Straight Talk Foundation Kenya is an organisation that empowers the youth to make life long decisions. ALLAN OLINGO spoke to Madonah Syombua about the foundation’s activities.

Members of Straight Talk Foundation during some of the organisation’s activities. [Photo: Courtesy]

What prompted the formation of Straight Talk Foundation Kenya?

We founded Straight Talk Foundation Kenya as a non-governmental organisation specialising in communication for social change with a focus on youths by producing information, education, and communication (IEC) materials for young people.

What did you intend the organisation to do for the youth?

The objective of our organisation was to contribute to the improved mental, social and physical development of Kenyan adolescents (ten to 19 years) and young adults (20-24). The programme keeps all audience safe from HIV/STD infections and early pregnancy, and is geared to help them manage challenging circumstances. Our mission was to empower the youth to make life long decisions through life skills development, communication, information and innovative initiatives.

What areas does the organisation address in the youth’s life?

The organisation, through its communication projects, increases the understanding of adolescence on sexuality and reproductive health and promotes the adoption of safer sex practices. It aims at helping adolescents acquire the necessary life skills and a grasp of child and human rights to make the passage through adolescence safely.

Straight Talk Foundation issues are thus designed to reflect the eight thematic areas, which include youth empowerment and employment, youth information, education, training and participation, youth and the environment, sexual reproductive health and rights, drugs, substance abuse and crime, youth and disability, gender mainstreaming and equality and youth, sport, recreation and community service.

What does the organisation do pertaining sex education?

We work with professional peer educators who handle questions pertaining to sex very well. So far we have been doing a campaign dubbed ‘say no to early sex life’ via our peer education lessons.

Do you have any programmes touching on HIV and Aids?

We have the ‘Str8 Plus’ initiative, which is a psychosocial peer support group programme for adolescents living with HIV. It aims at empowering them to build positive relationships, improve their self-esteem and acquire life skills through peer mentorship, adult role-modelling and structured activities, ultimately leading to improved clinical and mental health outcomes as well as a healthy transition into adulthood.

What is Straight Talk TV?

Straight Talk TV is still cooking but Straight Talk radio is on. We share it on Facebook page after every edition through Cloud Sound radio station and it has so many ‘likes’. We also have the newspaper, which we distribute to schools with Straight Talk clubs. Our last edition was given out during the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association meeting.

How does a young person get involved in your programmes?

Anyone who wishes to join our programmes is free to do so. We keep track of our youths and talents and promote them. We also have Vijana Move (Motivating Our Own for Vital Engagement), Kubadili Kenya (V ‘Move’ KK), a project to get young people to pledge to become solution providers starting with the upcoming elections. We expect them to face problems head on and propose solutions.

How do you juggle between your current job and Straight Talk?

I’m currently employed by Africa Youth Trust whose mandate is to spearhead a Youth Led Development (YLD) model in Kenya with a view of later replicating the same in other African countries.

I work full-time since we have employed someone to do the work at Straight Talk Foundation.

Did you always want to help young people?

 I have a passion for the youth and I have been supportive. I have worked with them in many projects. I am also working towards supporting the children, women and youth with an on-going Unicef project.

What words of encouragement do you have to the young people out there?

Don’t wait for someone to do what you can do. Go for it and be assured help will come your way.