OAY is a youth organization working for and with young people with a main objective to promote meaningful adolescent and youth engagement (MAYE). OAY strives to unify the Voices of Youth in Kenya and beyond by working with and strengthening youth coalitions and movements. OAY specialises in young people’s development and innovatively managing complex and sensitive adolescents and youth empowerment and participation in cross-sectoral programmes with focus on employment and skills development , health and wellbeing, climate action,peace , democracy and governance and gender equality
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OAY Adopts Cross-Sectoral Programming. We Have Integrated The Following Cross-Cutting Issues To Promote Positive Youth Development In The Region;
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Gender and Social Inclusion

Equality and Equity in access to services and opportunities especially for the most marginalized and vulnerable

Leadership Development, Civic Engagement and Governance

Promote meaningful adolescents and youth engagement and participation for better governance, accountability , peace and cohesion

Policy and Governance

Innovations and actions by young people to influence policy processes, decision and policy makers and promote accountability

Access to quality education

Promote access to quality education and school re-entry for marginalized and vulnerable, promote lifelong learning and foster learning through entertainment and fun

OAY’s youth work in Kenya is geared towards sustainable youth development and empowerment through interactions with development partners , governments, United Nations systems and agencies, civil societies  and youth organizations by implementing the following  activities:

Strategic Focus 1
To Improve Health and Wellbeing of Adolescents and Youth

Goal

Improve adolescents and youth health indicators and conditions through responsive, accessible and quality health services and information, and preventive care within PHC and UHC frameworks

Objectives :

  • Promote access to quality and responsive RMNCAH and SRHR services and information among young people, in their diversity, especially those marginalized and vulnerable in Kenya
  • To establish a platform for coordinated adolescents and youth engagement in the nutrition and food security agenda towards realization of malnutrition free communities
  • To promote efforts around health emergencies preparedness and response
  • Support engagements to manage and end Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs)
Strategic Focus 2
To Empower Young People In Kenya

Goal

Contribute to jobs and opportunities creation through sustainable economic and skills development and advocating for a conducive environment to youth entrepreneurship

Objectives :

  • To support skills development to enhance youth’s job market entry and self-employment
  • To support youth engagement and participation in agriculture and agribusiness and introduce new technologies, techniques and processes in the value chain for job creation
  • To enhance access and utilization of ICTs to spur Innovation and employment
Strategic Focus 3
Climate Action

Goal

To empower and sensitize young people to take urgent action to combat climate change and its negative impacts towards the community especially young girls and women

Objectives :

  • To call the adolescents and youth to action and demonstrate the universality and localization of climate change through strengthening their capacity
  • To advocate for change of perceptions and misunderstandings on climate change, take stock on the outcomes and opportunities in their climate action ecosystem
  • To promote meaningful gender and social inclusion in climate change discourses
  • To promote social entrepreneurship in climate action to enhance employment and food security through smart agriculture, agribusiness and gender equality interventions
Strategic Focus 4
Building Partnerships, Collaborations, Learning and Adaptation

Goal

To build partnerships with the government, donors, academia, private sectors and other like minded partners in the sector to ensure information sharing, expertise and knowledge sharing

Objectives :

  • Derive evidence that informs sustainable programming, youth inclusion, learning and engagement in policy processes, key spaces and South - South learning
  • Support mutually beneficial partnerships to implement tested youth work models and co-create solutions woth donors, government, development agencies among others
  • To implement organizational guidelines and plans for effective communication and engagement with partners, better offline and online audience interactions, branding and online presence
    2022 - 2024 OAY STRATEGIC PLAN July
    OAY Strategic Plan Budget 2022-2024 (1)

Programming Principles

Youth work professionalization
Do no Harm
Formal and Informal learning
Rights Based Approaches
Evidence Generation
Campaigning and Movements Building
Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Primary Health Care (PHC)

Our Structure

OAY has a proven track record on policy influence and convening power that will be key in informing subsequent care, economy, and conversations at policy and program levels. This will be achieved through stakeholder mobilization and driving conversation through OAY affiliate organizations and networks spread across Kenya and beyond. OAY Kenya is run by youth professionals 1) National Advisory Board, National Branch Committee, affiliate organizations and Staff/ Volunteers and Kenya promotes participatory decision making in its programming .

OAY Kenya chapter also has about 50 affiliated youth led organisations and groups based in over 15 Counties.

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Our Reach

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GREEN

Our reach through affiliate Organizations

  • Uasin Gishu
  • Laikipia
  • Bomet
  • Migori
  • Kisii
  • Makueni
  • Kwale
  • Lamu
  • Garissa
  • Marsabit
  • Isiolo
  • Meru
  • Kitui
  • Nyeri
  • Trans Nzoia
BLUE

OAY implemented projects & activities

  • Mombasa
  • Kilifi
  • Isiolo
  • Machakos
  • Nyeri
  • Kirinyaga
  • Kiambu
  • Uasin Gishu
  • Nakuru
  • Narok
  • Kajiado
  • Bomet
  • Kakamega
  • Vihiga
  • Bungoma
  • Busia
  • Siaya
  • Kisumu
  • Homa Bay
  • Nyamira
  • Nairobi