When young people have just graduated from high school having been in a boarding, they come to the outside world with utmost expectations like enrolling in a University to further their education so as to get employed of course in a prestigious company or organization, probably an international organization.

A lot is put at hand, but the fears of not realizing all this is never vague on their minds until the days, weeks and months pass by after they acquire their certificates. Then they realize that all is not on a silver platter.

During this time, while trying to secure employment there may be a lot of idleness observed and exposure to risks in situations like unwanted behaviors in the community, exposure to HIV/Aids, unwanted pregnancies and STD’s.

It is this focus relating to HIV/AIDS that became my concern as I saw my fellow colleagues losing hope in all after learning of their HIV+ status. Passionately through the information I gained on matters relating to the fight and stigma towards HIV/AIDs, I managed to bring together young people both infected and affected with HIV/AIDS to be empowered and to be able to reach out to their fellow youth.

The motive was to create a forum where youth infected and affected by HIV/AIDS could come together and freely share their problems with their fellow youths in a friendly and conducive atmosphere devoid of any stigma, discrimination and rejection.

The Mission is to empower youths in the fight against HIV and AIDS by involving them actively and directly, through the advocacy of positive behavior change among them, at the same time building their capacity economically through the creation of sustainable income generating activities with the aim of eradicating poverty.

This initiative has given me a lot of satisfaction and more of a reason to wake up in the morning meeting young people and listening to them outsourcing for resources in terms of trainings, internships, access to loans and more so building their capacity and skills to improve my community. Currently with a record of 60 empowered young people, I am very much encouraged to do more as we all know the struggle continues.

My fellow youth what about you? Let us know and how we can help