U-Tena works in informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya, including: Mukuru, Korogocho, Mathare, Soweto, and Kibra. We focus on four main components to better youths' lives: Health, Education, Performing Arts, and Livelihood.

Health: U-Tena strives to increase community members' control over their own health. We use the following health promotion means:

• Good Governance for Health: U-Tena engages with county and national governments to legislate health policies that benefit the youth. Additionally, we work with private corporations in order to promote social investment and conscious human resource policies.
  
• Health Literacy: U-Tena uses non-lecture methods such as theater, sports, and visual arts to educate the illiterate and semi-illiterate populations within the informal settlements of Nairobi. We focus specifically on areas of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), and have recently added lessons on non-communicable diseases. The Health Literacy focus covers risk factors of NCDs, such as: tobacco, alcohol, overweight, and diet.
• Healthy Neighborhoods: U-Tena also plays a role in fostering safe and clean neighborhoods. Community activities such as clean-ups, tree planting, disaster preparedness, and trauma response contribute to the advancement of primary health.
• Health Intervention: Through our Youth Friendly Services, U-Tena refers young people to SRH services such as counseling and HIV treatment. We are committed to reaching UNAIDS' 90-90-90 goal, as well as contribute to the Kenya National AIDS Strategic Framework (KASF) of 2014/2015-2018/2019. 

Education: U-Tena focuses on bettering education outcomes and transitioning students from informal settlements from primary to secondary schools. U-Tena's education programs specifically focus on: Mentorship, Scholarship, and Policy Engagement.

• Mentorship: U-Tena mentors primary and secondary students on the areas of academics, life skills, and leadership. These programs ensure that students are goal-oriented, and prepared to tackle their future in academics, relationships, and careers.
• Scholarship: By engaging with local and international partners, U-Tena helps needy families with paying for transportation to high schools, as well as school fees. Furthermore, we work with the parents of students to emphasize the importance of attending school, as well as explore scholarship opportunities through the government. 2019 Form One scholarship application forms can be accessed here.
• Policy Engagement: U-Tena conferences with members of the Kenyan national assembly, county assembly, local administration, private partners, community members, and children in order to achieve lasting and impactful change to better education in informal settlements.

Performing Arts: U-Tena uses arts such as drama, dancing, poetry, acrobatics, and skits to engage and activate the community.

Livelihood: U-Tena works to build financial independence among youth through beadwork, general jewelry, urban farming, sanitation businesses, and fashion design. Our mentorship programs, market expansion services, and linkages to lending institutions empower and mobilize youth to better their control over employment opportunities.