CENTRE FOR THE STUDY OF ADOLESCENCE (CSA)
My name is Kelly Kamau, a Big Sister in Kiambu. I am passionate about empowering adolescent girls and young women to make informed decisions, and women in leadership and a volunteer under the Safire program that seeks to address Sexual Reproductive Health Rights and reproductive health Services. The program has impacted adolescent girls, young women, …
Working in a programme for improvement in the reproductive health sector in public health systems. It was intended as a space to independently implement my ideas and to fulfill my desire for interacting with the rural communities in the sub-county of Kiambu, Kenya. We have focused on education and issues, such as livelihood and reproductive …
Big sister Njambi, not her real name, 24, explains how the SAFIRE programme in Kiambu, is helping to change girls’ and young women lives: “We use sessions because it attracts girls and young women. Once they mobilize, we talk to them about sexual reproductive health and responsible sexual behavior,” she says. “We have seen the …
As a child growing up in Kiambu, life held promise for Njeri, not her real me, was doing well at school and on completing her primary level, gained a pass for secondary school. But her education ended when she discovered her parents could not afford the fees. She was devastated. “I wanted to continue with …
Elizabeth, not her real name, is a small sister from Kahawa Wendani and a form four student. She has lived with HIV from birth, this only being disclosed to her when she was heading to the upper primary school that is class 6. Elizabeth has been struggling with accepting her HIV status and this has …
Remembering the first time I held a session sparks up nostalgia as I was very nervous, especially talking about sexual and reproductive health-related issues. It was only after doing a couple of sessions that I became more confident and comfortable. My evolution as a person in the Safire program has been phenomenal, I have been …
Access and utilization of Youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health is still a big challenge for the youth, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the global treaties on adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health and rights, access to and application of these services among the youth/adolescents remain unsatisfactory in low and middle-income countries which is a substantial barrier …
It is often said, educating a girl eradicates poverty in society. The SAFIRE program has taken the mandate of stepping into the community to reach out to almost every young girl through big sisters. Sexual reproductive health rights (SRHR) discussions at some point were taboo in the community. I, being one of the Big Sisters, …
On average a majority of women have a cycle of 28 days and the process takes up to five days every month. This is among the reasons why we observe menstrual hygiene management day every year. It is the day of creating awareness and demystifying taboos around menstrual hygiene management. Progress has been noted as …
Period poverty has always been an obstacle for so many young girls. They go to very extreme ends just to be able to afford sanitary towels or tampons. During my weekly sessions, I noticed that the number of girls attending had increased significantly. I was glad since this meant the sessions were being beneficial and …