Angaza Youth Hub.

Angaza Youth Hub is a safe space for the youth of Meru County,  solving the critical problems associated with the lack of comprehensive Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) education and services,   limited mental health support, exclusion from being heard and inadequate skill-building opportunities among adolescents in Meru County, Kenya. The local scale of the problem is substantial, with a high incidence of unplanned pregnancies for young girls aged as young as 9 years old leading to dropouts and limited future prospects. In 2020 alone, Meru County recorded 14,573 teenage pregnancies, with 1,328 occurring in girls aged 10-14 and in 2023, Meru County ranked fifth in Kenya, with a 24% prevalence of teenage pregnancies, causes attributed to the need to exchange sexual favours for food and sanitary towels. Furthermore, cultural norms, stigmatization, and a lack of access to mental health services contribute to high suicide rates and drug abuse among young men, adversely affecting their emotional well-being. These issues have local and global relevance, with millions of young people facing similar challenges that stagnate their wholesome growth into adulthood.

Angaza Youth Hub's mission is to tackle these issues head-on by creating a safe and supportive space for youth, offering comprehensive ASRH education, mental health support, and opportunities for skill development. Through these initiatives, we aim to empower adolescents to make informed decisions, enhance their emotional well-being, and improve their prospects for a brighter future.

Angaza Youth Hub is a dynamic community-based, youth-driven center situated in Meru County, Kenya. Designed to be inclusive and welcoming, it serves as a haven for adolescents, offering a wide range of services tailored to their specific needs. The hub provides a comprehensive support system for youth, staffed by trained professionals, including ASRH educators, mental health counselors, skill-building instructors, and medical staff. The hub's approach is rooted in inclusivity and respect for individual choices, with the belief that every young person has the potential to thrive. While Angaza Youth Hub primarily relies on physical interactions, it also harnesses digital tools for ASRH information dissemination and educational resources, utilizing smartphones, tablets, and internet connectivity to provide adolescents with up-to-date information and guidance. This approach combines in-person and digital methods to reach adolescents effectively, creating a safe space for them to learn, connect, express themselves, and embark on a journey of personal growth and empowerment, including access to affordable healthcare services through an onsite clinic. They also get a chance to acquire income-generating and career-growth skills such as digital literacy, asking for reusable sanitary towels and futures, and other technical skills such as woodwork.

While Angaza Youth Hub primarily relies on physical interactions, we will harness digital tools for ASRH information dissemination and educational resources. These technologies serve as supplementary resources to enhance our programs and reach a wider audience.

Angaza Youth Hub will serve youths aged 10-25 years, with a strong focus on adolescents aged 10 to 19 years. These young individuals are the most vulnerable in the Meru community while at a crucial stage in their lives. They are often victims of toxic cultural norms ( early marriages, FGM, drug abuse, early pregnancies) and at the receiving end of societal pressures such as poverty,  lack of employment opportunities and the lack of voice as well as exclusion.  and without the support they need.

       i.          Limited ASRH Education: Comprehensive ASRH education is often lacking in schools, leaving young individuals ill-equipped to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health. We will conduct comprehensive ASRH education sessions, empowering youth with knowledge and resources to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. In addition to this, youths from the Mount Kenya region who will not have direct access to the youth hub will be able to access content through digital platforms.

      ii.          Mental Health Support: The stigma surrounding mental health issues makes it challenging for adolescents to access the emotional support they need, contributing to increased drug abuse and high suicide rates among youth. Trained counselors and therapists at the hub offer guidance, counseling, and support, helping young individuals break free from cultural taboos surrounding mental health.

     iii.          Limited Skill-Building Opportunities: Many youth lack access to skill-building programs that could help them secure a better future, further limiting their economic prospects. The hub focuses on enhancing the skills and capacities of adolescents. We will empower youth to secure a brighter future through career-oriented training, entrepreneurship initiatives, and life skills development. We will also provide networking forums to provide access to opportunities such as career, further education, and business development.

     iv.          Access to Healthcare: Affordable healthcare services, including reproductive health, are often inaccessible, impacting their overall well-being. The onsite clinic at Angaza Youth Hub ensures that youth and their families can access essential healthcare services, addressing broader health needs within the community.

We aim to foster an environment where youth can learn, connect, express themselves, and embark on a journey of personal growth and empowerment. Through these initiatives, we strive to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of the underserved youth in Meru County in such a way that they will grow into a generation  of adults who bring positive change to their communities.

