The Nasio Trust

Using peer education to reduce the vulnerability of young people and increase access to sexual health education, health care and sustainable livelihoods.

Over a quarter of the children in Kenya show stunted growth due to poverty and a lack of nutrition. The Nasio Trust is based in Kakamega County, where 4,000 people are living with HIV & AIDS. This combined with high levels of poverty – over a third of the population live on less than $1.90 a day – means that many families are unable to send their children to school or feed them adequately.

The staff and volunteers of The Nasio Trust form an integral part of their local community. Their Egmont project is focussed on improving the community’s understanding of HIV & AIDS, particularly amongst young people where the rates of infection are worryingly high.

With Egmont’s support, The Nasio Trust is delivering a holistic youth development programme to tackle challenges such as teenage pregnancy, HIV, limited access to sexual and reproductive health services, stigma, and lack of economic opportunities.

The programme trains young people as Peer Educators to share vital information on sexual health, HIV prevention and gender-based violence in their schools and communities. This includes youth with disabilities, a group often-overlooked. Teachers and interpreters are also trained, while school health clubs and anonymous ‘talking boxes’ provide safe spaces for support and reporting.

To engage the wider community, the project includes a range of activities from small group discussions with parents to football tournaments and local events. In addition, the project aims to build economic resilience through school agriculture clubs and microfinance training, reducing the risks associated with poverty and limited opportunities.