YAAR! Kenya
In Kenya, we are implementing a youth-led project to explore the views and understanding of young people on AMR, to design engagement activities and create awareness of AMR, including through survey administration and film.
The project leads in Kenya are Professor Sam Kinyanjui and Dr Alun Davies. Alex Hinga coordinates the project, including meetings with the Youth Working Group, data collection and engagement activities. Our Youth Advisory Board members, Ammy Dama and Clement Nyiro, advised on survey development and engagement activities. Youth Working Group members contributed to survey development, including interpretation and translation of questions, shared their views on youth understanding of AMR and experiences with school curriculum around AMR, and designed and implemented engagement activities, including drama and spoken word performances. Solomon Mutuku has led project filming, including filming discussions between AMR expert and young people. The AMR expert in the Kenya films is Professor Ifedayo Adetifa.
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Prof. Sam Kinyanjui
Ammy Dama
Dr Alun Davies
Clement Nyiro
Alex Hinga
Solomon Mutuku
We have worked closely with Connect to Retain, which is a community-based organization operating in Kilifi with a focus on youth wellbeing. Connect to Retain is led by Nassim Jahangir. Emmanuel Mwakera from Connect to Retain has been coordinating engagements with Youth Working Group with support from Jacinta Mbeyu.
Nassim Jahangir
Nassim leads Connect to Retain - A grass root, nonprofit, youth led and youth serving community-based organization (CBO) in Kilifi Kenya, that works with Adolescents and Young People living in the coastal region of Kenya, and runs programs around Health, Education, Entrepreneurship and Policy Advocacy
Kenya Youth Working Group Members
Rajab Mustafa, Sera Felister, Maxwel Kithole, Shadrack Jambo, Lucky Katana, Tumaini Donald,
Elison Nyanj, Jackline Konzi, Joyce Mwanza, Maryam Badruni
YWG members and facilitators (from left): Jacinta, Alex Serah, Emmanuel, Tumaini, Ellson, Joy
YWG members practicing peer-to-peer interviewing
YWG meeting
YWG communication skills training
Fleming's Plate:
A poem written by Alex Hinga
Performed by Joyce Mwanza of Kilifi, Kenya, to create awareness of antibiotic resistance as part
of YAAR! Kenya's youth-led campaign against antimicrobial resistance.
Viruses laugh in the face of antibiotics.
The strongest antibiotic would lose to the weakest virus.
Do not ask antibiotics to fight viruses!
Bacteria used to run for their lives,
At the mention of penicillin
Penicillin, what a miracle from Flemings’ plate!
Bacteria, some bacteria, no longer run.
They fight back, harder every day.
Penicillin, and other antibiotics, may lose the battle!
If the battle is lost
The young ones know, and the old ones know
There will be nowhere to run, when disease, and death come knocking
So, we will fight on the side of antibiotics.
We will handle antibiotics with care.
And we will not ask antibiotics to fight viruses!
TB or not TB?
A mother takes her teenage son to the hospital after the son becomes severely ill at home.
This short film (TB or not TB?) was conceived and produced by young people in Kilifi, Kenya, as part of the Youth Against Antimicrobial Resistance (YAAR!) project.
Actors include Tumaini Donald, Ellison Nyanje, Joyce Mwanza and Sera Fellister.