REKORD 3RD EDITION

3RD EDITION RESPEKT 2.0

M A G A Z I N E

Table of contents 03 Editorial Committee 05 TOT 10 School Visits 15 Curriculum Wall 18 Intense!

20 Townhalls 23 Advocacy Wall 24 Networking Activity 27 Youth Leaders 31 Submissions 38 Research Wall 39 Respekt Day 40 Respekt Conference 42 Respekt Teens

Editor’s Note They say that art does magic to souls. Well, nobody exactly said that-I made it up myself, but that's because of how strongly I feel about it, ART.Art can take any form. You know that feeling you get when you are walking in the hallways of an art gallery? Or that unexplainable excitement when you watch show performances in theatre?Or when you sit in a noisy nganya and you feel it in you that that moment could make it into a music video about human rights or even love? Or when you listen to music by your all-time favorite and all you think about is "How did they create such masterpiece lyrics"?Yeah, I do that with almost all Afro Music. That wholesome feeling, that right there is what we want to create with REKORD. We appreciate everyone who takes the time to share their craft with us. We want to ride in your creativity, your delights,thoughts-whatever makes you! We want to educate and inform as you will see in this edition. We also take you through interesting stuff done throughout the year by Respekt. We bring you along to see what we do and hopefully get you to join our bandwagon in creating safe spaces for SRHR discussions.

I hope this edition does whatever your favorite snack does to you. I hope it brings you a lot of warmth this festive season.

REKORD will continuously serve vibes (On the scout's promise).

I hope you always look forward to us and that you shall never run out of crafty ideas.

Thank you for allowing us into your world, and for letting us share in your joyous exploration of art.

Enjoy, and it's totally okay with us if you share us with your friends.

Happy festivities.

Laura Nyiha 3

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Writing has been my passion for as long as I can remember. I happen to think I express myself better in writing. This is what got me into REKORD, where I am free to let my creative self come to life.

I've always wanted to be an editor so this is a dream come true for me. With this 3rd edition termed Ambitious, Bold and New, it is our hope that it reaches and even surpasses your expectations. Happy festivities as you indulge in this copy. Have an awesome read!

JACKLINE OMONGO

Coucou!

Being part of the editorial committee and seeing this magazine come to life has been nothing short of amazing. We hope that through the stories and experiences narrated in this magazine, you may be inspired to continue making the change(s) that you want to see in the SRHR space. May this magazine inspire us to be part of the solution in achieving the SDGs by 2030.

JOY JAMA

LENNOX MASIKA

Sexual and reproductive health has been my passion, my life's dedication. In a time when most of the youth are very sexually active, more information surrounding this needs to be made more readily available for them. I aim to shed light on SRH in a manner that is more accurate, simplistic and understandable.

Watching this magazine grow, and seeing the impact that it has on the people directly has been one of the greatest achievements of my life. As they say, life is a beauty, enjoy it. The pages contain hardwork, thorough research, lessons as well as fond memories in a balanced and nuanced perspective, which all make up the brand that it is . Enjoy it!

It's safe to say that this year has been nothing short of educational: from learning new things to reaching out to others on matters SRHR. Nothing can encompass and convey our vision better than our art.

Thus, this magazine embodies our passion for sexual and reproductive health and our desire to change society one person at a time.

SONIA KIRAGA

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TRAINING OF TRAINERS (TOT) New Faces Ambitious, Bold and New! RESPEKT 2.0 brought together some of the brightest minds in the country with new talents, and opened the doors to infinite possibilities. More than 80 new and continuing volunteers, from 11 universities across the country converged at Hotel Waterbuck in Kenya’s newest city, Nakuru, to undergo a series of training that ran from April 29th to May 1st 2022.

The Training of Trainers (ToT), was equally as fun and creative as it was educative. The volunteers arrived in Nakuru on Friday 29th, had the training start on Saturday, culminating in a Dinner Gala in the evening, then a short session on Sunday before everyone departed.

to 1pm on Sunday. The previous night, the volunteers had been provided with RESPEKT tshirts that most of them wore on Saturday. The main message during the training was teamwork. From the games played like ‘Take a Stand’ and the questions asked, to the workshops held and the speeches given, the importance of working as a team was emphasized.

What makes RESPEKT unique is that we incorporate work and play so seamlessly, to create an awesome cocktail.

Through the activities carried out, the trainers were Training educated on how to manage The training kicked off on the students they would Saturday 9 am, and ended at encounter and make them 5pm that evening. Then 9am feel comfortable

in their presence as they taught them about their Sexual and Reproductive Health. A RESPEKT training manual was provided, and some of the continuing volunteers took the other members through the topics covered.

On Sunday there were workshops hosted by the various working groups, that is Research,, Curriculum and Advocacy departments. The members of each working group held sessions with the volunteers, explaining what their departments do, just in case anyone was interested to join them whenever a call would be made in the near future.

The volunteers during the training on Saturday

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TRAINING OF TRAINERS (TOT) Gala Dinner This was surely the highlight of the event. It marked the culmination of the 3 day Training of Trainers. The theme was ‘creative formal, with a touch of red’. Our volunteers took the opportunity to go all out. The outfits were simply stunning, with it being hard to decide who was the best dressed among them all. All the chapters got the opportunity to entertain the rest by showcasing their dancing skills.

It didn’t matter whether you had two left feet. No one really noticed because everyone was having fun. The event also saw a number of our alumni in attendance get to share their impact stories and journey before and after RESPEKT.

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TRAINING OF TRAINERS

(TOT)

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MY TOT EXPERIENCE What did the volunteers think of the training?

