PRIME LILIES DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

Target group

Prime Lilies DC is implementing youth empowerment program that is geared towards enlightening youths on the healthcare linkage, biological aspect, cultural, technological and socio-economic realities and gradually bisecting and transforming them into catalysts for youths’ transformation for the better. The AYP Program targets;

1. Youths in need of reintegration from the Foster Institutions back to their respective families
2. Youths in need of transitioning for the HIV pediatric health facilities to adult clinics
3. Orphaned young people not in institutions (Foster Homes) who require proper transition into adulthood.
4.Relevant families of AYP in need of empowerment in order to strengthen their capacity to take lead in transition process.

Generally, young people are empowered with knowledge in key thematic areas of youth development as they strive to realize the essence of their existence. From the age of 15 years, the Adolescent and Youth are empowered with various skills and knowledge to supplement the formal education they get in school.

Mode of service delivery

Youths not only want to be seen as the beneficiaries of support given to them but also as the key development partners in shaping and directing their paths of life now and for the future generation. Meaningful participation of young people in these initiatives is key in yielding the desired outcomes. Prime Lilies DC has therefore embraced three key domains in the provision of compressive approach in supporting and transitioning AYP into adulthood. Different age cohorts strongly benefit from different phases though still all phases cut across all young people.

1. Beneficiary delivery
Many of the AYP in this phase are between 15 – 20 years. They mainly rely of the adults whether in institutions, homes, or learning facilities for guidance, and material & psychological needs. Some of these AYP are leaving with HIV from their respective homes, Institutions, the HIV Care Leavers from the Institutions (Children Homes), and the neglected orphans. Through the Youth Transition Tool, Prime Lilies DC ensures that various needs are captured, assessed and eventually addressed along the transition path. Some of the areas addressed here include;

• Access and continuum of quality health care to the AYP
• General psychosocial support
• Provision of necessary skills for support and maintaining safe behavior
• Career guidance
• Talent utilization and nurturing
• GBV prevention training sessions (DREAMS & CBIM Programs)
• General life skills training
• Support in vocational training

2. Synergized Partnership

Prime Lilies DC acknowledges that young people are key partners in any societal development issues. It’s evident that AYP (whether living positively or not) often engage in sexual activities regardless of the age of their partners. Livelihoods initiatives are intertwined across entire society. The fact that majority of the population of Kenyans are youth, it’s important that this category of citizens be taken seriously as part of developmental agents who are key for social transformation. Prime Lilies DC has tailored the following very key interventions that shape and embrace young people as key agents for change;

• Livelihoods empowering
• Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) Education
• Psychosocial empowerment

3. Linkage in leadership responsibilities

Young people are key in generational stewardship. Prime Lilies DC is cognizant of the fact that encouraging and giving young people opportunities in leadership is one way of inspiring hope and their confidence as they head into adulthood. Various initiatives have been put in place to ensure that young people are involved in the leadership initiatives. These include;

I. Operation Triple Zero OTZ (Clubs)
II. Peer group mentorship
III. Volunteerism
IV. Decision making deliberations
V. Formation and strengthening of Alumni Transition groups

The above interventions are synchronized in a Transition Plan document which each youth needs to have. Youth Transition Plan draws a road map for the future of the young person. It encompasses the skills, knowledge and resources that help in preparing the young people to move from childhood into adulthood. It’s a gradual process that draws from the desires and strengths of youth and enriched by the support from the Transition Team to help them achieve their goals in life. The Transition Team may comprise of Parents/Guardians, Health Provider, Relatives, Teachers, Peers, Religious leaders, Mentor, Coach, etc. The Transition Plan may take 1-5 years basing on the goal of the youth.