Blogs and Stories
Life is Aesthetic
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Life is aesthetic, every heartbeat matters. Every living thing strives to prolong its existence. However, human beings are the only creatures known to take their own lives. Why is that? Suicide is the fourth leading cause of mortality among 15-29-year-olds (WHO 2019).
Globally, 700,000 persons are estimated to die by suicide every year with most of the deaths occurring in low and middle-income countries....More Written by Joseph Kimemia Published on 7th October, 2022 |
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RELIGION AND MENTAL HEALTH
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ADOLESCENTS TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.
Low Self-esteem is among the leading cause that is draining adolescents’ confidence to address issues they are facing, dragging them down for they feel they won’t be given much attention and that feeling nothing will change if they speak up. As a result, they end up piling issues on themselves thus ending up with sorrows and distress that affect their mental health. Sudden mood swings when one hits adolescents become visible and most of the time we don’t know how to react or cope with the situation so we end up isolating ourselves or relying on advice which at times it isn’t factual. Peer pressure from home, school, and the community trying to do everything they are told by their friends corners them not to discern the issue at hand on whether it’s going to hurt or lead them to trouble (not practicing critical thinking and not making informed decisions) thus going astray, endangering their lives by engaging in drug and substance abuse, and alcoholism. This has led many of our peer friends to drop out of school and others to end up being arrested because of their criminal acts. Mostly, coming from informal settlements, the thought about the future always makes one feel that the future is doomed since there is no sign of a support system from the community to secure their education, goals, objectives, and vision for the environment is not encouraging the birthing of fruitful success stories...More
Written by Joseph Macharia Kimemia.
Published on 5th October, 2022
Written by Joseph Macharia Kimemia.
Published on 5th October, 2022
A DATE FOR MOTHERS
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This is the day that unifies mothers specifically to make merry for the milestones in the path of our life. Having watched mothers from all spectrum of careers, entrepreneurs, and occupations, motherhood is something that has always been at the front line of their journey. Sometimes probably we got some insights and lessons that when it comes to mother’s day there is no debating about it. It’s a natural instinct that always drove us to mothers. This is not attributed to advocating for women’s equality or stereotyping anything, it’s about the holistic impact that mothers created in our lives. Moreover, as per the statistics mother” s day is the third most celebrated day after Christmas and valentine’s day. At all points in our lives, we attribute gratitude to our mothers for the tremendous work they do throughout our phases of life, especially during childhood. Without being fixated on our biological mothers, women hold motherly instincts that they commit to it until are accomplished. Once a woman decides to take that step of motherhood whether biological or adoption, she does that for more reasons than just protecting or enlightening her own. It’s about guiding a being to the realization of the power within them that the universe is awaiting. Through Millicent Ojuko a mother of two amazing adolescents in Viwandani Nairobi, motherhood is something that any mother is proud of seeing the virtue and encouraged behavior practiced by the children...more Written by Muthoni Kamau |
CELEBRATE HER THE AXIS OF THE EARTH.
Sitting at the edge and reflecting on the revolution around women, is something that requires applause. They are basically the axis that holds the world to rotate and evolve systematically. They are no longer enslaved to the wifey cocoon. They’ve shed off the skin of bondage and hostility and rise from the ash. The thriving position they are taking in various professional levels is breathtaking. They are basically standing up to the prefix “her” rejoining to the mother earth. Economic revolution does not give them the pleasure to sit around and wait. Some might say it’s the west ideology to empower her. Contrary, I disagree. Speak of women from my homeland that stand up against some cultural practices that bring forth pain and death to some extent, female genital mutilation, strong women from Maasai, Samburu and Somali have stood courageously against it. Through their initiative, a number of girls have been saved and given a chance to get an education. moreover, the message has extended to their male counterpart, and the sense is witnessed, and more girls are saved from the vicious practice...More
Blog written by Joseph Macharia Kimemia
Blog written by Joseph Macharia Kimemia
CONDOMIZE CRISIS AS THE INTERNATIONAL WORLD CONDOM DAY IS MARKED.
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Condoms are health commodities that are diversely used across all ages for different purposes. Speaking of young people, a condom is a pregnancy preventive measure, whose usage is simplified with minimal repercussions of reaction from the users. Accessibility has been moderate with the majority accessing it through community health workers, youth-friendly centers, health facilities, and youth champions. government free distribution has been a huge impact in mitigating the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases and infections. other organizations partnering with the government in the health sector have been a great boost in meeting millions of users in the country.
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In commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism, my Views on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights.
Understanding health as a human right creates a legal obligation on states to ensure access to timely, acceptable, and affordable health care of appropriate quality as well as to provide for the underlying determinants of health, such as safe and potable water, sanitation, food, housing, health-related information and education, and gender equality. The WHO Constitution (1946) envisages. the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental right of every human being.
