KY-PLUS initiator Cindy Amaiza is a student living with HIV in Nairobi and affiliated with PITCH partner AYARHEP. She explains that there is a strong need to harmonise efforts as organisations are still doing their own things instead of working together. “I envision a unified voice of young people living with HIV to be better able to address the challenges and issues young people, who are disproportionally affected by HIV and AIDS, are facing,” says Cindy.

To kick start this initiative PITCH supported KY-PLUS through organising a workshop. It was facilitated by Jacqueline Alesi who used her knowledge and experience as former director of UNYPA, the Ugandan YPLHIV network, to set out clear directions with young people from the different founding organisations. Thorough discussions led to a clear idea of what the vision, mission, mandate and objectives of the network should be.

Besides, a maybe even more important outcome of the meeting was enhanced ownership and enthusiasm about the initiative by the young people who took part in the workshop. Cindy tells: “Two years ago we were stuck as Kenyan YPLHIV organisations on how we could harmonise ourselves and now we have kick started this. I feel honoured to be part of it.”

With support from PITCH and Kenyan people living with HIV network (NEPHAK), the network is currently working on the development of a constitution and a strategic plan and towards becoming registered. “In one year I see the voices of young people living with HIV unified. We are not greedy, we are not scattered. We are harmonised and say our issues with one voice. With that we are able to address the challenges and the issues  that young people are facing”, concludes Cindy.

The workshop was supported by the Aidsfonds PITCH programme