→ Nearly 2 million lack access to contraception, resulting in roughly 1 million teenage pregnancies each year.
→ 2.5 million girls struggle with mental health disorders, with almost 90% receiving no support.
→ This lack of healthcare access blocks their path to education, employment, and economic freedom, leaving only 16% of young women in formal employment.
1. / 5
Primary Outcomes
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→Sexual and Reproductive Health
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→Mental Health
Our digital health platform, WAZZII, connects young people with trusted health information and services, transforming how they access and engage with healthcare in their communities.
2. / 5
Primary Outcomes
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→Social Norms
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→Sexual and Reproductive Health
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→Economic Empowerment
Our social norms program creates meaningful opportunities for adolescent girls and young women, transforming communities through positive change.
3. / 5
Primary Outcomes
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→Sexual and Reproductive Health
We empower young people with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health – whether that's visiting a clinic, choosing contraception, or having important conversations with partners.
4. / 5
Primary Outcomes
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→Entrepreneurship
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→Job Readiness
We empower young people with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to start their own businesses or find meaningful employment opportunities.
5. / 5
Primary Outcomes
-
→Mental Health
We inspire young people to prioritize their mental health, giving them tools to practice self-care and connecting them with supportive services that help them thrive.
Tukisonga—Swahili for ‘Moving Forward’—is our national-scale youth brand inspiring millions of young people across Kenya to take charge of their health and futures.
Through engaging storytelling across TV dramas, radio talk shows, youth-led podcasts, social media, and community events, this nationwide movement connects with young people where they are.
By addressing real challenges that young Kenyans face daily, from accessing healthcare to building livelihoods, Tukisonga empowers youth to find their voice, make confident decisions, and create positive change in their communities.
WAZZII is an award-winning health platform for young people in Kenya. Through fun and relatable content, we dive into topics that often feel off-limits, like navigating body changes or dealing with loneliness. We’re the go-to place for tough questions like “Am I ready for sex?” or “Why do I feel so lonely?”— and we tackle them with care and understanding.
Co-created with girls, their partners, and health experts, our 24/7 WhatsApp service makes it easy for young people to get personalized advice. When they're ready, we connect them to a chat center staffed by trained health agents who provide judgment-free consultation, screening, and booking for vetted health services - including STI testing, therapy, and more.
WAZZII simplifies fragmented health systems, providing clear, accessible pathways to healthcare services. It is a comprehensive solution enabling young people to access information, receive tailored support, and take action.
Young people are at the heart of all we do
Together, we design, create, and evaluate initiatives that amplify youth voices, challenge gender norms, and create impact across health, education, and economic livelihoods. Our meaningful youth engagement happens through three key approaches: Youth Advisory Panels, Youth Creator Networks, and Young Professionals.
Our approach to youth participation
Milleniah
24, Youth Advisor
MIGORI
JUDITH
23, YOUTH ADVISOR
MIGORI
GRACE
22, YOUNG PROFESSIONAL
NAIROBI
“Being a young nurse, our voices most of the time don’t matter, but after working with Girl Effect, I’ve learned how to advocate for myself and others. The experience has empowered me to use my voice confidently to create change and make a greater impact in my community."
Milleniah, 24 —Youth Advisor
MIGORI
As a young person working with Girl Effect, I focused on connecting young girls in rural and urban areas with sexual and reproductive health services through smartphones and feature phones. I worked to ensure that accurate and accessible information reached girls who needed it most, using innovative mobile technology to bridge the gap. This initiative empowered many young girls to make informed decisions about their health and well-being. Through this experience, I developed strong problem-solving and communication skills while contributing to improving access to vital services for young women in my community.
My experience with Girl Effect has been transformative, especially in shaping my future career and personal growth as a nurse. Through their programs, I gained invaluable skills in communication, confidence, and leadership, which have greatly impacted how I approach my work and connect with patients. Their focus on empowering young women inspired me to advocate for better healthcare in my community, especially in rural areas where access is limited.
The resources and mentorship provided by Girl Effect encouraged me to pursue my studies with determination and resilience. I’ve learned the importance of combining compassion with professionalism, which is essential in nursing. Additionally, Girl Effect’s emphasis on using technology and media has sparked ideas for creating awareness campaigns about health and wellness in my region. Overall, my journey with Girl Effect has prepared me to not only excel in my career but also make a meaningful impact in my community.
Being a young nurse, our voices most of the time don’t matter, but after working with Girl Effect, I’ve learned how to advocate for myself and others. The experience has empowered me to use my voice confidently to create change and make a greater impact in my community.
“With support from the Girl Effect team, I wrote and submitted an abstract to the Reproductive Health Network Kenya (RHNK) on increasing awareness and access to SRHR information... I believe I was able to inspire a lot of the young people.”
JUDITH, 23 —YOUTH ADVISOR
MIGORI
I contributed to the co-creation of WAZZII and especially the WAZZII chatbot through my participation in the design and iteration workshops. The process as well as the outcome “WAZZII” inspired me to want to share my experience with a wider audience. With support from the Girl Effect team, I wrote and submitted an abstract to the Reproductive Health Network Kenya (RHNK) on increasing awareness and access to SRHR information through digital platforms - a case study of WAZZII Social Media platforms. My abstract was accepted and I was part of a 5 people panel on “The evolving media ecosystem for the youth and its implication for sexual and reproductive health strategies” where I shared my sexual and reproductive health and rights experience as a young person from a rural area and opportunities created by WAZZII social media platforms in the RHNK Conference. Additionally, through my presentation, I believe I was able to inspire alot of the young people who were in the room and from my community to believe that they could also do it. Currently, I support young people on how to write articles.
Through the networkings that I made during the RNHK conference, I was exposed to youth advocacy groups and opportunities to apply for part time jobs. The stipend that I got from the Girl Effect meetings and workshops that I attended, have helped pay for my school fees. I have gained knowledge concerning the use of digital platforms to help young girls and women get information concerning sexual and reproductive health and rights and create awareness for young people especially for girls living in the rural areas. I got skills that I will use in my other initiatives and projects in future and also got more knowledge concerning sexual and reproductive health and rights that I will use on my advocacy work to empower other young people in my community.
My experience with Girl Effect has been amazing, through the activities, meetings and the workshops I have been attending. They really boosted my confidence mainly at the RHNK Conference where it was my first time presenting an abstract.
My favourite activity remains 2024’s RHNK conference where I was able to represent the experiences of other young people like me.
“One of my proudest achievements is helping to shape a space where users feel heard and supported.”
GRACE, 22 —YOUNG PROFESSIONAL
NAIROBI
As a young moderator with Girl Effect, I’ve created safe, inclusive spaces for young people to share experiences, access reliable information, and engage in empowering discussions. I’ve facilitated conversations on topics like health, relationships, and self-growth, helping users make informed decisions. My work has involved ensuring sensitivity and collaborating with teams to improve content and engagement. One of my proudest achievements is helping to shape a space where users feel heard and supported, as evidenced by the positive feedback
and trust we've received so far in the period I've served as a moderator.
In one word, I would say that my experience with Girl Effect has been TRANSFORMATIVE. It has enhanced my communication, problem-solving,
and teamwork skills, preparing me for my career and advocacy goals. Moderating has improved my empathy and critical thinking, while teaching me the value of inclusivity in digital spaces. It’s also inspired my interest in using technology for social change and given me confidence to lead and collaborate. I couldn't be
more grateful!
I'd say a lot about this, but being part of Girl Effect has been a rewarding
journey, where I’ve learned the value of creating safe spaces and witnessed
the transformative power of meaningful conversations.