Stakeholders have a role to play in the matters of sexual and reproductive health and rights.
The government plays a major role in ensuring all the policies are implemented for the impact to be felt. I must say several community-based organizations are on the rise on advocacy for SRHR.with the eruption of covid -19, training on youth champions advocates has been on the rise in my locality. I know change is a process. As we take steps to disseminate the knowledge and information to our community, I hope that among the 17 commitments of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25) mostly tackling health, Kenya could have made steps and the impact of the implementation will be...More
Blog written by Muthoni Kamau
Stakeholders have a role to play in the matters of sexual and reproductive health and rights.
The government plays a major role in ensuring all the policies are implemented for the impact to be felt. I must say several community-based organizations are on the rise on advocacy for SRHR.with the eruption of covid -19, training on youth champions advocates has been on the rise in my locality. I know change is a process. As we take steps to disseminate the knowledge and information to our community, I hope that among the 17 commitments of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25) mostly tackling health, Kenya could have made steps and the impact of the implementation will be...More
Blog written by Muthoni Kamau
MENTAL ILLNESS EXPOSURE THROUGH COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
It was about seven months ago that I was selected as a mentor for U-TENA's RISE Project. Around twelve mentors and I sat in a room as we went through problem management plus training that World Health Organization developed. The goal of the Problem Management Plus (PM+) project is to design and demonstrate global feasibility of an evidence-based, low intensity intervention for common mental disorders and to engage strategic action in mental health care provision of this kind. This process involves systematic translation and cultural adaptation of the PM+ manual, training para-professionals and supporting them in delivering the intervention, through regular supervision...More
Done by: Joseph Macharia
Editor: Muthoni Kamau
Done by: Joseph Macharia
Editor: Muthoni Kamau
Hope Oasis in a Pandemic Desert.
Life in slums of Nairobi is tough but it is even tougher to the school going boys and girls. More so, when the schools are closed for a long time and there is no even a shred of hope for reopening. With the indefinite closure of the schools in Kenya due to COVID-19 pandemic, these dreams and ambitions- obsessed Kenyans easily become a prey of hopelessness. In addition, they are prone to sexual harassment and vulnerable to drug abuse, early marriages, just to mention but a few. All these risks notwithstanding, they need someone to affirm to them that their dreams are still valid regardless of the myriad challenges they are currently going through and especially those resulting from the mercilessly biting COVID-19 pandemic.
It is in the midst of the pandemic and in the sea of hopelessness that U-Tena identified an opportunity to push on their hope restoration agenda among these young Kenyans living in the Viwandani slums of Nairobi Industrial area. I came to know U-Tena through TUJIFUNZE program where they brought me on board as a temporary academic coach for form three and four students from...read more
Blog by John Irungu
UTU na UBINANDAMU
Nimeona mengi, nimeona wengi, nimeona vingi na mashirika mengi yaliyofutika akilini na moyoni mwangu, lakini shirika la U-TENA, ni zaidi yao yote.
Nikisikia U-TENA, maana ya utu na ubinadamu husawirika na kujidhihirisha kuhalisia. Hili ni shirika lililojitolea kwa udi na uvumba kuwasaidia wenye hadhi ya chini kwenye haya maeneo ya vitongoji duni vya Mukuru, Viwandani na Korogosho, hakika si dogo.
Ukidhani ni majigambo, karibu kwenye tamasha, hafla na mikutano ya wazazi, wanafunzi na wanaviwandani ili ukapate uhondo wa mazuri wanayofanyiwa na U-TENA. Katika mkutano wa hivi majuzi, nilipata kusikia mwenyewe kutoka kwa mzazi mmoja alivyosimama na kusifia mwanawe alivyokuwa na utundu kabla ya kuingia U-TENA na kuishia kubadilika kabisa kihulka baada ya kupata mafunzo ya life skills na counselling kwenye mradi wa A LOT-change, huku mwingine akishukuru alivyojifunza jinsi ya kuzungumza na mwanawe na kumnasihi na kumpa mawaidha ya kujiendeleza na kuwajibika kupitia mradi wa nasaha bora kwa wazazi (parental counselling). Mwingine naye alisimama na kusifia mwanawe alivyofaidika na mradi wa ufadhili wa masomo (scholarship) kwa kumlipia mwanawe elfu ishirini pamoja na manufaa mengi tu yaliyosemwa. Mwisho wa hafla ilikuwa ni tabasamu huku wazazi wakienda nyumbani na maziwa na mkate kama kiburudisho baada ya mkutano....soma zaidi
Blog ya Shadrack Igunza
Nikisikia U-TENA, maana ya utu na ubinadamu husawirika na kujidhihirisha kuhalisia. Hili ni shirika lililojitolea kwa udi na uvumba kuwasaidia wenye hadhi ya chini kwenye haya maeneo ya vitongoji duni vya Mukuru, Viwandani na Korogosho, hakika si dogo.