.

It was eye opening.

Sharing and learning the perspectives of others

Maria Murugi K ENY AT T A UNI VE RS I TY

The gala. It was such an elegant and delightful experience. The dancing was amazing and the coming together of the various chapters was very admirable.

Lily Kwamboka KISII UNIVERSITY

My 2022 ToT was an amazing renewed experience where I met an energized team that is ready to propel the SRHR agenda among the Kenyan Teenagers. A second phase of Respekt is what we've been eagerly waiting for.

It's here with us. Let's make it happen.

Cheers!

Jepkoech Delaviv

UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI

Oyugi Kevin MASENO UNIVERSITY

I really appreciate the safe space in which we were able to express our differing opinions on various topics. Being a shy person who gets stage fright when in front of an audience, I can say that I performed admirably . Being a member of RESPEKT has been a learning process . I love it here.

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MY TOT EXPERIENCE What did the volunteers think of the training?

Creatively forming our ideal countries and where you take a stand on a matter and try to justify your stand. In both, I liked how we had to think on our feet as well as the wisdom that flowed from the discussions.

Mary Njau EGERTON UNIVERSITY

The TOT organized in Nakuru made me to learn essential skills like teamwork, decision making and more from the workshops conducted.I also enjoyed the delicious meals served.

Benedict Mwololo It was not what I expected in terms of being an official and strict conference. The games and activities were so fun to participate in and thoughtprovoking. But yani tulipigania viti as grown adults yet what we just needed to do was consult amongst each group on what their task was? I was embarrazzed

Joyce Karanja KENYATTA UNIVERSITY

UZIMA UNIVERSITY

Well my experience was superb no words fit the description. I really enjoyed the take a stand session, I got a ring that day hahaha. Then getting proposed and announced as one the best volunteer was overwhelming.

Getting to know many new people with great minds and bonding was fun.

Ntamwira Sylivia KENYA METHODIST UNIVERSITY 9

SCHOOL VISITS 2022

KeMU CHAPTER

By Sylvia Ntamwinja Our volunteers from Kenya Methodist University did an SRHR campaign at Munithu girls high school, Meru county, sharing insights on SRHR with the students.

Notably, we loved how the ladies expressed confidence while taking their stand, vehemently opposing what they perceived as wrong, as well as coming to a consensus on the importance of gender equality. We were fulfilled seeing the ladies ask questions that were bothering them and how our responses were impactful to them.

As volunteers, It was mission accomplished.

The School is a wonderful and welcoming place. The administration gave us an ear and supported the RESPEKT project. It is a beautiful school with wonderful students eager to learn and ready to ask questions.

We really enjoyed working with them.

Kisii CHAPTER

By Constance Naliaka It was finally the day of launching the RESPEKT club and as I stood before the 200 students of Mosando Secondary School, I let myself speak from my heart.

Interaction with the students gave me a nostalgic feeling. Their cheerfulness when we asked them for entertainment swept me off my feet. And then the icing on the cake was when a couple of boys stood up and began to act a radio broadcast in our native Kisii language. . It was marvelous. It was awesome that through these teens we had found a bridge to deliver SRHR education to others.

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SCHOOL VISITS 2022 From the RESPEKT team, I also found something to take home. I found out that Divannah's radiance was based on her extensive knowledge on SRHR. Lily had the ability to always joke and later be able to emphasize on what is important without being boring.

Launching the club was a success. All the students were on board for registration by the RESPEKT team. I can't wait for the next visit to connect with those teenagers again.

Egerton CHAPTER

By Shirley Koech We visited Morop Girls High school. When we first visited, we received a very warm welcome from the school heads, the teachers and the girls. At first the girls seemed quiet but they opened up to us more and more with time and with the consecutive visits. Eventually, we managed to form a very strong and personal bond with the girls.

During the interactive sessions, the students were disciplined and contributed to the discussions. They were quite

knowledgeable on some issues and in contrast oblivious to others. They were eager to learn- this made the sessions very productive and memorable and the leisure time even better.

They were warm and easy to talk to. The most gratifying part of our visit would have to be when we had a Q and A session and the students expressed their understanding of content we shared with them. The teachers thanked us and told us that the students had requested for us to have more sessions with them.

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SCHOOL VISITS 2022

W

To any future RESPEKT volunteers, when interacting with the students, be free for they are your younger brothers and sisters.

Be confident in yourself and remember that you have what it takes to touch the lives of these girls and boys. They rely on us for this information and it is our duty to educate them and equip them with the knowledge they need to face the world.

Maseno CHAPTER

By Madeline Nafula Maseno university chapter conducted its school visits at Ken Obura primary school in Kisumu. We made two visits to the school and launched the Respekt club on the second visit.

On arrival, it was clean and calm. The welcoming was very warm and friendly, the students all looked eager to hear from us.

The school is well organized with time set aside for a guidance and counseling sessions. Treatment from the teachers and students was friendly with decorum and way above our expectations. They were glad to have us owing to the long standing relationship between the school and Respekt.

space and the students were able to open up and be vulnerable to talk about their issues that they find hard talking to their parents and teachers. Some students wanted to see us privately and the seemed very concerned about their SRHR issues.

The senior teacher reported on positive improvements from students since our last visit.

The most full filling part of the visit was the enthusiasm of the teenagers in learning about SRHR. we were able to create a safe 12

SCHOOL VISITS 2022

UoN CHAPTER

By Felix Njoroge There is a wonderful feeling that comes with doing advocacy work. This sense of purpose is even stronger when it’s your first time in such a setting.