 For 20 years, Mount Kenya Trust has been a trusted co-steward in protecting, preserving, and enriching one of the most vulnerable UNESCO World Heritage sites in the world - Mt. Kenya with the Meru, Embu, Tharaka Nithi and Kirinyaga communities at the heart of our conservation work as we additionally cater to the community wellbeing.   MKT's holistic and community-centered approach has built rich evidence of impact and insights in the Mount Kenya region. Over the past nine years, we have cultivated a deep connection with the Meru community by providing over 30,000 people annually, with free family planning, SRH, and curative healthcare services in collaboration with the Ministry of Health to enhance healthcare accessibility. In collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health, our recent ASRHR pilot project leveraged our extensive experience in the region. This pilot project facilitated health talk sessions for over 3,697 adolescents in 10 schools within Meru County, establishing a foundation for open and informed discussions on ASRH. Our team of 25 Community Health Volunteers who hail from the community have built a strong relationship with community members of all ages, including the youth. Our programs are not imposed but are designed in alignment with community priorities and values, incorporating community input, ideas, and agendas. Ongoing needs assessments keep us attuned to the evolving challenges and needs of the community, and our cultural competency ensures the sensitive topics we address, such as ASRH and mental health, are approached with respect for local customs.

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Angaza Youth Hub will be the only functional safe space for youths in Meru County, tackling the challenges of sexual and reproductive health, mental well-being, education, and economic prospects for youth in a novel and comprehensive manner. Our approach is multifaceted, addressing the interrelated issues of SRH, mental health, education, and economic prospects within a single, integrated solution. By offering a wide range of services and support in one location, we ensure that young people can access the support they need in a convenient and streamlined way. Unlike many existing initiatives, Angaza Youth Hub is designed by and for young people. It empowers them to take charge of their health, education, and future. This youth-centered approach is a game-changer, as it acknowledges the agency and creativity of young individuals in designing and implementing solutions for their unique challenges. The creation of a safe space for open dialogue, education, and self-expression is a groundbreaking aspect of our solution. It addresses cultural norms and taboos that have historically limited discussions around SRH and mental health, providing a platform for young people to discuss these issues openly. By including a clinic within the hub, we ensure that healthcare services are not only accessible but also affordable. This innovative feature is crucial in addressing SRH issues, as it eliminates financial barriers to healthcare and emphasizes prevention.

Our focus on equipping young people with skills that can boost their career prospects and economic independence is a vital component of our innovation. It shifts the focus from short-term solutions to long-term, sustainable change, breaking the cycle of economic dependency and vulnerability.

While Angaza Youth Hub leverages existing technologies for healthcare services, information dissemination, and skills training, it also embraces innovative digital solutions. These include online resources, telehealth services, and digital skills training, ensuring that young people are prepared for a tech-driven world. Our strong community relationships and participation are key factors in our innovation. By engaging local leaders and stakeholders, we catalyze broader positive impacts beyond the hub, encouraging other organizations and individuals to support youth initiatives and challenge stigmas.

Our model is designed to be easily replicated and adapted to other regions and cultures. This scalability can trigger positive impacts across different geographic locations, especially in low- and middle-income countries facing similar SRH and youth development challenges.

Angaza  Youth Hub has the potential to disrupt the status quo by fundamentally changing the way we approach the sexual and reproductive health of young people, their mental well-being, their education, and their economic prospects. By empowering and supporting youth, we aim to catalyze a broader movement where young people are seen as active agents of change and where integrated, youth-centered solutions become the norm, ultimately transforming the market for youth development and offering a one-stop shop for SRH services.

Angaza Youth Hub will be the only functional safe space for youths in Meru County, tackling the challenges of sexual and reproductive health, mental well-being, education, and economic prospects for youth in a novel and comprehensive manner. Our approach is multifaceted, addressing the interrelated issues of SRH, mental health, education, and economic prospects within a single, integrated solution. By offering a wide range of services and support in one location, we ensure that young people can access the support they need in a convenient and streamlined way. Unlike many existing initiatives, Angaza Youth Hub is designed by and for young people. It empowers them to take charge of their health, education, and future. This youth-centered approach is a game-changer, as it acknowledges the agency and creativity of young individuals in designing and implementing solutions for their unique challenges. The creation of a safe space for open dialogue, education, and self-expression is a groundbreaking aspect of our solution. It addresses cultural norms and taboos that have historically limited discussions around SRH and mental health, providing a platform for young people to discuss these issues openly. By including a clinic within the hub, we ensure that healthcare services are not only accessible but also affordable. This innovative feature is crucial in addressing SRH issues, as it eliminates financial barriers to healthcare and emphasizes prevention.

Our focus on equipping young people with skills that can boost their career prospects and economic independence is a vital component of our innovation. It shifts the focus from short-term solutions to long-term, sustainable change, breaking the cycle of economic dependency and vulnerability.

