Using Sports to Break the Silence
This project's parent organization is Smart Ladies Youth Initiative
It operates in Kenya
It uses Football (Soccer) and Hockey
Entered the Sport for Health Award
More about Using Sports to Break the Silence
Smart Ladies Youth Initiative is a girls-only initiative based in Kisumu, Kenya. It uses sporting and recreational activities to mobilize girls to discuss unique Sexual and Reproductive health matters affecting them in an attempt to break the silence that prevents girls from openly addressing such issues. It was started in the year 2004 and registered by the Ministry of cultural affairs and social services and works in the 5 slums of Kisumu town, with girls and young women aged 5-30.
We believe that use of sports can build capacity of girls to engage effectively in discussions and decision of issues touching on their Sexual and Reproductive Health, privately and publicly, as a way to mitigate the rampant spread of HIV/ AIDS in Kisumu, a city where 20% of girls as young as under 19 years of age, infected with HIV and face other related reproductive health challenges.
The pioneer members of this Initiative dreamed of establishing through sports a platform for girls to dialogue, without fear, on sexual and reproductive health challenges affecting them, and to develop solutions that translate into reduction in the risk of more girls getting infected with HIV and sexual gender based violence