That’s pretty much how we would describe our school visits to Shadrack Kimalel Secondary School. Our first visit was on the 23rd of May 2022 where we introduced ourselves to the school administration and to the students. Courtesy of the guidance and counselling teacher, Mr Joshua Mboya, we were able to have a one-on-one session with the students just to get to hear what they thought about various SRHR issues. It was a nice blend of learning and fun activities that made it a comfortable environment for everyone to speak up.

The second visit was on the 21st of July 2022 and we finally launched the RESPEKT club at the school under the umbrella of Health Club. We managed to recruit 34 members (18 girls and 16 boys) into our

exciting club with the hope that this would sustain these important conversations on sexual and reproductive health issues affecting teenagers.

We’ll soon return with a curriculum to ensure we not only empower these students to speak up but we also equip them with knowledge to be able to make the best decisions for their own sake and their surrounding community. The future looks very bright for our chapter and our affiliated high school club.

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SCHOOL VISITS 2022

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CURRICULUM WALL Rewriting Our Story from...

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT TEAM

CURRICULUM AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT TEAM

IN STORE FROM US RESPEKT COMIC REWRITING

OUR

STORY.

RESPEKT TEENS BLOG

JOIN

US

!!

SRH AND CLIMATE CHANGE RESPEKT CHAT BOT RESPEKT CLUBS STRATEGY

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You can tell someone is pregnant by looking at their hands.

You can't get pregnant if you have sex during ovulation.

Courtesy of Curriculum & Knowledge Management Team

There is no reliable way to tell if someone is pregnant by looking at their hands. Some possible signs of pregnancy may include swelling in the hands or fingers, but this could also be due to other factors such as water retention or certain medical conditions. The only reliable way to determine pregnancy is through a medical examination or a pregnancy test.

Ovulation, or the release of an egg from the ovary, is the time when a woman is most fertile and has the highest chance of getting pregnant. Having sex during ovulation increases the likelihood of pregnancy, but it is not a guarantee.

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You can’t get pregnant if you have sex standing up This is not true. Pregnancy can occur regardless of the position in which sex is initiated. As long as there is a possibility of sperm reaching the egg, pregnancy can occur. It is important to use protection or contraception to prevent unintended pregnancies.

Contraceptives cause infertility.

Courtesy of Curriculum & Knowledge Management Team

Contraceptives do not cause infertility. In fact, they are designed to prevent pregnancy and therefore prevent fertility. Some contraceptives may temporarily halt ovulation or alter hormonal levels, but they do not permanently damage the reproductive system or cause infertility. Once a person stops using contraceptives, their fertility should return to normal.

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inTENse!

By Jackline Omongo 10 chapters! 10 days! 10 insightful discussions! The 2nd edition of the inTENse chat series that ran from 12th to 21st August 2022, was a massive success. We like to think we changed how the youth perceive matters SRHR since the feedback from the participants was highly encouraging.

The series brought together people from all parts of the country each day to discuss crucial thought provoking issues. The topics ranged from comprehensive sex education, to what most people don’t talk about: abortion. The WhatsApp groups were always at the maximum capacity of 513, with others even missing the opportunity to join.

All the 10 chapters got a chance to host a session, with their own speakers and moderators.The engagement of the participants was new and interesting each day, as each chapter had a fun and unique way of doing things.

By the time the series came to an end, a huge impact had been made.

The topics discussed were the following, arranged in order from day 1 to 10: 1. Role of SRHR in promoting mental health.

2. Contraceptive use in campus.

3. Weight of education in countering SRHR issues.

4. Abortion.

5. Global impact of overturning Roe vs Wade.

6. Comprehensive sex education.

7. Gender stereotyping.

8. Is sex abstinence still possible in this day and age?

9. Do men suffer from gender based violence?

10. Role of youth in SRHR advocacy.

10 Chapters! 10 Days! 10 Insightful Discussions!

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RESPEKT WEBINAR ADOLESCENT SRHR AS A POLITICAL PRIORITY

PANELISTS

The Zoom webinar was themed Adolescent SRHR as a political priority with the intention of

Bidian OkothWajibu Wetu Pamela ManteyDirector Programs (Pan African Female Youth Leaders) Cinamon NyagakaKEHSS

focusing on the political impact on matters pertaining to sexual and Reproductive Health Rights among Adolescents which is in line with the RESPEKT. The webinar was guided by questions that would the webinar meet its objective of understanding politics and SRHR among adolescents.

#wajibuwetuseries Some of the questions included: Challenges faced by adolescents when it comes to matters SRH- Education, current political commitments towards prioritization of adolescent SRHR, the impact of politics on SRHR and interventions at the national or global level, and how we can hold power to account when it comes to the advancement of SRHR. There were break-out sessions to engage and discuss countries that have been able to prioritize SRHR. Countries like Switzerland, Finland, and South Korea appeared to have made huge steps towards Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights not only in adolescents but also in maternal health care.

30th July 2022

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TOWNHALLS KISUMU

ELDORET

By EDWIN OBONDO

BY MONICA KITONGA

Maseno, Kisii and Uzima chapters co-hosted this event that was held on 8th October in Maseno University’s Amphitheatre. The theme was ‘Sexuality in the 21st Century’.

People turned up in large numbers, as ‘Sexuality in the 21st Century’ is a controversial issue in the current society.

Under this, Gender Based Violence, Toxic Masculinity and Feminism and LGBTQ were discussed. All these subthemes were panel based discussions, which was really engaging as the audience was able to contribute and ask questions they needed clarity on.

