SRH Program – Developing Leaders, Improving Health

By Molly Smith and Kathleen Ellison, CFK Summer Fellows

CFK’s Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) program is more than an educational outreach project designed to promote positive behavior and increase knowledge of HIV/AIDS and reproductive health. It is also a chance for passionate youth from Kibera to become Peer Youth Providers (YPPs), to serve as leaders within their communities, and to facilitate behavioral changes among their peers.  We had the pleasure of meeting a few of these youth and hearing about how the YPP program has impacted their lives. Wilson shared how he sees the YPP program as an opportunity to help Kibera become a more accepting place to live. Victor expressed his excitement to teach his friends and neighbors about healthy behaviors. Sharon voiced concerns about insecurities and low self-esteem among Kibera youth, and said that being a YPP has increased her independence and self-confidence greatly. Erik, as a more experienced YPP, has served as a mentor to both Wilson and Victor, and spoke about how being a YPP has opened up educational doors for him. See his response in the video below.