a peer counsellor in 2017 got to share how that journey has had an impact both on him as an individual and the youth in Mukuru at large.
For the last 5 years, Julius has been dedicated to raising awareness about HIV prevention and providing crucial support to the community, with a special focus on the adolescents and young people. “As a youth, YOVI played a vital role in giving me an opportunity to be empowered through trainings that enabled me to gain knowledge and hands-on skills that I can use when holding sessions in the community.” “After going through the training, I was issued with a certificate that has given me credibility as I did the awareness creation in the community and which I also use for getting other opportunities.” He added.
When asked how he reaches out to the community with awareness messages, Julius confirmed that he usually holds meet-ups with the youths to discuss several matters from HIV/AIDS prevention, Mental health, Youth and governance, Sexual reproductive health and youth empowerment. Due to his consistent advocacy on youth matters in his community, Julius got recognition and got an opportunity to work with other groups and organizations creating awareness and doing sensitization on social media platforms. Some of the organizations that he has worked with include Mukuru Youth Initiative, which mainly focuses on amplifying youth voices on different matters, Wangu Kanja which strongly advocates against Sexual and Gender Based Violence and Activista which advocates for youth involvement in leadership and governance.
A photo of Julius conducting a discussion with youths at Mukuru.
He reports that through his engagements, both in the community and on social media, he has been able to reach over 5000 youths with sensitization messages, something that he says encourages him to reach out to more. Through his various efforts he has noted some positive impacts such as creating a good working relationship with the area local leaders, youth being more open to go for HIV testing, youths coming together to start an initiative of their own in the community and more youths attending public participations willingly.
Julius meeting the area chief with fellow youth.
“The youth are the leaders of today and I believe that an empowered youth is able to make better and informed choices that will make them have a positive impact not only in their communities but the nation ant large” said an optimistic Julius.
