DOREEN MAGHANGA

Absolutely inspiring, Peris! Your dedication proves that true empowerment creates ripples of change; lifting girls, strengthening communities, and shaping a brighter future. Keep leading with courage and vision, because when adolescent girls and young women rise, the world rises with them. We at the @RisingWinners #HerSpaceProject, through the @HerVoiceFund, stand with you on this transformative journey. Go champion, go; you’ve got this! #HerSpaceKilifi #AGYWChampions #HerVoiceKilifi #TGSmombasani #GirlSummit2025 #GirlsLead #CommunityTransformation @StretchersYouth @kilifi_youth @AngazaKilifi @MariakaniY @KaloleniG @KilifiGender @KilifiCountyGov @ypluskenya

We did it 🥳🥳

Hurrah! We did it today peers! Today, we brought together seventy (70) young people and key community leaders — including representatives from the Office of the MP, MCA, and the Chief — to mark International Youth Day 2025 under the global theme: "Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond." We reflected on a vital truth: many young people are still finding their path in understanding how to make a lasting, positive impact in their communities. In Kilifi County, localizing the SDGs means adapting global aspirations to our unique realities — and this dialogue was a step forward. 💡 Highlights: ✅ Youth-led dialogue reimagining development in Kilifi South Subcounty, Mtepeni Ward and beyond ✅ Panel discussions on SDGs, Kenya Vision 2030, the Kilifi County Integrated Development 2023-2027 and youth driven solutions ✅ Youth presentations on local development ✅ Pledges from leaders and youth to take action going forward We are proud to have created a space where the voices of Adolescent Girls & Young Women (AGYW) and Adolescent Boys & Young Men (ABYM) stood side by side with chiefs, religious leaders, and government representatives — building a shared vision for Kilifi South Sub county’s future and beyond #IYD2025 #LocalizingSDGs #HersPaceKilifi #HerVoiceMatters #RisingWinners #PositiveYouthDevelopment #YouthMatter #AGYWMatter #Youth2030 #YouthEmpowermentKilifi #YouthDay #Local2030.

Youth must be at the table—not just invited, but heard. Through safe spaces; youth forums, innovation hubs, and civic engagement, we the adolescent girls and young women and adolescent boys and young men can align our lived realities with development priorities at the Global, National and Subnational levels. We bring fresh ideas, digital skills, and community insights that can localize global, national and the County goals. "We are not just the future—we are the force shaping it today." #IYD2025DialogueKilifiSouthSubcounty #IYD2025KE #IYD2025 #LocalizingSDGs #HersPaceKilifi #HerVoiceMatters #RisingWinners #PositiveYouthDevelopment #YouthMatter #AGYWMatter #Youth2030 #YouthEmpowermentKilifi #YouthDay #Local2030.

Local ownership means youth understand, influence, and lead development efforts globally, nationally and at our county level @KilifiCountyGov @DOHKilifi. It’s about translating big plans into community action—like clean water projects, youth-led climate campaigns, against sexual and gender based violence, poverty and inclusive education programs. It’s ours when we drive it @NCPD_Kenya . "When we, the youth in our diversity lead, development becomes real, relevant, and rooted in our communities." #IYD2025DialogueKilifiSouthSubcounty #IYD2025KE #IYD2025 #LocalizingSDGs #HersPaceKilifi #HerVoiceMatters #RisingWinners #PositiveYouthDevelopment #YouthMatter #AGYWMatter #Youth2030 #YouthEmpowermentKilifi #YouthDay #Local2030.

For many of us in Kilifi South Subcounty and beyond, SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 8 (Decent Work) hit closest to home. We need skills, opportunities, and safe spaces to grow. The Social Pillar of Vision 2030 and youth empowerment programs in the Kilifi County's County Iintegrated Development plan 2023-2027 are key to unlocking our potential. "We rise when education is inclusive, jobs are accessible, and youth voices are valued." #IYD2025DialogueKilifiSouthSubcounty #IYD2025KE #IYD2025 #LocalizingSDGs #HersPaceKilifi #HerVoiceMatters #RisingWinners #PositiveYouthDevelopment #YouthMatter #AGYWMatter #Youth2030 #YouthEmpowermentKilifi #YouthDay #Local2030