Ukidhani ni majigambo, karibu kwenye tamasha, hafla na mikutano ya wazazi, wanafunzi na wanaviwandani ili ukapate uhondo wa mazuri wanayofanyiwa na U-TENA. Katika mkutano wa hivi majuzi, nilipata kusikia mwenyewe kutoka kwa mzazi mmoja alivyosimama na kusifia mwanawe alivyokuwa na utundu kabla ya kuingia U-TENA na kuishia kubadilika kabisa kihulka baada ya kupata mafunzo ya life skills na counselling kwenye mradi wa A LOT-change, huku mwingine akishukuru alivyojifunza jinsi ya kuzungumza na mwanawe na kumnasihi na kumpa mawaidha ya kujiendeleza na kuwajibika kupitia mradi wa nasaha bora kwa wazazi (parental counselling). Mwingine naye alisimama na kusifia mwanawe alivyofaidika na mradi wa ufadhili wa masomo (scholarship) kwa kumlipia mwanawe elfu ishirini pamoja na manufaa mengi tu yaliyosemwa. Mwisho wa hafla ilikuwa ni tabasamu huku wazazi wakienda nyumbani na maziwa na mkate kama kiburudisho baada ya mkutano....soma zaidi
Blog ya Shadrack Igunza
What does service to humanity look like in the middle of a pandemic?
To me, it is bringing a sense of community and inclusivity during these uncertain times. And frankly, what better way to do that than engaging young underprivileged students in their final years at school, who, due to the current covid 19 measures, are experiencing feelings of isolation, fear, and uncertainty.
As parents, we may not fully grasp the effect this pandemic has had on our children psychologically. At an age where social bonds and peer group activities are among the core needs, covid 19 has taken that away from them.
So seeing U TENA come up with a project (Tujifunze) to remind the young adults in Mukuru slums that they are part of the community and give them a sense of belonging was an epitome of service to humankind.
Before the project began, I attended the parents meeting for the Tujifunxe project, which enabled me to see the soul and work that had been put into it hence making me appreciate being part of the organization even more; From alleviating any financial burden, the parents might have thought, i.e., provision of masks, qualified teachers, sanitized spacious classrooms and temperature measurement kits to providing packets milk as an appreciation for their attendance...Read More
To me, it is bringing a sense of community and inclusivity during these uncertain times. And frankly, what better way to do that than engaging young underprivileged students in their final years at school, who, due to the current covid 19 measures, are experiencing feelings of isolation, fear, and uncertainty.
As parents, we may not fully grasp the effect this pandemic has had on our children psychologically. At an age where social bonds and peer group activities are among the core needs, covid 19 has taken that away from them.
So seeing U TENA come up with a project (Tujifunze) to remind the young adults in Mukuru slums that they are part of the community and give them a sense of belonging was an epitome of service to humankind.
Before the project began, I attended the parents meeting for the Tujifunxe project, which enabled me to see the soul and work that had been put into it hence making me appreciate being part of the organization even more; From alleviating any financial burden, the parents might have thought, i.e., provision of masks, qualified teachers, sanitized spacious classrooms and temperature measurement kits to providing packets milk as an appreciation for their attendance...Read More
Usnah Gesare's blog post
New Blogs
- Education Blog: What difference or impact do you intend to make in the lives of these mentees // By Lucy Mwende
- Education Blog: Language is a universal currency that enhances communication globally // By Muthoni Kamau
- HIV Blog: Towards Zero: Bold Steps ~~~Those statistics represents People! // By Peter Mokaya
- Education Blog: 'Would you go for them in case they do not turn up for the session?' // By Mentor Joan
- Livelihood Blog: How New Cuisines Create New Perceptions // By GROW Intern Emilia Sowersby
- Covid_19 intervention blog: What does service to humanity look like in the middle of a pandemic?//teacher/mentor Usnah Gesare
U-TENA AND FAMILY PLANNING: Addressing the Family Planning Needs of Adolescent Girls and Young Women...more |
U-TENA AND COMMUNITY CONFERENCE: The Power Of A Community Conference...more |
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U-TENA AND BROWN UNIVERSITY
Students of Brown University USA fundraises for U-Tena Programs...more |
U-TENA AND SEX AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RIGHTS: The Story Mary Wanjiku’s resilience response: 'I didn’t know I could become pregnant after having sex for the first time' Read more |
U-TENA AND HIV AND AIDS: Towards Zero- Bold Steps ~~~Those statistics represents People!...more |
U-TENA PARTNERS WITH APHRC TO IMPROVE EDUCATION: Advancing Learning Outcomes and Leadership Skills among Children in Nairobi’s Informal Settlements through Community Participation...more
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U-TENA AND GLOBEMED: U-Tena Partners with Globemed to accelerate Health Equity...more
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