To enhance youth-driven HIV and AIDS interventions in their country, as well as the region, Partner Collaborating in Youth Empowerment in Kenya (PACOYEK) was formed in 2002 to scale up joint youth strategies to address the pandemic.

The coalition consists of Kenya Red Cross Society, Kenya Scouts Association, Kenya Girl Guide Association, the President’s Award, Young Men’s Christian Association and Young Women’s Christian Association, the Kenyan version of the global partnership known as the Alliance of youth CEOs, working together to expand HIV prevention, care and support by and for young people.

Drawing strength from their existing structures, programmes and large grassroots networks, and targeting the ages of 6 to 30 years, the coalition aims to reach six million youth in Kenya from 2004 to 2008. The youth are involved in every step of the process — planning, implementation and evaluation. Through the collaboration, the youth are able to support each other, share resources and ideas. A peer education manual has been developed, and 350 trainers of trainees and 1,200 peer educators are trained. PACOYEK youth participate in international youth forums and outreach activities. Similar coalitions have been formed in Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Ghana.

Thanks to Tracy Mboli of Kenya Red Cross Society for her valuable input to this article.