Using the power of soccer to fight HIV/AIDS

The  7^th annual AidEx summit was held in Nairobi as from 14-15^th June hosted at safari park hotel.As the satelite event of AidEx in Geneva,the summit brought on board 400 representatives from humanitarian aid,disaster relief,and international development community.Attendees included senior decision-makers active in Africa,with significant participation from UN agencies,local and international NGOs,government,donors and private sector.The summit created an atmosphere of networking,sharing of best practices,knowledge sharing and learnings across organizations and summit attendees.

 Business Training Recruitment

A total of 25 girls and young mothers who are graduates of VAP’s sexual health and reproductive awareness program were recently recruited into various vocational training courses of their own choices.Empowered with lifeskills education in their respective communities and schools,the group were taken through career awareness forum to have a candid discusion with various invited tutors and business professionals in collaboration with VAP coaches who took them through challenges and successes of their chosen careers.The forum was held at VAP’s new facility ‘Youth Empowerment Centres’ that’s still under construction which also has an up coming unit for vocational training and a gender based violence recovery unit that would provide a safe place for victims of GBV to acquire lifeskills and employment and entrepreneurship pathways.

With the shocking statistics of 98 new HIV infections recorded every week among adolescent of age 10-19 years announced by the Kenyan ministry of health,VAP is accelerating its fight against HIV amongst the youth in different schools and communities through its SKILLZ Kenya program.The football-themed program which is implemented as an after-school program targets both boys and girls from across primary and secondary schools.Implemented by local trained community coaches with community role model status,at risk participants by using the words they understand and spoken by people they respect.Participants exposed to Skillz Kenya program retain knowledge-and go out and teach others.

 Learning And Sharing Best Practices

Four representatives from Amazing Girls project based in Nanyuki had a two days learning and networking at VAP’s programs.The first day meeting held at VAP offices was focused on  getting to know each other,sharing program information,best practices while the second day program was more of outdoor activities with the participants,making interactions and learning practically how VAP uses sports as a catalyst for social and economic transformation.Amazing Girls Project creates education and running opportunities for smart,ambitious Maasai women in Kenya who lack the financial resources to attend school.The project champions the sisterhood of Amazing girls to help bring social and economic change to their communities and future lives.