Presentation by James Karongo YPeer Focal Point

1. YOUTH HIV PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN KENYA Perceptions From the Youth Presentation by James Karongo YPeer Focal Point

2. POINTS • Youth Representative at the KSC • Involved actively during the meetings • Youngest member of the KSC • During HFG activities I am involved in the selection of Youth facilitators in the Y-PEER network • The voice of the young people is heard by the adult allies in the KSC

3. 22 YEARS OLD & HIV • Things have fallen apart for some • Others have gotten a wake up call that has jolted them from their very core • There future is today. They dare not dream of tomorrow with too much hope as that they cannot be sure of • They have no hope to fall in love and give of themselves fully. They are too much of a burden on themselves, they dare not give this to others • They might never have their own children. That choice has been taken from them. It wasn’t theirs to make • What life has to offer? If they meet the right person, the right organization, or the right program - where he ends up is only a matter of your imagination

4. 22 YEARS OLD & SCHOOL LIFE • This is a time of heightened excitement. Going to a new time where anything is possible and time is limitless • There is time to share with friends, relax at home, watch movies and catch up on things I missed during my one year of intense study • And while at it, get to experience things that will make me a legend in my hood and my new school • Going to college or university is just as exciting. There is no one to tell you where to go, what to do, join which club • You meet women and men from different walks of life – the shugs modo, the money bags, the rich boys, the easy girls and the book worms who will end up employing all of us

5. 22 YEARS OLD & GETTING SERIOUS (RELATIONSHIPS) • Then there is that one guy. He is serious, focused and has no time to waste • He is looking for a woman to settle down with; at first he might get taken in by the beautiful gold diggers or by the group of guys who seem to have it all as he wants to get connected and get employed without having to tarmac • He wants a commitment. He wants a wife. A family when he completes college and an honest relationship • He thinks in terms of WE right from the start. How shall WE live? Where will WE live? What do WE want? • He is frighteningly serious about life

6. 22 YEARS OLD & DECISIONS • Role Models • Celebs • Family • Peers • Open Media

7. Pulled by the crowd

8. A DIFFERENT TIME • this man had different dreams, hopes and challenges • this man was fighting his own battles within himself and as he believed ‘his country’ • this man voice could only be heard when the BBC came around to cover a story • He had a voice but only two options for media – BBC or sing • He had no personal landline, cell phone, mail box anything • This man was Fela Kuti and most of you can identify with him • He is my only link to you – a man who succumbed to an illness but whose legend lives to bridge our age divide

9. OUR TIME • This is not really all of us • This is an image that comes to your minds when you think of us • Look at us not just what we look like but what we think, we bring to the table and our issues (we got lots) • Try and understand why we feel we have a cause to fight for • Try to understand why we feel that we are not understood • Try to listen not just hear the noise • Be still and listen, learn and walk this journey with us

10. WHAT DO WE WANT?????? • Passion- Focus on what the young people love most • Focus on my area of Interest- Theatre, film, writing, singing, IT, • Open Media- facebook, twitter, website, radio, tv • Interventions that suit me……..that speak to me………… that I identify with……

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