Baraka Youth Initiative Self-Help Group

One thing that stands out when you get to interact with the Baraka Youth Initiative Self Help
Group (quite a mouthful) is how they sublime and fit into the need of the moment.
Baraka in Swahili means blessings. The group grew out of a loosely constituted frat sometime in
late 2007 and 2008 in the aftermath of the Post-Election violence in Kenya.
Charity Myner, the group leader will recount to you dreamily how the group decided to promote
cohesion and peace within [Name Withheld] Sub County after the bloody event that marked one
of Kenyas darkest moments.
A couple of years later the violence was quickly becoming distant history and so was their efforts
that had once been heroic.
They focused on social change, speaking against drug abuse, advocating responsible social
behavior and HIV/AIDS awareness.
Then Maisha Project came along in March of 2010. The Non-governmental Organization vetted
Baraka and agreed to work with them for local mobilization to increase awareness and use of
long-term and permanent Family planning.
The group meets regularly in [Name Withheld]s youth empowerment center or health center to
plan their community awareness campaigns. For Maisha Project, the group conducts one on one
and focus group discussions to mobilize people to embrace and take up family planning.
Most of the group members are childhood friends, with different ethnic backgrounds. Their
coming together was more in response to the need to keep their friendship despite the tribal
animosity at the time.
The post-election experience threatened to sow seeds of discord and it now seemed as if we were
more different than alike says Charity as she explains how they resolved to go beyond their own
cohesion and share the message of peace with the whole community through talents.
Today the group stages skits, Magnet Theater plays, dance and other entertainment displays that
ensure the public attention is captured and maintained
Baraka members are grateful for having had the opportunity to participate in changing the
community while eking out a living through some of the demand creation activities.
It has however not been always a smooth ride for the Baraka group. There are areas where they
could not communicate with people due to language barriers. In some instances, they were
accused by sections of the gatherings that they were spreading HIV/Aids by promoting use of
contraceptives and others flatly refused to take the FP information materials.
The intervention and support from Maisha Project staff, the Community health workers,
administrative and religious leaders in [Name Withheld] was therefore a welcome shot in the arm
that assured these young people that they were not alone anymore.