Last week, the Reproductive Health Network Kenya held its 1st Pan-African Conference on Adolescent and Youth SRHR, bringing together a vibrant community of civil society organizations, government representatives, young people, researchers, development partners, and movement leaders across the continent.
The SRHR Alliance Kenya was front and center — and I couldn’t be prouder of how we showed up, both visibly and behind the scenes. From meaningful conversations to bold sessions and beautiful booth engagements, we leaned in fully, grounded in our mission and led by purpose.
Here’s a glimpse into how we moved:
Our booth? A vibe.
A hub of exchange, creativity, and visibility, we connected with SRHR experts, regional peers, young leaders, and curious allies who stopped by to play, ask questions, and learn about our work. Thanks to our team’s strategic flair, even the visuals spoke our language.
We held a boldly themed session: “Whose Body is This?”
An unapologetic, engaging panel exploring the politicization of women’s bodies across religion, culture, and policy. The room was packed. The perspectives? Rich. The energy? Equal parts provocative and joyful. We made space for critical thought, shared laughter, and storytelling that matters.
We hosted a side event on pleasure and CSE.
https://youtu.be/oyCxlRvuuVw
Yes, we said the word: Pleasure. And people leaned in. The conversations were bold, fun, reflective and grounded in data, strategy, and a shared desire to shift how sexuality education is taught and felt.
Behind the Scenes: Quiet Excellence.
The Alliance team worked with intention, developing and preparing IEC materials tailored to diverse audiences, managing booth interactions, capturing meaningful photos, documenting insights and quotes, and actively supporting each other across the days. We hope everyone we encountered found our session meaningful and sparked an interest in implementing SRHR interventions with a sprinkle of positivity. Scratch that, with a heapful of positivity.
We also showed up for our partners: attending their side events, lending support, and amplifying their visibility too, because movement building is collective work.
My Takeaway?
SRHR work is not just about information, it’s about imagination. We need strategy, yes. But we also need relationships, innovation, and joy. We grow when we connect. We influence when we show up boldly, We win when we move together.
To the incredible SRHR Alliance team, thank you for moving with grace and power.
To the SRHR community, thank you for being in conversation with us.
And to every young person finding their voice in this movement, we see you, we honor you, we’re here for you.
Leading with Heart and Purpose, Judy Amina
