Challenges Adolescent Girls Face Today

Every year, on June 16th and June 26th, the Day of the African Child and World Drugs Day are commemorated world over. In 2022, the theme of the two events were “Eliminating Harmful Practices Affecting Children: Progress on Policy & Practice since 2013” and “Addressing Drug Challenges in Health and Humanitarian

Crises” respectively.

Whereas the Day of the African Child sought to appraise progress made and reflect on lost and missed policy-related opportunities to effectively eliminate harmful practices affecting Kenyan Children; the World Drug Day called on different actors to enhance access to controlled medicines, evidence-based care, treatment and services; and support to prevent negative coping behaviours.

These events are critical, and underscore the need to involve and amplify the voices of young people in
recognizing and taking action to address harmful practices that impede their wellbeing; and ability to
thrive and reach their full potential.

In lieu of these events, Students Campaign Against Drugs (SCAD) organized consultations with
adolescents drawn from different schools in Kiambu and Nairobi Counties, to understand their
perspectives on drug use, as well as other challenges they face in health and humanitarian crises.