Lack of access, limited representation, and tokenism are major hurdles in Kilifi County and beyond. Youth are often excluded from key spaces and/or invited too late to influence outcomes. Without mentorship, resources, or trust, our voices remain unheard. "We don’t just need a seat at the table—we need the power to shape and actualize the agenda for all in Kilifi County, in Kenya and at the Global level." #IYD2025DialogueKilifiSouthSubcounty #IYD2025KE #IYD2025 #LocalizingSDGs #HersPaceKilifi #HerVoiceMatters #RisingWinners #PositiveYouthDevelopment #YouthMatter #AGYWMatter #Youth2030 #YouthEmpowermentKilifi #YouthDay #Local2030

Rigid gender roles and cultural biases silence many young voices—especially adolescent girls and young women and marginalized youth. Poverty forces many into survival mode, leaving little room for civic participation and engagement in Kilifi South Subcounty and beyond. These barriers shrink youth's potential. "When we challenge norms and lift each other up, we unlock the full power of youth." #IYD2025DialogueKilifiSouthSubcounty #IYD2025KE #IYD2025 #LocalizingSDGs #HersPaceKilifi #HerVoiceMatters #RisingWinners #PositiveYouthDevelopment #YouthMatter #AGYWMatter #Youth2030 #YouthEmpowermentKilifi #YouthDay #Local2030

By valuing each other’s strengths—elders bring wisdom, youth bring innovation. Collaboration works when there’s mutual respect, shared goals, and open communication. It’s not about age—it’s about impact. "When generations unite, solutions become timeless." #IYD2025DialogueKilifiSouthSubcounty #IYD2025KE #IYD2025 #LocalizingSDGs #HersPaceKilifi #HerVoiceMatters #RisingWinners #PositiveYouthDevelopment #YouthMatter #AGYWMatter #Youth2030 #YouthEmpowermentKilifi #YouthDay #Local2030

Respectful intergenerational dialogue means listening without judgment, speaking with humility, and creating safe spaces for exchange. Dialogue should be two-way, where both youth and elders feel heard, valued, and empowered to act. "Respect isn’t about agreeing—it’s about understanding." #IYD2025DialogueKilifiSouthSubcounty #IYD2025KE #IYD2025 #LocalizingSDGs #HersPaceKilifi #HerVoiceMatters #RisingWinners #PositiveYouthDevelopment #YouthMatter #AGYWMatter #Youth2030 #YouthEmpowermentKilifi #YouthDay #Local2030

To ensure that marginalized youth especially adolescent girls and young women, youth with disabilities, and rural youth are included in development conversations, we must go beyond inclusion and practice intentional outreach. This means accessible venues, gender-sensitive programs, and targeted support. Inclusion is real when every voice counts, especially those often left out. "True development listens to the quietest voices and lifts the furthest hands." #IYD2025DialogueKilifiSouthSubcounty #IYD2025KE #IYD2025 #LocalizingSDGs #HersPaceKilifi #HerVoiceMatters #RisingWinners #PositiveYouthDevelopment #YouthMatter #AGYWMatter #Youth2030 #YouthEmpowermentKilifi #YouthDay #Local2030

If you had the power to change one thing in Kilifi South and beyond today, we’d ensure every youth in her/his diversity has access to quality education and meaningful work. Empowerment starts with opportunity and that’s what we need most urgently. "Change begins when opportunity reaches every doorstep." The boldest vision for youth-led development in the next five years we would want to invest is a thriving network of youth-led enterprises, innovation hubs, and civic leaders driving sustainable change. Youth shaping policy, creating jobs, and protecting our environment—with pride and purpose. "We’re not waiting for change—we’re building it." And we can move from dialogue to action—starting by starting small, staying consistent, and holding each other accountable. Whether it’s forming youth groups, launching community projects, or engaging leaders—action begins with commitment. "Talk plants the seed—action grows the tree." #IYD2025DialogueKilifiSouthSubcounty #IYD2025KE #IYD2025 #LocalizingSDGs #HersPaceKilifi #HerVoiceMatters #RisingWinners #PositiveYouthDevelopment #YouthMatter #AGYWMatter #Youth2030 #YouthEmpowermentKilifi #YouthDay #Local2030

To all the young people in Kilifi County take bold steps even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed. In our Kilifi County, where many of us the youth face systemic obstacles, we should cultivate a courageous mindset that shifts the narrative around failure and success in transformative ways. We should take courage over perfection to take bold steps even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed for resilience and grit. We should contribute and demand for safe spaces to grow; a space where we acquire adequate learning, experimentation, and authenticity not just allowed—but empowered—to dream big and stumble on the way. And finally own the commitment to success on their own terms. We the youth must accept and hold firm to the appreciation that success isn’t just about achievements—it's about becoming who you are meant to be. Accepting failure is portrayed not as weakness in our villages, families, communities and even in institutions, but the truth is, it is a gateway to confidence, leadership, and purpose whenever take it as a challenge #RisingWinners #PositiveYouthDevelopment #YouthMatter #AGYWMatter #Youth2030 #YouthEmpowermentKilifi #YouthDay #Local2030