After the panel discussion, we had the day’s keynote speaker, Dr. Stellah Bosire, who is a human rights and gender expert, give a speech. .

The topic of discussion was Contraceptives.

There were 5 speakers; Chelsea Odera, Noela Mudunga, Claude Odayo and Sharon Kiptoo, with Mr. Bidian Nyamor filling in as the main speaker. The moderators were Faith Wafula Nelima and Angela Nambiru.

All other members from Moi chapter were actively involved in the planning. More than 80 people showed up for the discussion.

It was a learning experience. We started the event an hour later, which meant it ended an hour late, but it was totally worth it. It was a very educative session, and I personally learnt a lot of stuff I didn’t know about like the Reproductive health bill.

Most of the speakers were very relatable, and they approached the topics in a very creative way.'

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TOWNHALLS NAIROBI

BY FELIX MBURU It was only fitting that the culmination of the Town Hall series took place in the green city under the sun- Kanairo! This event took place at the Louis Leakey Auditorium, National Museum on 15th October. It was a collaboration of four chapters JKUAT, KU, MKU and UoN. The potent topic of discussion was “Youth and Governance”- a discussion for the youth by the youth.

Young people below the age of 35 years comprise 75% of the total population in Kenya. However, within the governance spaces there stands a huge chance that young people might be misrepresented and government policy might not be youthcentric. This forum was about how young people can take up their space and engage in active dialogue as key players in governance. Welcome to Nairobi Townhall.

Weighty discussions require weighty panels.

The youth and governance panel discussion consisted of: Mr. Bilian Ojiwa- a youth leader in UDA and a political activist, Ms. Angel Mbuthia- Ms President contestant and former student leader and Mr. Ken Ogembo from Siasa Place. This session was ably moderated by Ms. Cinamon Nyagaka from the KU chapter. The panel shared their views on various issues affecting the youth in governance and shared nuggets from their personal experience in leadership.

This panel discussion was followed by a keynote speech by Mr. Con Omore who is a governance advisor at the British High Commission. He not only gave tips for how the youth can involve themselves in leadership but also gave a list of contacts that can be of great help to the youth.

The second panel discussion was centred on the intersection between SRHR and mental health. This panel consisted of Dr. Serena Vulavu from team RESPEKT, Ms. Cheyenne Oyando- a mental health advocate from MKU and Ms. Rita from RHNK. This session was moderated by Ms. Joy Jama from the UoN chapter. The panellists discussed various mental health issues that affect young people of reproductive age and also how and where to get help. A very insightful session indeed!

The final act of the day was a keynote address

by Ms. Noelle Museshi on behalf of team RESPEKT. Mr. Thiga Muriuki then wrapped it all up with a vote of thanks. The emcees for the day were Mr. Daniel Mumo and Mr. Felix Mburu. Nairobi town hall was a great success and a great step towards getting the youth to speak up about issues that are important to them.

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TOWNHALLS

NAIROBI

KISUMU

ELDORET

PICTURE SPEAK

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ADVOCACY WALL A hanging on Joyce Karanja's wall Months after joining RESPEKT, I took my time to see what RESPEKT has been involved in over the years while also trying to understand the content they put out on their digital channels and how they interact with their audience. This helped me gain an understanding of how they run their online engagements. At this point, I decided to anxiously wait for the call for new Advocacy members.

Once the notice was put out, I immediately sent in my details for consideration for the position. I think the only other time(s) I have responded to a text that fast was when I was being asked whether I want food.

Within 2 weeks or so, I received the fantastic news that I had been picked among a few others as well. I was so ecstatic!

In the few months that I have been an Advocacy member, I have come to appreciate a couple of things.

To begin with, I truly enjoy the autonomy of the execution of tasks and projects. This has made me grow in ways that I could have only dreamed of at this point. For example, I was given the sole mandate to run the International Day of the Girl Child project that REOUR S T O R 11th.

Y. was held a few months ago on October I WRITING remember receiving that call a week or so to the actual day and all I was told was ‘That’s your day. You run with it’.

To be honest, I do not wear my heart on my sleeves and it can be hard to know what I am !!

J O I N at every moment U S but that phone call thinking really did send my mind into near panic mode.

I however made it happen one way or the other, employing my creative side into the making of a short video of our various team members about what the day meant to them.

The highlight of that project was the editing of the various clips into one video-one more skill in my books!

We Are All About

Stakeholder Mapping

Capacity Building

Creative Advocacy

Networking

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DENMARK

PARTNERSHIP SEMINAR center called Konventum Fadhila and Eugene came to Denmark 3 days before the seminar. On these days we showed them around in Copenhagen where we saw Christiania, Nyhavn, ate hot dogs, petted goats and went to see a drag show.

planned some activities for us. We had a “around the world” night where everybody was to make a presentation about their country. It could be a dance, a PowerPoint, a song, some snacks etc. We also had a farewell dinner and party.

Here we made funny hats, It was a one week seminar danced, played beer pong arranged by DUF (Dansk etc.

Ungdoms fællesråd) whose purpose was to get help in Every morning at the seminar writing our application for we had a morning check in the Youth Leader Exchange with our buddy groups where 3(YLE3). Besides writing the we were split up with people application we were from different projects. It was educated on project related really interesting to learn subjects like project design about the other projects and and management: Problem to meet other people analysis, objectives and engaged in cool international strategies, timeline etc. We projects.' also had sections about other subjects such as gender, volunteerism and youth influence and financial management. The speakers were mostly from DUF but we also had visits from the ministry of foreign affairs.

