Youth for Change Action Group (Yofcag)

INTRODUCTION

 Youth for Change Action Group (Yofcag) was started in 2001 and registered with the Ministry of Culture and Social Services in 2003 as a community based organization, registration Certificate No.050. The organization was founded by a group of youths drawn from the 4 divisions of Kikuyu District.Youth for Change Organized Themed Walk.
Its formation was necessitated by the youth’s realization that they needed an avenue through which they could address the myriad issues affecting their lot and the larger community in the District. These issues include;-

1.    Governance and leadership
2.    Health
3.    Education &Information dissemination
4.    Environment
5.    Positive recreation

Yofcag works with young people across the board to equip them with the relevant information to empower and build their capacities to be responsible citizens.
Through key partnerships we have continuously expanded our service delivery and improved our range of interventions to include children and caregivers.

MISSION
To create an enabling environment where youths can meet and access information pertaining to them.

VISION
A molded empowered self reliant and well informed youth

GOAL
The overall goal of the organization is to empower and encourage the youth to fully take charge of their lives and live responsibly in order to realize their full potential.

MOTTO
Arise and make a change

OUR VALUES
Our organization operates on the following key values.
1    Integrity
2    Impartiality
3    Justice & fairness

OBJECTIVES
1.    Advocate and create awareness on health issues.
2.    Develop and strengthen youth capacity in leadership and good governance at local,      .  .      county and national level.
3.    Disseminate information and promote access to quality education.
4.    Engage young people in environmental conservation and protection.
5.    Promote positive leisure recreation among the youth.

PROGRAMS
Yofcag develops programs that take into account the holistic needs of the young     people.  The program revolves around the five thematic areas mentioned above. All our programs are designed and implemented through youth friendly and on human rights based approaches.

a)    EDUCATION AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION

•    Resource Centre (on-going)
We have a free youth  resource center in which the youths in particular and  the general public can get information on diverse issues including Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS, Drug Abuse, Human Rights, Environment and current issues in the newspapers and magazines. We also distribute IEC materials, Condoms to other organizations and individuals. The resource centre is also packed with books   and e-books and audio visual tapes. Other information is also disseminated through the social media e.g. facebook, twitter, blogs etc.
•    Education
We are running a nursery school in a local public school and lending books to the community members.
Current program:
1.    Integrated Orphan and Vulnerable Children support program funded by GRACE-Africa
We are currently implementing an early childhood development centre for the orphaned and vulnerable where we are offering nutrition, education and after school support for the caregivers.

b)    HEALTH
•    HIV/AIDS and adolescent/youth reproductive health
In this program, we create awareness on HIV/AIDS and promote behavior change among the youth through various means such as peer education, mobile VCTs and condom distribution. We also tackle other health issues such as drug and substance abuse among the youth and advocate for youth friendly health services and centers.
Activities
.    Ado-clubs
.    Forums
.    Walks
.    Medical camps

Current program:
1.    Ado-clubs which is currently self sponsored.
We provide information about adolescent reproductive health in which we have what we call “ADO-CLUB” in various primary schools within Kikuyu Constituency.
2.    Counseling and testing for general public which is funded by National Aids Control council.

c)    GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP
•    Human Rights, social justice and governance &democracy
We promote human rights, social justice and good governance through civic education. We lobby and advocate  for youth participation and involvement in leadership structures locally and nationally.

Activities
•    Open forums
•    Walks and demonstration
•    Trainings
•    Video shows/theatre.

 Current program:
3.    Peace program funded by Amkeni wa Kenya –UNDP (CSDG-facility) which is a civic education project that started in January 2010. We thereafter changed the project approach to address pre and post referendum issues in relation to the new constitution.

d)    ENVIRONMENT
We promote environmental conservation and protection at local and National levels.
Activities   
•    Tree planting
•    Clean ups.
•    Use of green energy e.g. solar

e)    POSITIVE RECREATION PROGRAM
This program involves encouraging the youth to spend their leisure time positively through organizing themed camps, hikes, walks and picnics. We also do community service by visiting children’s homes, home for the aged, hospitals and offering our services as first aiders.

Challenges
•    Inadequate funds for our projects
•    Inadequate resource materials such us books, tapes, cds
•    Limited Capacity for our members/volunteers
•    High rate of Turn over of our members.
•    Lack of continuous partnership for tangible and sustained results.

Achievements

•    Training o peer educators on HIV/AIDs, peace advocates and entrepreneurship within Kikuyu District.
•    Annual walks advocating for access to adolescence sexual reproductive health information, HIV/aids 2004, 2005, 2006- mobilizing of 800 community members per walk.
•    Distribution of various HIV/aids IEC materials(on going)
•    Dissemination of adolescent reproductive health and development policy.
•    Free Youth Resource Centre(the only one in Kikuyu District)
•    Older orphans support (6 college scholarships)
•    Being a civic education provider during the referendum in 2005 and 2010
•    Community service at children homes, Kikuyu Hospital, Thogoto home for the aged, Dagorreti children home, dada’s Limuru and clean ups
•    Training of our members as first aiders--St Johns Ambulance.
•    Arise newsletter
•    Leisure themed activities on HIV/aids. i.e. hikes and picnics
 

CONTACTS

Our partners
NACC, G.R.A.C.E Africa, UNDP, UNFPA, YOUTH AGENDA, Henry Wanyoike Foundation, WERK, SAFARICOM LTD, PCEA Kikuyu Mission Hospital – CBHC and other local organizations. We are open to creating more new partnerships,

Contacts
Youth for Change Action Group .
 Po box 945-00902
 Kikuyu, Kenya
 Tel: +254 0202065936,720 744 938, 723 887 250, 726 486784
 Email: Yofcag@yahoo.com, yofcag@gmail.com

Physical Address
Piazza Arcade 1st floor Rm 6 next to Kobil Petrol Station   Makutano-Kikuyu Town

 Contact Person
 Paul Mwendia -0723 887 250, 0721 249 468

OVC Care givers after preperation of ECD Kitchen GardenSenior Chief awarding Certificates to participants of Youth Peer Peace Advocates Training.Youth for Change Free Resource CentreOrphans and Vulnerable Children at Kahuho Youth for Change ECD Centre during a P.E. LessonMember of the public at Youth for Change Stand during Civil Society Week in NakuruChiefs from Kikuyu District collecting copies of draft constitution at Youth for Change OfficesMembers of Youth for Change taking part in Stand up Campaign Youth for Change members at who participated in Longonot Peace HikeYouth for Change Members Performing in a Youth Open DayParticipants Receiving Certificates after undergoing a Peer Educators Training organized by Youth for ChangeOrphans and Vulnerable Children at Kahuho Youth for Change ECD Centre during a P.E. LessonOne of the ECD ClassroomsOVCs during Porridge breakYouth for Change Life skills Trainer taking Kikuyu Township Secondary School through a Peer Education SessionMembers of Public at Youth for Change Stand during Civil Society Week - Nakuru

 

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