The People
- YotM youth get dancing lessons for their song 'Hakuna Tofauti'
Youth on the Move is an organization for and by the youth living with epilepsy which empowers them through awareness creation and innovative actions.
The youth come up with their wishes, ideas and plans on how to combat the misunderstanding and discrimination on epilepsy and take action to make this a reality.
Through their actions the youth want to pass over the following message:
- Epilepsy can happen to anyone, you don’t choose to have it
- Also in epilepsy you can make it
- Epilepsy is not contagious, not witchcraft, not devils possession, not God’s punishment
- We should be treated equally, epilepsy is not a reason to put us down
- Everyone needs to know how to help during a seizure!
Youth on the Move trained six youth with epilepsy as professional youth coordinators in 2008. Read here about their motivation to be part of the project!
YotM Youth Coordinators In-Training
- Famed Genge artist Jua Cali with Roselyn Atieno, one of the YotM Youth Coordinators in-training. Jua Cali sang the song 'Hakuna Tofauti' in collaboration with the Movers.
It is six months since YotM opened its doors to 12 new youth coordinators in-training.
The training for these 12 youth, six with epilepsy and six without epilepsy began in February 2010. These youth will be trained on Personal Development, Team leadership, Coaching, Culture and Identity even as they interact with a diverse population.
The 12 youth in-training are always available at the training center to answer any questions on epilepsy or Youth on the move. These Movers also avail themselves on Wednesdays at the Karen Clinic, Thursdays at the Riruta Clinic and Friday at the Mathare clinic. At the clinic, they interact with other youth with epilepsy, educating them and showing them that they can live beyond epilepsy!
These movers have gone through different phases of a team since they got here. From the time they needed to be included, the time they have struggled to find their place in the team as leaders and followers to the affection phase where they have grown fond of each other. It has not been smooth sailing due to some conflicts that sometimes come up with youth but using the conflict resolution skills they have been taught in Teamwork, they are able to move on to become an even stronger team.
The youth also have picnics once a month. The picnic is part of team building and just unwinding from the normal hustles and bustles that can be life. During these picnics, many activities take place and members of the public are always encouraged to join in. Details are always up-dated on the Youth on the Move facebook group.
Saturdays are always an important day as it is the day that Movers get together with other youth to discuss issues in a meeting dubbed Movers Meeting with the highlight being the 'Sikika' Talk. 'Sikika' comes from the swahili word 'sikia' - to hear and Sikika means to be heard. In the meetings, everyone's opinion is valued and taken into consideration. This is part of the Movers activities to establish self- awareness and self-esteem within themselves and among peers.
Many topics are covered during these days, from Entrepreneurship, Infidelity, Boy-Girl Relationships to Living positively with Epilepsy among other topics that touch the lives of the you.