New beginnings for Nyambura!

For years Nyambura knew not any other source of income. She started selling sex at the tender age of 16 to feed her poor parents and pay for her secondary education. Immediately after finishing her high school examinations in 2005, she took the first bus to Mombasa-in hope of making it big in sex trade. A friend residing in the city had once told her of how lucrative this business was over there.

In Mombasa, life fell short of her expectations. Instead of making a quick buck and living it big, The 26 year then only 19 years old,  had to put up with a friend who shared her one roomed apartment with six other women-all sex workers-not  to mention the constant harassment from police ,uncooperative clients and fights with other twilight girls sprawling the Sabasaba street-a sex trade haven in Mombasa.

Today, Nyambura-says she is alive because of a decision she made in 2010.That year, she followed a friend to a group meeting in her neighborhood .She liked the discussion as the girls spoke openly about their issues and in the end she got free condoms.

 “My friend asked me to accompany her to one of the sessions. I enjoyed being in their company so I joined them. ” explains Nyambura

Through the group she has been involved in behavior change programs with adequate access to information on HIV and STI prevention, care and treatment services. She learned how to protect herself from disease infection and where to go for treatment. In addition she runs her own home-made soap business from skills she acquired from her peers. Now, Nyambura uses proceeds from her business to fend for her two children-something she is really grateful for.

Since her exposure to health programs, Nyambura works closely with Community health workers and the local administration from her home area  in hygiene and community health sensitization programs. She is now a respected community member.

Although she has not completely stopped sex work, Nyambura is grateful that that she does not rely on it anymore. She distributes condoms to other sex workers and sensitizes them on its proper use and HIV care and treatment services.

 Names have been changed to protect identities