Y-PEER Kenya History Y-PEER is a network in more than 35 countries of Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Northern Africa, and East Africa. Y-PEER stands for Youth Peer Education Network. It is a growing youth peer education initiative pioneered byUNFPA, with expansion to Kenya and Tanzania led by Family Health International in partnership with many NGOs, such as NOPE. Y-PEER Kenya is not an NGO. It is an initiative that invites partners and funds activities as demanded by its members and interested donors. Currently UNFPA leads networks and financially supports specific activities in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Arab States (the Middle East and Northern Africa). In East Africa, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) began by supporting FHI through two bilateral programs in 2006, namely APHIA II Rift Valley and Coast in Kenya and the UJANA youth program in Tanzania.
In Kenya, the National Organization of Peer Educators (NOPE) took up the secretariat role and also sourced for funds from Global Fund and CDC for other regions. Currently the network is being co-hosted by I Choose Life Africa (ICL) and Liverpool VCT. It envisages to cover all provinces in Kenya. Without formal support the network runs on donated venues and materials, human resource know-how and volunteerism, and most importantly passion and commitment for youth peer education. The principle for sustaining this network is enabling members to contribute and benefit from their involvement. Partnerships enable multiple goals to be reached. New partners and donors are always invited.
Y-PEER Kenya activities will be continuously be informed by five core principles: Gender equity and equality: At all times youth across the gender divide will be treated as equal and opportunities available through the network distributed equitably. Sustainability: All activities and structures of the network will be based on a sustainable plan that ensures that they can be replicated and maintained with minimum external resources. Recognition of youth with special needs:All youth are eligible to benefiting from the networkand efforts will be made whenever possible to ensure that youth with disabilities and special needs access information and resources in the network. Transparency: At all times the activities of the network will be transacted in an open manner that allows consultations and free flow of information and resources. Responsive and relevant: All activities by the network in Kenya will adapt to the local realities such as culture, language and social context of the respective geographical locations.
Why the youth network Peer education is the most common and popular method used to prevent HIV and improve reproductive health of young people among youth serving NGOs. While most donors and program managers agree that peer education is an appropriate approach to meet the needs of young people, there has been inconsistent evidence from research and varied methods used in the field. The network was initiated to ensure collaboration and partnerships among stakeholders and reduce competition for resources and duplication of efforts. More so it was created to promote involvement of key populations who face challenges in accessing reproductive health services such as the MSMs, youth with disability and youth living with HIV. ISHTAR MSMs, Positive youth initiative and NADIP are youth serving organizations in the network. A voice for the voiceless!
How does the network operate? It is a network that is linked through in-person meetings and training events The network takes varied designs, in that interested organizations can integrate into their existing programs. It is established to meet the local needs of NGOs, CBOs and stakeholders participating by utilizing online resources and materials such as cyber peer , TOT Manual.
What to remember about Y-PEER. • Growing the network, not single organizations. •Building capacity of organizations, not individuals. • Building youth leaders, not professional youth. • Increased collaboration among NGOs, not duplicating efforts. •Sharing successes and adoption of best practices among multiple mandates to achieve results. • Explore innovative ways to reach NGOs with limited Internet access.
HOW CAN THE YOUNG PEOPLE BE INVOLVED?
The picture shows the elements of youth involvement which range from involving the youth in designing to implementation of the programs prepared for the youth. Understanding these elements and implementing them will be a great step in improving the services offered to the youth by the existing youth serving organisitions which will be effective and enhance meaningful youth involvement strategies in these organisations.
Y-PEER's journey.
models pose for a picture.
Above are the models who took part in the nyeri youth fahion show.
Past and Present Highlights Y-PEER Kenya has evolved through several key activities beginning 2005: August 2005: An initial assessmentof the quality of youth peer education in Kenya covered 25 NGOs. in Nairobi was done by Family Health International to understand the level and. The National Organization of Peer Educators (NOPE) and African Youth Parliament (AYP) were identified as Y-PEER start-up partners.
September2005: Representatives Jerry Aurah - NOPE and Vincent Okullo - AYP attended an introductory Y-PEER workshop in Tunisia and began planning for the network and regional support.
April 2006: In preparation of Y-PEER Kenya’s launch, Jacky Kowa was selected as Kenya’s first Focal Point and attended a Y-PEER international training in Morocco.
May 2006: NOPE hosted a review and adaptation workshop to adopt the Y-PEER Training of Trainers manual. 12 local NGOs took part in the process; printed copies will be available from June 2007 and trainings will be held in Coast and Rift Valley regions as part of the AIDS Population Health Integrated Assistance Program II (APHIA II) this year. June 2006: Y-PEER Kenya was birthed at the NOPE Conference on Peer Education in Nairobi. The Ministry of Youth Affairs officially launched to a crowd of more than 750 attendees from youth groups, including Y-PEER international representatives from six countries. August 2006: Jacky Kowa attended the International AIDS Conference in Toronto, Canada where numerous Y-PEER and MTV events were held. There Jacky took part in the 48 Fest, where youth teams created short films on HIV during the conference. August 2006: Ruth Njambi participated in the annual eight-day Y-PEER Advanced Training of Trainers for Focal Points held in Baku, Azerbaijan. Ruth now works in Narok, Rift Valley Region for NOPE on APHIA II and has been introducing Y-PEER to youth groups on the ground. December 2006: NOPE attended the Y-PEER Annual Strategic planning meeting in New York, USA. The meeting was attended by partners such as MTV, UNICEF, Hope’s Voice, Dance 4 Life, and more than 30 focal points from around the world. January 2007: First network meeting held in Nairobi. Updates were given on the status of the adapted Y-PEER training manual, partnership with MTV including the Staying Alive Foundation, Y-PEER’s support under the APHIA II program, as well as how Y-PEER will be integrated into on-going youth peer education activities by local members. Highlighted was use of Cyberpeer by peer educators.
February2007- to date: Y-PEER Kenya expanding having many organizations and individuals getting involved and integrated network activities within their programs. Networking events provide anopportunity for participants to share experiences, pledge their support for the network and began to feel the effects of coming together to learn from each other and plan to collaborate in thefuture.
2011– 2013 Y-PEER Strategic Plan developed and disseminate Formation of the Y-PEER Advisory Board comprised of Hosts and Co-host organizations; FHI, NOPE, ICL, LVCT, ICAP, PATH, DRH, PSI, HFG.