The seminar gave us new tools to work with. We made a time line for the YLE3 on the floor made of cardboards where we wrote the objectives and activities and also made a poster of what RESPEKT stands for.

BY FRIDA SKOVGAARD IMCC 'Fadhila, Eugene and Frida went for partnership seminar 3rd of May to 9th of May 2022. The seminar was held in Helsingør in the northern part of Zealand in Denmark in a conference On some nights, DUF had

''It was really interesting to learn about the other projects and to meet other people engaged in cool international projects.''

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DENMARK

FOLKEMØDE

BY KATRINE DOLBERG IMCC We had a really nice event talking about why it isn’t sexy to talk about sex. We started of with questions for the audience asking them whether they thought different stories/questions from school visits were from School in Kenya or Denmark.

It was really interesting to see what people voted and also just a really entertaining event in general.

Of course meeting the prime minister of Denmark was a highlight and also quite surprising since she apparently studied African studies and knew some Swahili . We also had a good time one evening dancing to music where our former minister of health was the DJ.

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THAILAND

ICFP 2022 were able to interact and network more closely with organisations from across the globe, where we shared our experiences and also learned from theirs. For example, I learnt how a group in India is conducting SRHR education using an automated chatbot, hence providing timely and easily accessible information to all.

Another from Malawi had set up youth friendly centres where SRHR is taught in the local communities without stigma.

We also got to network with some of the Kenyan SAMUEL MUGO that were 'The entire trip was nothing organisations present in the conference short of amazing! We started off by attending the 2 day such as APHRC Kenya. youth pre-conference, whose emphasis was on placing the Last but not least, we set some time for youth as a key stakeholder in aside sightseeing around Pattaya, the SRHR and UHC agenda.

We then had the other 4 days with a visit to the sanctuary to attend the main of truth, the big Buddha conference which was temple, terminal 21 and the adventures centre themed upon 3 words. ATV Innovate, Collaborate & amongst others.

Accelerate. We attended both All in all, it was indeed an the plenary and group amazing trip!' sessions where the conversation on Family Planning + UHC access to all, was discussed.

In the group sessions, we

FLORENCE VAN RIET 'Attending the International Conference on Family planning and being in Thailand itself has been an experience of a lifetime. It has been great meeting likeminded actors and advocates who are all passionate about creating change within the SRHR scene and to get inspired by each other. It was an honour and a proud moment for me alongside my two colleagues, Sam and Katrine to represent RESPEKT on a large international scale like the ICFP, which proves how far this project has come. The highlight of the trip at the ICFP was meeting and networking with Anne from APHRC and attending a session by Rutgers International.

For experiences in Thailand my favourite moment was visiting the Sanctuary of Truth, which is a famous temple that has left a huge impression on me.'

"We started off by attending the 2 day youth pre-conference, whose emphasis was on placing the youth as a key stakeholder in the SRHR and UHC agenda."

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YOUTH LEADERS 27

YOUTH LEADER EXCHANGE 3.0

BY DR. ANGIE NGUGI What is Youth Leader Exchange?

Youth Leader Exchange is a parallel project alongside the RESPEKT partnership project that sees volunteers from IMCC and RESPEKT, KENYA participate fulltime in the project to accomplish goals set for the project. At RESPEKT, we have had 3 Youth Leader Exchange programs with the selection basis being on availability and assessment following a call from the Project Coordination Committee. Applicants who are proactive in the project and have learnt skills in the project are most considered. As a youth leader in the project, I would like to emphasize that participation is key since the project provides many opportunities to add value to oneself and others.

Youth Leader Exchange 3.0 The Youth Leader program involves 2 Danish volunteers from IMCC and 3 Kenyan RESPEKT volunteers. The project was scheduled to begin on August 15th, 2022 to January 20th, 2023 with a one-month exchange for all the youth leaders in Denmark followed by a 4-month exchange in Kenya. This is a wonderful opportunity to network, contribute towards strengthening the project and for personal growth as well.

The application for the third phase of the program was submitted by June 1st, 2022 and with fingers crossed and bated breaths, we waited for its approval and a call was made. The selection committee forwarded the names that Daniel Mumo, Felix Njoroge and yours truly had been selected as the Kenyan Youth Leaders to join Matias Metcalf-Clausen (with the metcalves) and Katrine Dolberg from IMCC as Youth Leaders.

The dawn of July 5th had the project receiving the wonderful news that the grant was approved and plans to begin preparation for the exchange began!

A LITTLE SETBACK Attending the DUF seminar during the exchange period in Denmark is crucial to the Youth Leader program. This includes attending workshops that equip one with skills to enable the Youth Leaders to run their own project efficiently and contribute towards the Partnership Project.

Unfortunately, to the entire project’s dismay, the Kenyan Youth Leaders experienced visa rejections amid preparation for the exchange.

This was met with the 5 stages of grief (you know the ones?) and soon acceptance by the wise words of Lupe Fiasco, the show must go on.

We were able to jump over this hurdle by attending the workshops online and learning a lot from our Danish counterparts. The project took this in its stride and we continued to prepare for the second part of the exchange.

Experiences as Youth Leaders The Youth Leader exchange has been a great learning experience on my part. As a volunteer, it is easy to overlook most the work it takes into taking up an administrative role in the project. I have also had the opportunity to interact with people from different cultures and learn to accommodate them. My personal favorite has been how to learn to communicate openly while living and working together.

