Pwani Youth Network (PYN) on Thursday launched Youth Thrive Project that is set to empower young people in terms of health, voices and economic empowerment.
Speaking during the launch of the project, PYN CEO Alfred Sigo said project will also support young people in the health sector in Mombasa County.
“We will collaborate with the Health Department to ensure services reach young people throughout and in. We will also train young people who will provide support in the different health facilities,” said Sigo.
The Youth Thrive project funded by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation will run for three years and will be implemented at youth-friendly centers in health facilities.
“We will recruit young through different methodologies, we intend to work with 120 directly during the project. We will also support the facilities,” said Sigo.
The project will run for three years in youth-friendly centers across Likoni, Changamwe, and Jomvu sub-counties.
“We are excited about the Youth Thrive project which not only seeks to help young women get critical health services but also give the support they need to be advocates for change in their communities,” said Christie Cardenas from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
“We have provided Pwani Youth Network with 75,000 dollars (sh.9.7 million) over three years for the project,” she added.
According to Youth Thrive project lead Saumu Hussein, they intend to link up with both the national and county governments to ensure that young people with an interest in the health sector and cannot afford it continue with their courses.
“The Youth Thrive project will create employment opportunities for young people which is crucial and essential. We are going to train them and put them in the youth-friendly centers to work,” said Saumu.
“We will also train Champions in Advocacy so that young people are able to advocate for their rights, more job opportunities, and participate in government decision-making processes,” she added.
Clinton Ndege, project lead at PYN’s Maximizing Options to Advance Informed Choice for HIV Prevention (MOSAIC) said the new project will complement the work they are already doing in Likoni.
“Many young people shy away from the health sector, through this project we are hoping that will change,” said Ndege.
During the launch, Changamwe Member of County Assembly Benard Ogutu who is also the Chairperson of the County Assembly’s Health Committee said the committee will support the project by coming up with policies needed to implement it.
“This program will go in the right direction to ensure young people are involved in health and economic matters. It will also ensure that young people not only understand their health but also get them away from vices affecting the youth in our country,” said Ogutu.