With the support of @HerVoiceFund, the @RisingWinners continues to implement targeted, information-service-based peer sensitizations among Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) across Kaloleni, Kilifi South, and Rabai Sub-counties. These sessions aimed to address inequalities related to HIV, TB, and Malaria by fostering inclusive dialogue within AGYW’s diverse peer groups. The sensitizations endeavoured to leverage on the lived experiences and distinct perspectives of AGYW to raise awareness and build agency in accessing and utilizing integrated prevention, treatment, and care services. During these sessions, AGYW voiced growing concerns over the alarming rise in Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and femicide. Many noted that their communities, especially in rural settings, are deeply affected by complex, intersectional drivers that remain poorly understood and inadequately addressed by the Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW). Additional barriers raised included (1) persistent HIV-related stigma, which discourages testing and disclosure, particularly among partners, thus affecting ART adherence, (2) misconceptions around TB, often mistaken for other respiratory conditions due to overlapping symptoms, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment and (3) diagnostic confusion between Malaria and other febrile illnesses such as dengue fever and chikungunya, which complicates timely and appropriate care. Adolescent Girls and Young Women call for holistic integration is comprehensive health care with AGYW centred consideration towards addressing these barriers. #HerSpaceKilifi #HVF #HerVoiceFund #HerVoiceKilifi

Following the targeted, information-service-based peer sensitizations among Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) across Kaloleni, Kilifi South, and Rabai Sub-counties, three priority actions were established that adolescent girls and young women call for the Kilifi County Department of Health and Sanitary Services, Rising Winners Youth Empowerment Initiative, Kilifi County Communities and other stakeholders (1) develop tailored engagement strategies to ensure adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in hard-to-reach areas of Kaloleni and Rabai Sub-counties receive accessible and relevant information on HIV, TB, and Malaria prevention and treatment, (2) strengthen structured, ethical, and meaningful AGYW participation in decision-making and feedback mechanisms to enhance health systems and ensure the delivery of youth-friendly services through a sub-programmatic approach across the County and (3) support specialized care groups for AGYW, with a focus on adolescent girls and young women affected by drug abuse, living with HIV, survivors of violence, those with disabilities, and those residing in rural areas #HerSpaceKilifi #HVF #HerVoiceFund #HerVoiceKilifi

Kaboom! In Tsangatsini Village, Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) during targeted, service-based peer sensitization sessions, emphasized this powerful message: "You and I—united in action and voice—against SGBV, HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and TB." With unwavering determination, they pledged to amplify their voices, ensuring that no matter how remote their communities may be, their call for justice and health equity will be heard. Here, we echo their voices. #HerSpaceKilifi #HVF #HerVoiceFund #HerVoiceKilifi @HerVoiceFund @Yplus_Global @ViiVHC @GlobalFund

Adolescents and young people in their diversity have needs that should be met for healthy adolescence and productive fulfilling adulthood #AYPinKilifiCounty #PositiveYouthDevelopment

Adolescents and young people are a huge proportion of our Kilifi County's Population, it is time we seriously invest in it #AYPinKilifiCounty #PositiveYouthDevelopment @KilifiGender @kilifi_youth @KilifiY61707 @AngazaKilifi @mwarakaya @MariakaniY @Ysd_kilifi @safecommunity4 @Icpd25YouthKE @NCPD_Kenya @NYC_YouthVoice @yc_kenya @moyasa_ke

Change the perspective Kilifi County and Kenya #AYPinKilifiCounty #PositiveYouthDevelopment

The social functioning aspect of young people in Kilifi County, enabling them to adequately and resiliently combat and overcome risky demands and overwhelming challenges, is inadequately invested in. Adolescents and young people, especially adolescent girls and young women in their diversity, generally face disproportionate effects and problems resulting from the poor socioeconomic health and wellbeing of the general society in Kilifi County. Despite these challenges, they are expected to grow healthy and empowered, reflecting a proactive community investing in the empowerment of its young people. As we embark on 2025, @KilifiCountyGov @moyasa_ke @KilifiGender @NYC_YouthVoice @kilifi_youth @DOHKilifi bring young people at the table for #MeaningfulYouthEngagement #PositiveYouthDevelopment #HerVoiceMatter #RisingWinners #YouthMatterKE