The beauty of taking up space and getting out of your comfort zone is a notable

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YOUTH LEADER EXCHANGE 3.0 positive experience that I have had the pleasure of having. I joined the project in my third year of medical school and I am currently a medical intern and I am delighted to share that the growth has been immense. As Youth Leaders, we try to keep our team spirit high and accommodate each other’s differences. We are currently in the phase of ensuring sustainability of the RESPEKT clubs and gearing up for Wajibu Wetu Summit at the end of the first quarter of 2023. The volunteers at RESPEKT have done a splendid job in ensuring the clubs were successfully launched in all the chapters.

The reception to this from the schools that we visit has been great and the teenagers feel like they have a safe space that is not only provided on the occasions that we do the school visits. We also just wrapped up

Dr. Angie Ngugi

a successful Training of Trainers for the club patrons from the chapters to spearhead these activities during the start of the next year.

I would like to urge all RESPEKT volunteers to seize the opportunity bestowed upon them by the project and also not to feel jaded when you receive a rejection when applying for opportunities. Mastering the art of resilience is mostly why I applied for Youth Leader 3 despite having applied twice before. The project has a plethora of good opportunities that all the volunteers from the various chapters can impound.

The impact that we have made as a project is enormous and I cannot wait for everyone to see what Wajibu Wetu Summit, 2023 has in store for RESPEKT, THE MISSION.

Matias Metcalf

Daniel Mumo

Katrine Dolberg

Felix Njoroge

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MY EXPERIENCE WITH YOUTH LEADERS WENT SOMEHOW LIKE THIS...

My most interesting moment is when I found out that one of the Youth Leaders (Matias) speaks French. It was such a wild discovery and we ended up having almost a full conversation (en Français), while everyone was just staring and watching. It was quite awkward, but considering the fact that French makes me feel extra alive, it was truly one of my highlights.

I feel like I got to improve my interpersonal skills when I facilitated a Communication Workshop where they were part of the audience. Would I do this again? Bien sûr! I would definitely do it again.

By Joy Jama-Respekt Volunteer Who is a youth leader? What constitutes a good youth leader? This current crop of youth leaders is a great bunch, a team that conquers both mountains and savanna in the same breath, a team that swims with dolphins and watches football together, the life of the party wherever they are. I’m impressed by how they have managed to execute their duties in time and within their budgets, as well as push one another out of their comfort zones. I’m not so sure I can summarize my thoughts on them within the word limit that I have, but I’ll tell you one thing for sure, these guys are freshi barida, noma sana.

By Dr. Serena Vulavu-Respekt Advisory

I had a wonderful time meeting Angie the other day. Despite the fact that we were complete strangers, the conversation flowed naturally and we ended up chatting for almost an hour. It was so refreshing to meet all the youth leaders and have such an enjoyable and engaging conversation with them. I left the interaction feeling uplifted and grateful for the opportunity to connect with other people in such a meaningful way.

By Tyler Kamamia-Respekt Volunteer

The Beginning of YLE 3 ushered a dynamic team of fantastic five who true to the name come as a package of totally different individuals yet similar.

They are the five friends whom anyone in the project would relate to.They would start with a reel from Felix (Billie Eilish) where the transition would become a prelude into the bang they had come with. It's a fun team to be around whose escapades, fun times, project works and ultimately their allegiances to the different just concluded world cup teams can be tracked via their IG Channel. I would summarize the experience of their presence as epic.

By Thiga Muriuki-Respekt Volunteer

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Volunteer Articles

SEXUAL VIOLENCE

BY PASCALIA MBITHE KIOKO

If not the suicidal thoughts, the vengeancefilled hearts, They seek a place that gives them inner peace, Sometimes they land in wrong places, Just to escape that 'moment of thought' That moment that brings back the old bad memories That brings back the pain, the sorrows As a result of sexual violence.

Then society starts to blame its characters While it is the cause of this disaster.

Then the victims feel over-abused, overused, And they are left with two choices To either give up or get up✌️ Let's say No to sexual violence,

What if people judge me...

What if no one believes me...

What if no one listens to me...

How are we supposed to end this when no one is willing To listen, To believe, To take action against sexual violence.

The few are the guilty offenders that are taken into custody, But many are those that go free on bail, Many are those that are innocent and serving in jail.

Society has decided to do nothing, They just want to get done with the storylines.

No one wants to listen to the victims' voices, Shame is filled among the elders.

Then I ask myself, who/what will the victim to,

Give an ear to the victims, Just for them to feel that justice has been served For their heart to be at peace.

Just like before, no just change has been done to bring an impact in society on matters concerning sexual violence, Victims of sexual violence suffer in silence, Voices are not heard, words are not pronounced well, They all live in fear of 'what if'...

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Volunteer Articles

My name is flower...

BY SYLVIA NTAMWINJA

My name is Flower I just blossomed into a teenager With my breast full I am very beautiful But one pain in me.

How society views me.

Every month, I experience one tough week.

But no one seems to understand, My red is not shameful Rather my red is beautiful As natural as tears flow due to excitement or pain So Is my red beautiful Today I caution the naughty ones,

I almost forgot the pain, My stomach hurts so bad, I was so scared of even speaking it out, The teacher kept asking me questions in class, I was not daydreaming, was just in pain.

Then my friend Angel tells me maybe I was pregnant, But how or was it something I could ingest as food?

I had so many fears and questions, At first, I thought I was dying I remember my eyes sore from crying If only I knew I was just growing, Just blossoming, I am a flower remember?

I wish mum or dad Big brother or big sister had told me more earlier.

Who await my stained dress or skirt, In order to laugh at me or shame me.

