Young people in Migori are facing a “triple threat” of teenage pregnancies, new HIV infections and sexual and gender-based violence, with lack of accurate information and youth-friendly health services making it harder for them to protect themselves.
Youth for a Sustainable World (YSW) says it will tackle the challenges through a new five-year strategic plan that puts sexual and reproductive health rights, gender equality and youth empowerment at the centre of its work.
YSW Executive Director Evelyn Samba said many young people do not have access to correct information on sexual and reproductive health, while those who seek help at health facilities sometimes struggle to find services designed to meet their needs.
The situation is compounded by what Ms Samba described as discomfort in communities when it comes to discussing young people’s sexual and reproductive health.
This silence, she said, is contributing to teenage pregnancies, new HIV infections and sexual and gender-based violence among young people.
“Young people have a right to sexual reproductive health information,” Ms Samba said, stressing the importance of ensuring they receive accurate information to enable them make informed decisions about their lives.
Reaching young people
YSW is already implementing a programme in Migori, particularly in Rongo Sub-County, where it identified teenage pregnancy and HIV infections among young people as key concerns.
The programme, which started in November 2025, seeks to build young people’s resilience and ability to make informed choices by improving access to information and linking them to appropriate services.
The organisation is using schools, youth empowerment centres and community structures to reach its target group.
It is also working with parents to create space for conversations around sexual and reproductive health rights and protection from sexual and gender-based violence.
The new strategy seeks to deepen these interventions.
Ms Samba said YSW would ensure young people can access youth-friendly services from trained health workers who understand their needs.
The organisation also wants to strengthen young people’s knowledge of their rights so they can make informed choices and participate in decisions affecting their lives.
Beyond health
The strategy goes beyond sexual and reproductive health.
YSW Board Chairperson Eda Mwangola said the organisation had adopted an intersectional feminist approach designed to ensure that vulnerable groups, particularly young women and girls, are not excluded from development.
The approach will involve working with young women, girls, men and young men while addressing social structures that influence their lives.
Ms Mwangola said YSW would also support young people to participate in development processes and advocate for policies that affect their lives.
Youth economic empowerment is another pillar of the plan.
Ms Samba said the organisation would equip young people with entrepreneurship skills and help them access resources needed to start enterprises.
The plan includes supporting youth groups to access affordable credit through savings and loans initiatives, while equipping them with skills to manage the resources effectively.
Young people speak
For some beneficiaries, the interventions have already made a difference.
Mary Odek, a youth participant from Rongo and member of the Restoring Hope Foundation, said YSW programmes had helped young people understand how to prevent HIV infections, teenage pregnancies and sexual and gender-based violence.
She said the programmes had also improved her confidence and ability to speak up for her rights.
Ms Odek said YSW had supported youth groups with economic empowerment initiatives, including poultry and agriculture projects.
The programme, she added, had also promoted inclusion of young people living with disabilities.
YSW says partnerships with county governments, communities and young people will be critical to implementing the plan.
Ms Samba said the organisation’s role was to complement government efforts rather than replace them.
She said working with communities and government would help ensure that the interventions continue to benefit young people beyond YSW’s presence in the county.
The Ministry of Education, Migori County, said YSW’s interventions complement government programmes.
Daniel Onyango, representing the ministry, said the organisation’s activities were integrated into the ministry’s curriculum.
He said research by YSW had placed school dropout at seven per cent, with efforts aimed at reducing the rate to five per cent.
For YSW, the strategy is about giving young people the information, skills and opportunities they need to make informed choices, claim their rights and take a greater role in shaping their future.
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