Beyond Awareness: Migori Youth Seek a Safer, More Empowered Future
“We are on a mission to advance gender equality, sexual reproductive health and to empower young people for their livelihoods through knowledge, skills, opportunities and empowerment,” Samba said.
By Monica Nashon
For many young people in Migori County, the transition from school to adulthood comes with difficult choices. The search for employment and opportunities is often accompanied by challenges such as teenage pregnancies, new HIV infections and sexual and gender-based violence.
As the world marks International Youth Day, these challenges are putting a spotlight on the need to give young people more than advice they need information, skills, opportunities and the confidence to make decisions about their lives.
It is against this backdrop that Youth for a Sustainable World (YSW) has launched a new five-year strategic plan aimed at putting young people at the centre of efforts to promote gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and economic empowerment.
The plan was launched in Migori as YSW begins implementing its programme in partnership with the county government, youth groups and local communities.
For YSW Executive Director Everlyne Samba, empowering young people begins with ensuring they have the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions.
“We are on a mission to advance gender equality, sexual reproductive health and to empower young people for their livelihoods through knowledge, skills, opportunities and empowerment,” Samba said.
YSW, which has operated in Kenya since 2000 and currently works in at least 15 counties, recently completed its new strategic plan in 2024. The development also coincided with the organisation’s transition from an international organisation to a locally registered Kenyan organisation.
Samba said the new strategy places gender equality at the centre of its work, including addressing power relations that affect young people’s lives.
Another major focus is sexual and reproductive health, with the organisation seeking to ensure that young people can access accurate information and youth-friendly services.
“Young people have a right to sexual and reproductive health information,” she said.
The difficult journey into adulthood
For young people leaving school, the journey into adulthood can be uncertain.
Social development professional Edah Mwangola said young people face different challenges as they try to establish themselves in society, pursue careers and become independent.
She noted that women and girls often face additional barriers, while social media continues to influence how young people perceive themselves, relationships and opportunities.
“We recognise that young people go through different challenges as they get out of school to integrate into society and pursue their careers,” Mwangola said.
She said the strategy would focus on giving young people access to information and resources that enable them to protect their sexual and reproductive health, while also equipping them with skills to make informed choices.
For Mwangola, empowerment is not simply about providing assistance. It is about enabling young people to take responsibility for their own lives and participate in shaping the future of their communities.
“We see this as empowerment when young people are taking charge of their lives,” she said.
A generation confronting serious challenges
In Migori, youth leaders say the need for such interventions is urgent.
Victor Otieno Owino, chairperson of Restoring Hope Foundation and Ndege Youth Action, said young people in the county continue to experience teenage pregnancies, new HIV infections and sexual and gender-based violence.
He described YSW’s new strategy as a possible turning point because of its emphasis on prevention, education and empowerment.
“As Migori youths, we are experiencing very serious challenges, including teenage pregnancies, new HIV infections and sexual and gender-based violence. The strategic plan is a turnaround plan because it focuses on prevention, education and empowerment,” Owino said.
He urged young people to take advantage of opportunities available to them and play a greater role in finding solutions to problems affecting their communities.
Mary Odek, a member of Restoring Hope Foundation from Rongo Sub-County, said awareness remains important in helping young people understand and respond to the challenges they face.
She said YSW’s work on gender-based violence, HIV and teenage pregnancies provides young people with information that can help them make the right decisions.
The new strategy is not only about addressing immediate challenges. YSW also wants to build an organisation capable of responding to the changing needs of a new generation.
Samba said strengthening organisational systems, accountability and capacity will be critical to ensuring YSW remains effective and responsive.
The organisation hopes to work closely with county governments, communities and young people themselves as it implements the strategy.
On this International Youth Day, the message from Migori is clear young people do not only need to be treated as beneficiaries of development. They want to be recognised as partners and leaders in shaping their own future.
For the young people at the centre of the new strategy, empowerment means having access to information, acquiring skills, finding opportunities and, ultimately, having the power to make informed decisions about their lives.
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