Another milestone in the not-so-ancient history of HOPE worldwide Kenya’s (HWWK’s) ABY (Abstinence and Being faithful among Youth) program was reached on Saturday 26th August 2006 with the launch of the Maringo site in Eastlands in Nairobi.
The staff and community flagged off the launch at a ceremony held at Makadara grounds and were preceded by a labyrinth procession that started at Our Lady of Visitation Catholic Church, Jogoo Road snaking her way through the residential estates of Maringo, Jericho, Buruburu, Hamza and Makadara.
The grand finale was a final football match pitting the top two of 16 under-14 boys and girls teams that had participated in a two-week long football extravaganza, sponsored by HWWK and Football against AIDS (Faa), a community based organization operating in Maringo. The teams were drawn from the neighbourhoods of Maringo, Mbotela, Kaloleni, Makongeni, Buruburu, Jericho and Umoja estates.
In his speech to the gathering, ABY Program Officer, Julius Nguku said,”80% of the national HIV/AIDS infections are youths…Young people need to understand ways of protecting themselves against HIV. We intend to provide training, including training in abstinence, in targeted HIV behavior change for youths. Parents, community and religious leaders are also integrated in our training programs. Football provides great opportunities to mobilize youths for training in responsible behavior as well as talent development.”
Dr. Dan Shikanda, former member of the Kenya national football team and current secretary of Faa noted with concern the teeming talent that goes down the drain due to hopelessness. He urged youth, “Have hope for the future by disengaging in drugs, crime and risky sexual behaviors that expose you to HIV/AIDS, other Sexuially Transmitted Infections, and unplanned pregnancies.”
The Maringo work team profusely thanks the 405 youths in attendance, troupes of entertainers pooled from Mukuru, Maringo, Huruma and Dandora; her partner Community-Based Organization, the 16 football teams comprising 414 boys and girls that contributed to the event’s success, the community at large, the Police who issued the permit for assembly and accordingly directed the procession), the HWWK ABY team and indeed the entire organization.
Thus, site number 5, Maringo, known locally as “Marish”, could be the proverbial tract of wetland temporarily covered with water and characterized by aquatic, grass-like vegetation in the form of high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, drug peddling and use, rife teenage pregnancies and rampant criminal activities, but there’s HOPE for an empowered healthier community.
Marish here we come!
