Donate Now
Breaking the cycle of poverty

projects

Peer Education Programme

The Peer Education Programme is a youth-led, peer-to-peer Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme aimed at young people aged 12-24. The programme destigmatises HIV, STIs, and teenage pregnancy in the Mumias-West community. It also sensitizes the community to recognise and combat these issues through increased awareness. We are proud to have trained 466 peer educators in the past three years of the programme.

The project has been vital to initiate change in a community that has high rates of HIV positivity (5%) and teenage pregnancy (the county had the second-worst performance across Kenya in 2020). Ensuring that the next generation is fully-equipped to respond to their health needs is the key to their empowerment.

Impact

The programme has reached a total of 3,700 beneficiaries in the past two years. Young people aged 10-24 have had the chance to increase their awareness and understanding of:

HIV transmission

HIV testing and therapy go hand-in-hand in the Peer Education Programme. In 2023, we have three functioning HIV support groups with 30 members that provide a safe space for those living with HIV to share their anxieties and find a community. Through our community outreach programmes, we have also tested over 100 people for HIV. These sessions are typically conducted through football games at local schools to garner more public attention. There has also been a 19% rise in young people undergoing HIV testing.

Teenage pregnancies and STIs

We have distributed over 3,000 condoms in 2023 through our outreach activities to adolescents to give them access to safe contraception. Since 2021, the programme has reduced teenage pregnancies by 60% in partner schools.

Period Poverty

Over 1,300 reusable sanitary napkins have been distributed in 2023 to young girls in secondary school. 65% of women in Kenya are unable to afford sanitary napkins, and engage in unsafe sex to receive such basic amenities in return.

Health Clubs

Seven health clubs are currently running in our partner schools and have a membership of over 200 students. The clubs are run by Nasio-trained peer educators in collaboration with their teachers, who also attend training conducted by Nasio’s instructors. The charity is working closely with its partners to mobilise support for a more inclusive sex education curriculum at government schools by lobbying the Ministry of Education.

The wider aims included providing sustainable livelihoods for young people, establishing behavioural change in the wider community and stigma-free access to contraception. In addition to these activities, the Peer Education Programme also focuses on increasing awareness of gender-based violence, substance abuse, peer pressure, and bullying to provide young people with the tools they need to have a confident journey through adolescence.

Riziki’s Story

Riziki is a 19-year old peer mentor, who has led the charge of sensitizing more people within the community. Her father died of HIV, leaving her family in destitution. As a peer educator, Riziki leads youth training sessions and does not shy away from demonstrating proper use of contraception or speaking freely about bodily changes that come with adolescence. Her confidence has earned her the moniker of ‘condom lady’ from local boda boda drivers (motorcycle taxis) who are part of the programme as well.

We thank the Egmont Trust for their generous funding of the project since 2018. 

"The Nasio Trust has helped me possess what I never had. I pray to God that he may bless our sponsors abundantly for their good heart. I thank The Nasio Trust for their great determination."
Douglas Osore (supported by Nasio)

From the blog...

Katie Isbester Discusses Positive Effects of Reading At An Early Age

Confessions of a Female Publisher by Katie Isbester

Books are essential for broadening our intellectual horizons, but access to these books is found primarily in libraries, a precious resource that is often taken for granted. In her article ‘Confessions of a Female Publisher’, Katie Isbester delves into the positive effects of reading at an early age and the inspiration it provided.

Find out more

Muslim Farmers Project

Medina Rajab is a Muslim farmer from Ichinga village, she benefited from the Nasio Trust Muslim farming project where she received maize seeds, fertilizer, and vegetable seeds. She managed to harvest 2 bag of maize which she stored for consumption.

Vegetable production has improved her family’s health by increasing the number of meals per day. Previously, her family used to have a single meal a day but after harvesting the vegetables, she manages 2 meals a day due to availability of enough vegetables.

Find out more

The World We Want Foundation – Community Agriculture

Habbert Were, Margaret Chibasa and Grata Auma Sumba all benefitted from The Nasio Trust’s support with farming. ​

They are all working hard and looking forward to becoming self-sustainable in the future.

Find out more

Get updates by email

Stay up to date with Nasio news, appeals, volunteer stories & fundraising events