Stop from today Understand that my red is normal Not a source of reproach And to mums and dads,

Anyways today is a bright day, No sad memories but Let's learn Tell my little sisters out there Their red is beautiful too.

Please check up on us your daughters, Mum or Dad do you know if I'm growing?

Take time to ask and teach me.

If you don't who will?

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Volunteer Articles

Till family do us part

BY LAURA NYIHA

To all the times You were not a priority All those times I locked you out Thought to myself I could do without you Went out and about A happy lad With caution to the wind They warned me against you Like a mother warns her daughter about certain men Sometimes I wanted you Inside I felt I would do better with you around But around me he didn’t want you And between you and him I choose him, of course I love every bit of it I actually might be on the upper scale I want you around But I need to stop thinking about you in the heart of it I need a safety net To catch me I don’t mind if you end up trapping me

I am very big on compatibility They will tell you If our vibes don’t match I want a way out I hope we become compatible That you will know my body in ways not known to others That synergy will be our collaborative theme.

I want to spend holidays with you Breakfast dates with you (You will learn that I enjoy a good handful of those) I hope you are kind to my body And when I am ready to have little ones Little gents and little ladies That you will understand when I say my goodbyes I pray you don’t suck at those You will have served me right And on my gratitude list You

will

appear,

written

boldly-

CONTRACEPTIVES

I am down for it.

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MINDING OUR HEALTH

I SAID NO!

By JACKLINE OMONGO

By JARED RONOH

I said NO! His grip is too tight on my

Mental health and SRHR challenges are

arm, his fingertips digging in. I look up at

on the same side of the global sphere of

the man, my mind struggling to process

concern today. Mental health problems

it all. He looks like a good man! The

may have consequences that interfere

fatherly kind. But his eyes! God his eyes.

with responsibilities and relationships.

Sexual and reproductive health challenges

Let me go! I plead silently, words unable

(early and unwanted pregnancy), HIV, and

to leave my mouth. My whole body is

gender-based violence significantly

trembling, I’m getting light-headed, my

determine the quality of life of an

legs barely able to support me.

individual.

Please let me go! Please! But of course

The state of mind in making informed

the words don’t come. He drags me

choices determines the success of

behind the deserted building, where it’s

interventions to better their sexual and

dark. His hands grab my flimsy dress,

reproductive health. One with sub-optimal

tearing it apart, leaving me naked. He

health will less likely to incorporate safe

pushes me to the ground. The impact

and responsible sexual behavior.

barely registers. All of a sudden I lose the ability to breathe, think; my panic attack

Enhanced integration of mental health

kicking in. I. CANT. BREATHE. I’m numb.

education alongside literacy on existing

As I start losing consciousness, I see him

sexual and reproductive programs will

quickly unbuckling his belt, a crazed look

improve outcomes. With recognition of

on his face. NO! NO! PLEASE DON’T DO

this importance, SRHR advocates and

THIS! I SAID NO! My eyes plead silently. A

relevant stakeholders have to proactively

lone tear rolls down my cheek, and at

work on their role. This will enable

the back of my mind, I hear someone

individuals to cope with life challenges

calling out my name.

and engage their peers to better our

‘ALYSSA!!!’

society.

Dad… I black out.

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Volunteer Articles

I AM A WOMAN

OLD MAN THE WORLD IS DYNAMIC…

By LYNETTE JEBBY I am a woman, a mother, an aunt, a sister, a daughter, a niece I am a woman who is hissed at and tormented

By ELIUS CHIRCHIR The low-sloping figure shuffles away slowly, His massively wrinkled face, shaking from side to side disapproving, The two boys look at each other, with looks of understanding, He is too conservative.

Old man, circumcising a girl is no longer useful Barbaric it is instead and very shameful It is no longer a beauty emblem but now a nationwide problem, Look here old man, the world is dynamic Must you rejoice when your brother is dead, So that you replace his position in bed, And give his wife a new home, Arguing that you are keeping his family aflame, Look here old man, the society is dynamic Is your daughter a trade commodity That you praise her to show her validity Your aim to attain a fair pay

every day I am a woman who gets stressed every morning before leaving her house, Who cannot dress without being tagged or judged.

I am a woman who suffers daily from touching, harassment, and insistent glances full of innuendo.

I am a woman, hooted, scorned, despised, because she is not married, because she chooses to live alone.

I am a mistreated, harassed, abused woman who is chased away when she cannot give birth.

I am a woman for whom the roof of her house is no longer a shelter.

I am a woman who endures her marital duty instead of enjoying it.

I am a woman who is mutilated from childhood, condemned to forego my sexual pleasure.

I am a woman whose intelligence is ignored to the benefit of my looks.

I am a woman who has been taught to be silent, to bow my head, to resign myself I SAY NO! I am a woman who says NO; I say no to you

Look here old man, the world is dynamic 35

Volunteer Articles

OUR LITTLE GIRL NEVER TO

By STEPHEN JOEL I watched it all Through the window

LEAVE MY MIND

Like an invisible spirit

By DAPHINE TUSINGWIRE

Watching her unseen

Less addressed yet more necessary Family planning, maternity care, gender-based

I heard her call

violence

Puss! Puss!

