the breakdown.

1. blackboard painted at seet kobor secondary school.
3. passionate, hard working and driven project directors.
5. schools trained.
8. football teams that participated in YESS/QHO sports & testing day.
13. unique and inspiring YESS/QHO peer- educators.
still to be confirmed. students and community members tested at mawe HIV testing day.
219. students and community members tested at YESS/QHO sports & testing day.
233. students and community members tested at lake solai + seet kobor HIV testing days.
250. trees planted at lake solai secondary school.
300. trees planted at mawe secondary school.
1206. students trained.

According to the numbers, this year’s project appears to be a success. But I can assure you that the numbers do not lie. The 2009 YESS/QHO Kenya Project has surpassed previous years in terms of the numbers of schools and students trained as well as more students and community members have been tested than previous years.

It wasn’t always easy at times. There were certainly challenges along the way. But we pulled together as a team and are all stronger individuals because of the challenges faced. I can honestly say that being a member of this project is one of the accomplishments in my life that I am most proud of. I am proud to say that I am a YESS/QHO peer-educator and I am proud of our accomplishments as a team. I am grateful for this opportunity and I will not forget the lessons I have learned.

Thinking about the end of project brings tears to my eyes. I have learned more about myself as an individual, I have developed a passion for education, and I learned more about the world that we live in. What I think I will miss most is inspiring. My favourite aspect of teaching is empowering the students to make positive change in their community. If we want the number of people infected worldwide with HIV/AIDS to be reduced for future generations it has to start with us, the youth. What I can do to stop the spread of AIDS is to get tested and to share my knowledge about HIV/AIDS with others. The students we train can and are encouraged to do the same. Hopefully after we leave, when looking back at the whole week, students feel empowered to educated others in their communities and make positive change.

Thank you to family, friends and donors for your support of this project. I hope through this blog different perspectives of the struggles and success that the 2009 YESS/QHO team has experienced have been shared with all of you. None of this would be possible without your support. And for that, I say asante sana.

I would like to share one final positive anonymous comment from a form 2 students at Kiamunyi High School:

“My comment is that I really like the counseling and I know that you’ve changed lives of youth cause you’ve really changed mine…”

kwaheri.

the d.r.e