Stories of Change

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The Beginning of the End: The Story Of Lisa Akinyi

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The Beginning of the End: The Story Of Lisa Akinyi

This powerful story, "The Beginning Of The End: The Story Of Lisa Akinyi," recounts the tragic journey of 19-year-old Lisa, who contracted HIV/AIDS due to ignorance and risky behavior. Narrated in 1994, Lisa's experience highlights the devastating consequences of a lack of awareness. Her story details a strict upbringing, followed by a naive encounter that leads to pregnancy, abandonment, the loss of her premature baby, and an HIV diagnosis. Facing isolation from her family and the burden of her secret, Lisa's cheerfulness becomes a mask for profound inner misery. Republished by Jaslika, this narrative is a poignant reminder that 30 years later, nearly half of Kenyan teenagers still lack adequate knowledge about HIV/AIDS prevention, urging us to reflect on what has truly changed.

Of Perfumes and Lipsticks: The Story of a Child Prostitute

A recent survey done by the Undugu Society of Kenya reveals that a good number of girls who stream into Nairobi to work as maids end up as prostitutes on the streets whether voluntarily, by persuasion or by coercion. The story below is the true story of Muhonja (not her own name) as told to us by herself. She wants the whole world to share her love and laughter, and suffer her hate and tribulations. The story illustrates how even well-intentioned parents may unwittingly pave the way for the sexual and economic exploitation of their young daughters by sending them to work as poorly paid, overworked maids in the city of dazzling lights, Nairobi.