Youth for a Sustainable World (YSW) has identified lack of accurate sexual and reproductive health information and limited access to youth-friendly services as key challenges contributing to teenage pregnancies, new HIV infections and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) among young people in Migori.
The organisation says it will address the challenges through its new five-year strategic plan, which places sexual and reproductive health rights, gender equality and youth empowerment among its key priorities.
Speaking during the launch of the strategic plan in Rongo Sub County, YSW Executive Director Evelyn Samba said many young people lacked correct information on sexual and reproductive health, while those seeking services were not always able to access facilities offering services tailored to their needs.
Samba said discomfort within communities in discussing young people’s sexual and reproductive health was also making it difficult for them to obtain the information and services they require.
She explained the situation was contributing to teenage pregnancies, new HIV infections and sexual and gender-based violence among young people.
“Young people have a right to sexual and reproductive health information,” said Samba, adding that access to correct information was necessary to enable them to make informed choices about their lives.
Under the new strategic plan, YSW will strengthen life-skills education in schools and extend the programme to communities through youth empowerment centres.
The organisation will also work with parents and community structures to promote discussions on sexual and reproductive health rights and strengthen community support for young people.
Samba disclosed that YSW would further work to ensure that young people are linked to youth-friendly health services where they can receive appropriate care from trained personnel.
The interventions are already being implemented in Migori, particularly Rongo Sub-County, where YSW says it identified high teenage pregnancy rates and concerns over HIV infections among young people.
The programme, which started in November 2025, seeks to build the capacity of young people to make informed choices by improving access to information and strengthening their links to health and community support structures.
YSW Board Chairperson Eda Mwangola acknowledged that the new strategic plan had adopted an intersectional feminist approach aimed at ensuring that vulnerable groups were not excluded from development programmes.
Mwangola stressed the approach would involve young women, girls, men and young men in development processes while addressing social structures that influence their lives.
She noted that the organisation would also empower young people to participate in advocacy for policies affecting their lives and communities.
Besides sexual and reproductive health rights, the strategic plan prioritises women’s economic and social empowerment, youth entrepreneurship and livelihoods, policy advocacy and strengthening YSW’s organisational systems.
Samba said youth entrepreneurship was being promoted in response to unemployment and limited employment opportunities, with the organisation seeking to equip young people with skills and link them to resources needed to establish enterprises.
The organisation is also seeking to strengthen collaboration with county governments and communities in implementing the strategic plan.
Samba said YSW would complement government efforts by working with communities and county authorities to ensure that programmes addressing the needs of young people are sustained beyond the organisation’s presence in the areas of operation.
A youth participant from Rongo, Mary Odek, said YSW programmes had helped young people understand how to prevent HIV infections, teenage pregnancies and sexual and gender-based violence.
Odek said the programmes had also improved her confidence and ability to advocate for her rights, while youth groups had benefited from economic empowerment initiatives including poultry and agriculture projects.
She said the programme had also promoted inclusion of young people living with disabilities in community development activities.
David Onyango, Rongo Sub County Director of Education, said the interventions complement government programmes, with YSW activities integrated into the ministry’s curriculum.
Onyango added that recent research by YSW had placed school dropout at seven per cent and that efforts were being made to reduce the rate to five per cent.
The new strategic plan seeks to ensure young people have access to information, skills and opportunities that will enable them to make informed decisions, participate in development and advocate for their rights.
By Polycarp Ochieng and Makokha Khaoya