Adolescent reproductive health, HIV and AIDS

Her voice was cute Her eyes adorable The cute kitten came along And the cute child petted it Warm feelings fluttered my heart

and safe abortion Highly important to a girl child, required at all ages but the earlier the better Fighting stigma, everyone's responsibility Watching women lack freedom of personal

Warm feelings that melt my heart

autonomy, not my share

Until the kitten had had enough

As time passed, I was 14

And wanted to go away

Excited to be a teenager

But the child would not let it

Adolescence, a happy stage I had joined

A struggle was underway

Having not been the first, I too knew it would end

The kitten became desperate The child became frustrated Anger flashed in her eyes And her face became cruel

Not long in the year, my own blood mistreated me My own blood came out with pain In the stories I was told, sex cured the pain

She held it down by the neck

A young man would rub my tears!

And crushed its airway

Out of the action we both enjoyed, I cried alone

It squeaked and squealed in pain

Last month was the first and last time I saw

But she killed it anyway

blood for the next 9 months

I was filled with horror For this scene was familiar John had squeezed my airway Just the same way The beer sent him to the grave

At the end of the empty months, I became a mother Rejected at home, I got out of school and in deep regret, was forced to get married

But still he haunted me

My current description is poverty

And worst of all today

It will never leave my mind

Through our little girl!

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Volunteer Articles

COMMON SRHR-RELATED DISEASES SRHR-related Diseases of Bacterial origin They include: Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Syphilis, Bacterial

vaginosis,

Lymphogranuloma

venereum and Chancroid.

They have common manifestations including pelvic pain, abnormal vaginal discharges,

By MARY MUENI MUTUA

inter-menstrual bleeding, pain or irritation

SRHR– related Diseases of Viral Origin.

associated with urination, or even painful sex.

Some of these diseases if untreated may cause infertility. Regular screening can help detect when an infection is asymptomatically present.

They

are

transmissible

through

various routes like unprotected sex (Anal {hence

rectum

female

genitalia

infected}, infected},

vaginal

{hence

oral

{throat

infection}). MTCT can also happen during pregnancy, labor, or while nursing. These routes are dependent on the type of infection.

Bacterial diseases are treatable and therefore this calls for regular screening, early diagnosis,

They include: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection, herpes genitalis, and HIV infection.

Despite having manifestations in other organs, they are transmitted through the sexual route, among other routes. Most viral diseases are self-limiting. However, some subsets can establish permanent infection and persist indefinitely in the human body.

Some of the causative viruses are oncogenic and are therefore associated with cancers for instance Cervical and penile cancers in HPV and Hepatocellular Carcinoma in HBV.

and adequate medication.

SRHR–related Diseases of Parasitic origin.

They include: Trichomoniasis.

Risk factors include multiple sexual partners and unprotective sex.

It causes foul-smelling vaginal discharge, genital itching, and painful urination in women,

mostly

asymptomatic

in

men.

What if we have protected sex, what if we go for guidance and counseling, what if we go for screening regularly, what if we take medication as prescribed, what if you love your neighbor as you love yourself?

LET US WATCH OUT. DO NOT SPREAD DISEASES.

Pregnant women are at risk of premature delivery.

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RESEARCH WALL EVIDENCE BASED INTERVENTIONS

SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

RESEARCH The Research Department recently conducted a small survey during the town halls that brought together university students from all faculties. The aim being to have a glimpse on their behavior and attitudes on key aspects in SRHR.

RESULTS 85% of the respondents knew their current HIV status.

Over 50% admitted being sexually active 80% of them were not on any contraceptive A quarter admitted being victims of GBV Almost all respondents recognized the contribution of SRHR issues in mental health

RECOMMENDATIONS 1. A proper scientific study to probe deeper on the above key issues 2. More efforts in creating awareness, supporting the victims as well as calling the perpetrators of GBV 3. Probe to understand the reasons behind the low levels of contraceptive use It is worth noting that the findings shared above do not reflect a proper scientific study thus not fit to be used as a scholarly article 38

RESPEKT DAY

THEME: GENDER EQUALITY 39

T H E R ES PEK T CONF ER ENCE By: Kelvin Thiga The Organizing committee comprises RESPEKT Volunteers drawn from her local Chapters

RESPEKT Conference 2023 will be a three day event, in three different regions focusing on three different aspects of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) that is Curriculum, Research and Advocacy. Dates are as follows; 13th March -Kisumu @ Grand Royal Swiss Hotel.

15th March -Eldoret @ Boma inn Hotel.

17th March -Nairobi @ Safari Park Hotel.

As a social project that seeks to Inspire change by being a role model organization that promotes youth participation in advocating for SRHR awareness in Kenya we ought to align with the SDGs with a focus on Goals 3, 4, 5, 10, 13 and 17. No better way to

The Sub Themes will include; Reducing

start the conversation than the RESPEKT

Inequalities in SRHR through Leveraging

Conference 2023 that will focus on the Last

partnership, Conceptualising SRHR as a

Mile in Achieving SDG related Sexual and

shared Responsibility Between Men and

Reproductive Health Targets. We aim at

Women While advancing Male

promoting the understanding of the related

engagement in SRHR and Improving

SDG content and scope and advocate for

school-based and out of school

their domestication and implementation.

comprehensive Sexuality education for

Moreover we aim to intensify evidence-

adolescents and young people for the

based advocacy to engage stakeholders and

Kisumu, Eldoret and Nairobi

decision makers.

Conferences Respectively.

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WHAT PREVIOUS DELEGATES HAVE TO SAY

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E H T

T K E P S E R EENS T For the teens, by the teens.

A platform that will showcase articles, poems and artwork from the teens so that they can have a say in SRHR matters.

And also make it more fun👌

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REACH US ON... publications@respekt.or.ke kenyaimccglobal@gmail.com respekt_kd Respekt_kd

Respekt_kd RESPEKT KD

Stay Tuned For More From the REKORD Team!

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