A single day of dialogue, services, and art in Kisumu proved that when communities gather with honesty and intention, young women's lives change and so does policy.
At Nyalenda Health and Wellness Centre, something remarkable unfolded. The Kisumu County Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Festival, hosted by Dreams Redefined CBO under the Afya Yetu, Haki Yetu Project, brought together county government representatives, health providers, civil society organizations, community members, and most importantly adolescent girls and young women.
The atmosphere buzzed with a rare kind of energy: the energy of people ready to tell the truth. And the truth, that day, was about reproductive health an area long shadowed by stigma, silence, and misinformation.
At the heart of the festival were critical conversations on safe abortion and Post-Abortion Care (PAC) issues that continue to impact many young women due to stigma, misinformation, and limited access to services.
Through open dialogue and community engagement, the festival raised awareness on safe abortion and PAC, challenged harmful social norms, promoted informed decision-making, and strengthened access to accurate SRHR information. Beyond conversation, participants accessed a wide range of integrated, youth-friendly health services:
A defining feature of the day was an intergenerational panel discussion a rare, structured space where different community voices could speak honestly to one another. The panel brought together six distinct perspectives:
Healthcare Provider
Young Woman
Community Health Promoter
Parent
Religious Leader
CSO Representative
Together, they created a safe space for honest conversations on the risks of unsafe abortion, the importance of timely and non-judgmental care, and the role that communities play in supporting young women. The dialogue directly informed the development of a community-driven policy brief capturing recommendations to strengthen access to inclusive, responsive reproductive healthcare services across Kisumu County.
When every generation sits in the same room, listening rather than lecturing, that is when real change begins to take root in a community.
The festival came alive through Artivism, where young people used creativity as a tool for advocacy, healing, and change. Through Photovoice exhibitions, spoken word, theatre, and storytelling, participants shared lived experiences, challenged stigma and misinformation, amplified marginalized voices, and inspired reflection and collective action throughout the community.
These were not performances for applause. They were acts of courage young women and men using art to say what policy documents cannot: this is what it feels like, and this is what we need.
The Kisumu County SRHR Festival was a powerful reminder that when young people are given space, they lead, speak, and drive change. Not in the future. Right now.
Together with partners and communities, we continue to work toward a future where every young woman has access to accurate information, quality reproductive healthcare, and the dignity she deserves.