YOUTH FRIENDLY SERVICES
U-Tena has been managing the youth friendly centre since 2009. It is located at Lunga health center grounds and was built in partnership with Goal Kenya and the Ministry of Health, Kenya. U-TENA mainly works with the youth from Viwandani which is one of the slums in Mukuru. The urban informal settlements are marred with a myriad of social problems including unemployment amongst young people which leads to rising poverty levels. This pushes the youth to engage in crime such as drug and substance abuse as well as selling of drugs to meet their basic needs. Teenage pregnancies, early marriage, and irresponsible sexual behavior are common and contributing factors in the rise of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. At the youth friendly centre, young people are given information regarding sexual and reproductive health. Through facilitated performances, U-Tena is able to dispel myths regarding HIV transmission, encourage voluntary testing, correct and encourage correct and consistent condom use amongst young people. Additionally, information on drugs and substance abuse and various trainings on livelihood skills are provided. Peer educators, and mentors encourage a changed mentality and empower young minds to think beyond their current situation. U-TENA and other partners are working relentlessly through the youth friendly centre to try and educate the youth about the consequences of engaging in such behaviors and linking them to health services especially in regards to their sexual and reproductive health.
U-Tena has been managing the youth friendly centre since 2009. It is located at Lunga health center grounds and was built in partnership with Goal Kenya and the Ministry of Health, Kenya. U-TENA mainly works with the youth from Viwandani which is one of the slums in Mukuru. The urban informal settlements are marred with a myriad of social problems including unemployment amongst young people which leads to rising poverty levels. This pushes the youth to engage in crime such as drug and substance abuse as well as selling of drugs to meet their basic needs. Teenage pregnancies, early marriage, and irresponsible sexual behavior are common and contributing factors in the rise of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. At the youth friendly centre, young people are given information regarding sexual and reproductive health. Through facilitated performances, U-Tena is able to dispel myths regarding HIV transmission, encourage voluntary testing, correct and encourage correct and consistent condom use amongst young people. Additionally, information on drugs and substance abuse and various trainings on livelihood skills are provided. Peer educators, and mentors encourage a changed mentality and empower young minds to think beyond their current situation. U-TENA and other partners are working relentlessly through the youth friendly centre to try and educate the youth about the consequences of engaging in such behaviors and linking them to health services especially in regards to their sexual and reproductive health.