Thika, Kenya — In the Kiandutu slums of Thika, an empowerment programme is transforming lives by helping young girls achieve their educational aspirations and avoid the pitfalls of slum life. This initiative is providing a critical lifeline to girls who faced dim prospects due to the crippling poverty in their families.
According to Kenya News Agency, Director of Liverpool Voluntary Counselling and Testing services that oversees the implementation of the programme, the DREAMS initiative, funded by the United States government, has been pivotal in altering the life paths of the girls from Kiambu County. The program, which stands for Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe, focuses on reducing the HIV/AIDS rate among adolescent girls and young women in high-burden HIV areas.
Joyce Kavutha, a beneficiary of DREAMS, saw her educational journey nearly cut short in Class Seven due to financial constraints. Thanks to the programme’s support, she not only completed her secondary education but also transitioned to Kenyatta University, where she is pursuing a degree in education science. Similarly, Tabitha Wangari, a 25-year-old teenage mother who faced depression after being abandoned by her boyfriend, received vocational training in tailoring through the programme. She now runs a successful cloth-making enterprise.
These stories of transformation are not isolated. The programme has benefited approximately 7,000 girls from Kiambu County, offering them financial support and equipping them with skills for future careers. Beneficiaries have received training in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, vocational skills, and business start-up kits.
Omondi emphasized the programme’s impact during a recent meeting with beneficiaries in the Kiandutu slums, highlighting that it has prevented many young girls from succumbing to slum life, with some now pursuing education or running their own businesses for economic empowerment.
Kiambu County’s Director of Public Health, Teresia Wanjiru, also present at the meeting, reported that the DREAMS initiative has contributed to a significant decrease in teenage pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, and school dropouts. It has also facilitated the economic empowerment of young mothers through income-generating activities.
The success of the programme has prompted calls from residents for expanded enrollment to allow more girls to realize their potential. The initiative aims to arm vulnerable adolescent girls and young women, aged 10 to 24, with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions and stay HIV-free.