DAYO Celebrates 20th Anniversary for Advancing Youth and PWDS Agendas
Dream Achievers Youth Organization (DAYO)founder and executive director Seif Jira addressing guests during the NGO's Anniversary Gala Dinner in Mombasa. (Photo By Harrison Kivisu)
By Harrison Kivisu
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
Dream Achievers Youth Organization has marked 20 years of amplifying youth agendas and promoting the rights of persons living with disabilities.
In support of DAYO, gender and youth stakeholders pledged to cooperate and work with county governments to advance youth affairs and development.
Speaking during its Anniversary Gala Dinner in Mombasa, Kilifi County gender executive Ruth Dama Masha said positive parenting programs targeting to reduce teenage pregnancy and other sexual gender based violence (SGBV) was crucial in stopping such vices in society.
DAYO program coordinator Enos Opiyo said the organization was building bridges across communities to tackle emerging issues such as social injustices, quality education, health equity, environmental sustainability, and gender equality.
“When you do capacity building to youths, young women and PWDs, you make them empowered to economically sustain themselves, thus making them less vulnerable to SGBVs,this is what many of our programs are targeted to achieve and we are glad that we achieved,” he said.
Mombasa County youth, gender, sports and social services chief officer Khamis Juma Kurichwa asked Dayo to continue forging powerful collaborations with fellow organizations to receive valuable support from both county and national governments.
The celebration brought together key stakeholders from Mombasa, Kilifi, Kisumu and Nairobi counties where DAYO has undertaken meaningful programs targeting to uplift lives and promote development.
DAYO executive director and founder Seif Jira said for 20 years they have been empowering youth, fostering dreams, and building a brighter future hand-in-hand with partners who believed in their vision.
“To every individual, community member, partner organization, and government body that has walked with us, supported us, and championed our cause – THANK YOU. This milestone is as much yours as it is ours. Here’s to many more years of impact and partnership!” he said.
The celebration also marked the official closure of the WEZESHA project sponsored by Aga Khan Foundation and implemented in Mombasa and Kilifi counties to end SGBV and advance rights of marginalized communities.
The organization, through partnership with teachers, police, women leaders, health service providers, grassroots community health officers, intensified positive campaigns against the vice in the two counties.
Defilements, rapes, and harassments are just a few forms of violence often infringing the rights of most survivors, but the organization top brass now calls for a collective effort by judicial authority, prosecution and community players to end the vice.
Through its Wezesha Project, the civic body empowered gatekeepers such as teachers, health services providers, women leaders and community health promoters to lead the campaign from the front after getting-measures training during the project implementation.
According to project coordinator Susan Lankisa the sustained efforts have resulted in an increase in referrals of sexual reproductive health rights SRHR and gender based violence GBV cases.
