Enhance (mental) health of 1,358 Kenyan youths

Impact
“Out of ignorance, the availability of drugs in the area and the influence of peers, I started smoking bhang’ (marijuana) at the age of 12. I became rude to my teachers and started stealing money and family property for drugs. After four years, I couldn't control my emotions anymore, and became violent. Everyone, including my family at home, became afraid of me and I decided to go to the city and live on the streets. I joined a group of drug addicts and criminals. We did terrible things. We were experts in pickpocketing and raping women and girls. Fighting with the police became our daily routine. One day, however, the police caught us smoking bhang'. In the ensuing fight we wounded one of them and they started firing. A bullet missed me by a hair. I panicked: What should I do now? I decided to go back home where I met my old friends and continued to use drugs. My parents were not happy at all, we were always arguing, were enemies. Then KAP came and invited me and my friend to come to the workshop. We thought we would get money. However, what we got was more valuable. There were moving lessons about drug addiction, HIV/AIDS and life skills, and there was free interaction between the participants. I came to my senses. I felt guilty about what I had done to my mother by hitting her with a chair. Also, my behavior has brought my parents stomach ulcers and high blood pressure. After the training and one-on-one guidance counselling I managed to become human again. I'm working hard to quit drugs, build trust, and improve communication at home. My parents are very touched that I now help them on the farm. I want to become a role model and reach out to others who experience the same challenges of drug addiction.”

Project Activities from March through June 2023
Due to lack of time for GlobalGiving fundraising activities, recent activities for this project have been limited. In addition, as happens with the youths in our areas, many of them moved on to other areas either for studies or in search of work. 
Thus only few activities could be implemented, whilst the advanced phases of our trainings are also reaching their end. 
The activities that took place were:

1. Two Refresher Workshops in Matisi: One at Nyota Centre, and one at the Exodus Academy on the 19th January 2023 (late payment)
2. One Refresher Workshop for our already graduated Unreached Youths in the Bidii area on the 26th May 2023 for 15 participants.
3. One TOT (Community Trainer Anthony Barasa) was engaged in the above.

There also were several participants who underwent one-on-one counselling sessions. 

Challenges
Whereas those community resource persons attending KAP's activities remained interested and enthusiastic, mainly due to relocation their numbers dwindled.
Also GlobalGiving's funds diminished. It has therefore become time to move ahead to a new target group and focus area, whilst keeping in touch with those in need of our attention in our 'old' groups. 

The Next Step
First of all KAP will prepare a plan for new activities and a new budget to raise funds for their implementation. Based on this, fundraising activities through GlobalGiving will be organised and implemented!
Consequently it will mobilise its communities and hold a new training for (a) new group(s) of Unreached Youths, and a limited Advanced Training for those Youths Volunteers still available. This will once again include core trainings and a variety of follow-up activities and those for 'passing on their message(s)". 

We are soon looking forward to finalising this project, and welcoming a new, fresh group of aspiring Volunteers!

We take the opportunity to very warmly thank all of you for helping us to help the Unreached Youths in Trans Nzoia County in west-Kenya!
Without you, this would not have been possible.

• Financial Report July 2023 (PDF)