The Make Way programme in Kenya seeks to facilitate access to inclusive and quality Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for young people who face multiple intersecting discrimination due to structural and systemic social barriers. Barriers caused by state laws and policies, but also by the social and cultural norms of this society.
Why Young People?
Marginalized young people with compounded vulnerabilities are particularly at risk of being discriminated against, disempowered, and excluded from mainstream SRH services, policy and planning. Because of this, they are unable to fully realize their SRHR, resulting in consistently poorer SRH outcomes and a vicious cycle of poverty and exclusion.
What is our plan?
Our plan is to improve access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for discriminated-against youth through innovative advocacy led by youth civil society organizations and their allies. We’ll tackle critical issues identified through analysis and collaboration, considering how different vulnerabilities worsen barriers. Our focus includes changing societal views, improving comprehensive sexuality education, empowering youth, holding authorities accountable for quality SRH services, strengthening health systems, and advocating for better policies.
Progress so far
- We reactivated safe spaces and reached 40 adolescent girls and young women with various disabilities. The beneficiaries were able to articulate their challenges openly without fear, they actively learned about each other’s challenges and how they bravely faced it.
- We facilitated a forum of discussion with key stakeholders on challenges faced in the process of advocacy and lobbying for persons with disabilities and sexual and reproductive health rights in their communities. A majority reported a lack of financial resources and community stigma. They acknowledged the presence of significant numbers of persons with disabilities kept away from any public interaction by their caregivers for fear of stigmatization, `The Hidden Population’.
- We held two sexual and reproductive health rights advocacy sessions with adolescent girls and young women with disabilities. We engaged the beneficiaries on their sexual and reproductive health rights and discussed the challenges that they face when seeking sexual and reproductive health services. We aimed to equip the participant with skills and information to allow them to effectively advocate for their rights.
Project Location: Nairobi, Kibera and Mukuru kwa Reuben informal settlements
Partners
ARA is part of the Make Way consortium consisting of WEMOs (lead Partner), Liliane Fonds (represented in Kenya by Cheshire Disability Services Kenya (CDSK), VSO International, Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), Circle of Concerned Women Theologians and Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA). The Programme is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and is being implemented in Kenya by ARA in partnership with CDSK.
Funder: CDSK through Make Way consortium funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA)
Duration: 2023 – 2025