While Angaza Youth Hub leverages existing technologies for healthcare services, information dissemination, and skills training, it also embraces innovative digital solutions. These include online resources, telehealth services, and digital skills training, ensuring that young people are prepared for a tech-driven world. Our strong community relationships and participation are key factors in our innovation. By engaging local leaders and stakeholders, we catalyze broader positive impacts beyond the hub, encouraging other organizations and individuals to support youth initiatives and challenge stigmas.

Our model is designed to be easily replicated and adapted to other regions and cultures. This scalability can trigger positive impacts across different geographic locations, especially in low- and middle-income countries facing similar SRH and youth development challenges.

Angaza  Youth Hub has the potential to disrupt the status quo by fundamentally changing the way we approach the sexual and reproductive health of young people, their mental well-being, their education, and their economic prospects. By empowering and supporting youth, we aim to catalyze a broader movement where young people are seen as active agents of change and where integrated, youth-centered solutions become the norm, ultimately transforming the market for youth development and offering a one-stop shop for SRH services.

Our pilot  ASRHR project in schools provided a proof of concept and we therefore intend to expand our scope and make ASRHR services readily available to the youth by building a center at a central location that can be accessed at any time, by those in school and those who dropped out such as teen mothers.   Angaza Youth Hub's theory of change rests on the premise that by addressing the intertwined issues of sexual and reproductive health (SRH), mental well-being, education, and economic prospects through a comprehensive, youth-centered approach, we can maximize our impacts.

Inputs:

• The construction of Angaza Youth Hub as a safe space for youth.
• Refresher training of healthcare professionals, educators, mentors, and facilitators.
• Rewriting an MOU with the Ministry of Health to integrate the Angaza Youth Hub as an addition to our existing collaboration.
• Digitizing ASRH education content and integrating mental health education programs.
• Collaborating with the Ministry of Health, a healthcare provider and donor to provision of accessible healthcare services.

Activities:

• Offering ASRH and mental health education sessions.
•  Providing healthcare services that are both affordable and accessible.
• Equipping young people with vocational and digital skills training to enhance their economic prospects.
• Providing empowering and sustainable income streams for women and school dropouts such as manufacturing reusable sanitary towels for distribution.

Immediate Outputs:

• Increased awareness and understanding of SRH and mental health among young people.
• Availability of affordable healthcare services.
• Development of employable skills among young people.
• Access to reusable sanitary towels by underserved students.

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Improved SRH practices and mental well-being among young people.
• Higher school retention rates and educational achievements.
• Enhanced economic independence among the youth and women.
• Higher health coverage.

Long-term Outcomes

• Decreased rates of adolescent pregnancies, early marriages, and sexually transmitted infections.
• Reduced stigma and increased openness about ASRH and mental health, demystifying destructive myths.
• Higher employment rates due to career turnovers and improved economic well-being among youth and in future households.

Ultimate Impact:

• Empowered, informed, and confident young people who are equipped to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health, mental well-being, education, and career choices.
• A community with reduced social injustices stemming from stigma, limited access to SRH information, and cultural norms that limit dialogue on sensitive topics.
• A transformed society that values and invests in the well-being, education, and economic prospects of its young population.

The introduction of a youth-centered model recognizes the agency of young individuals in addressing their unique challenges and the importance of inclusive and open dialogue. This approach has the potential to drive systemic change by reshaping societal norms and fostering a community that actively supports and values its youth, ultimately contributing to broader positive impacts beyond the hub. Our theory of change embodies a transformative vision for Meru County, where young people thrive, their voices are heard, and they realize their full potential.

We have 3 full-time staff,25 community Healthcare volunteers and Ministry of Health Locum Healthcare providers

We have been working on this solution for 2 years by running a pilot program that has since reached 3697 students (1822 boys and 1875 girls aged 10 to 19 years)

Incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusivity into our work has been a core principle driving our approach and the root of our organizational success for the past 2 decades. Our leadership team is diverse and representative of the communities we serve, fostering innovation through varied perspectives. We are committed to gender and age diversity, actively involving young people, both boys and girls, in our decision-making processes. Our community-centered approach ensures that community members, regardless of gender, actively participate in our initiatives, reflecting their priorities. We prioritize cultural competency, respecting and incorporating positive cultural values while promoting open dialogue and education. Gender equity is central to our work, empowering both young men and women while dismantling traditional norms limiting their agency. Our initiatives are designed to be inclusive and accessible to all, regardless of background or identity.

We are committed to delivering equitable services and eliminating disparities and systemic barriers. Our goal is that all community members have the same opportunities for growth and development, regardless of their gender. We continually evaluate our programs and initiatives, seeking feedback from the community and making necessary improvements. Our commitment extends beyond the Angaza Youth Hub to all our initiatives, reflecting our dedication to creating a more just and inclusive world for all young people in our communities.