𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐃𝐅 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐑𝐇𝐑 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠… 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐧’𝐭!

When NairoBits Trust & RHRN Kenya took over the People’s Dialogue Festival this year, we didn’t just participate – we transformed the conversation.

As MC guiding the first-ever SRHR Village, I witnessed history being made firsthand.

The Centre for Multiparty Democracy‘s hashtag#PDF2025 began in 2019 and focused broadly on policy discussions to one that now creates safe spaces for Kenya’s most pressing conversations; the evolution has been remarkable!

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐑𝐇𝐑 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠:
✅ Youth-centered approach: Two tailored sections meeting different age groups exactly where they are – because a 15-year-old’s needs differ from a 20-year-old’s!

✅ Mental health integration: Professional therapists provided on-site support, acknowledging that SRHR discussions can trigger deep emotions.

✅ Evidence-based conversations: Research exhibitions showcased real solutions rather than theoretical talk.

✅ Breaking taboos with fun: Our SRHR Bingo games turned nervous giggles into honest questions. One participant told me, “I’ve never been able to say these words out loud before.”

✅ Real-world impact: The statistics from Homa Bay weren’t just numbers – they showed us why these conversations save lives.

✅ Culture meets health rights: @Wesley Atwetwe and Sharon Sitati‘s debate proved traditional rites of passage could strengthen SRHR education rather than hinder it.

This matters because:

1️⃣When youth speak openly about SRHR, they make safer choices
Breaking taboos reduces stigma and shame
2️⃣Bridging culture and health rights makes progress possible

~As shared on LinkedIn by Alex Oburu, NairoBits Trust.