For many young people, accessing accurate information and essential health services can be difficult. Fear of stigma, judgment, misinformation and uncertainty can prevent young people from asking questions or seeking the support they need.
HP4Youth is helping to change that.
Through youth-focused forums in Naivasha, HP4Youth creates safe, welcoming spaces where young people can access information, speak openly with trained professionals and make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.
At the heart of the initiative is Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) awareness, with a focus on issues that directly affect young people, including:
- Family Planning
- SRHR Awareness
- HIV Testing and Prevention
- Mental Health Support
- Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Awareness
Rather than simply providing information, the forums create opportunities for young people to ask questions, share their experiences and access services in an environment designed to make them feel respected and supported.
Reaching More Young People
The impact of HP4Youth can be seen in the number of young people reached during its major engagement periods.
Among young people under 24 years, the initiative recorded:
| Month | Females | Males | Total Youth Reached |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | 339 | 252 | 591 |
| August | 439 | 268 | 707 |
From April to August, the number of young people reached increased from 591 to 707, representing 116 additional young people reached during the August engagement period.
The figures also show continued engagement from both young women and young men, demonstrating the importance of creating inclusive youth spaces where everyone can access relevant health information and support.
Family Planning: Replacing Fear With Information
For some young people, seeking family planning services can come with fear of being judged because of their age.
HP4Youth addresses this challenge by providing young people with an opportunity to learn about different family planning options from friendly professionals in a youth-focused environment.
As Njeri, 20, from Ngondi, shared:
“As a young person, we face stigmatization from the people around us for getting a family planning method at a young age, so having a youth-only event feels like a safe. Being taught about the different options by friendly professionals without being looked at weirdly.”
Her experience highlights why youth-friendly spaces matter. When young people feel safe asking questions, they are better positioned to access accurate information and make informed choices about their health.
HIV Testing: Turning Anxiety Into Confidence
HIV testing can be intimidating, particularly for a young person who may be worried about what the results could mean.
HP4Youth provides an opportunity for young people to access HIV testing alongside information about prevention and healthy choices.
For Moses, 22, from Miti Mingi, the experience helped replace fear with confidence:
“Walking into a hospital for HIV testing usually feels scary because you have no idea what the results will turn out to be. But the team here made me feel completely confident to take the test and taught me how to protect myself from getting HIV/AIDS.”
His words demonstrate the importance of combining services with reassurance, education and supportive interaction. For young people, a positive experience can make seeking health services feel less intimidating.
Mental Health: Making Room for Conversations
Young people face a range of pressures as they navigate school, relationships, family expectations, employment and adulthood.
Mental health support is therefore an important part of creating a holistic youth health programme.
By providing spaces where young people can speak openly and seek guidance, HP4Youth helps make conversations around mental wellbeing more approachable.
The goal is simple: young people should have a place where they can ask for help without feeling judged or dismissed.
GBV Awareness: Recognizing Abuse and Finding Support
Gender-based violence can take many forms, and young people may not always recognize when behaviour within a relationship or household has crossed the line into abuse.
Through GBV awareness and counselling, HP4Youth helps young people understand warning signs, learn about their rights and identify pathways to support.
For Grace, 18, from Eburru, visiting the GBV counselling tent became an opportunity to understand her own experience and speak about challenges she had been facing:
“I visited the GBV counselling tent and I learnt when how to know when I'm being abused in a relationship or even at home and I was able to open up about my issues at home.”
Grace's experience reflects the importance of creating safe environments where young people can speak about difficult experiences and learn that support is available.
More Than Numbers: The People Behind the Impact
The April and August figures tell an important story of reach, but the real impact of HP4Youth goes beyond the numbers.
591 young people reached in April.
707 young people reached in August.
Behind every number is a young person who may have asked a question, received health information, accessed a service, learned about their rights, opened up about a personal challenge or gained the confidence to seek help.
The increase in engagement between April and August reflects the value of continued youth-focused outreach and the importance of bringing relevant services closer to young people.
Building a Healthier Future With Young People
HP4Youth is built around a simple but powerful idea: young people deserve access to accurate information, respectful services and safe spaces where they can be heard.
Whether a young person is seeking information about family planning, taking an HIV test, looking for mental health support or learning how to recognize and respond to GBV, the ability to access support without fear of judgment can make a meaningful difference.
As the initiative continues, the focus remains on reaching more young people, strengthening awareness and ensuring that youth in Naivasha have opportunities to make informed decisions about their health and future.
HP4Youth is not just about reaching young people. It is about listening to them, supporting them and empowering them to make informed choices.
And with every conversation, every service accessed and every young person who feels safe enough to speak up, a healthier and more empowered future becomes possible.