Adolescent and Young People (AYP) Program: A Pilot for a Changing HIV Landscape
Since Untold's inception, we have focused on recruiting and caring for adults living with HIV. This targeted care strengthens family units; when adults are embraced and equipped, children are no longer at risk of losing one or both parents to HIV/AIDS. Over the past five years, though, the HIV burden has shifted from adults to young people in Sub-Saharan Africa. In response to this demographic burden shift, Untold piloted an Adolescent and Young People (AYP) Program for 15-24 year olds that operates in tandem with our adult program. Many of these young people will become parents one day, and we want to help them build strong families from the start. As of 2025, we have expanded this pilot into all of our urban centers, and we serve at least 10 members of the AYP population in each class of clients.
In addition to the robust counseling-based curriculum all clients experience throughout the Untold program, adolescent and youth clients have access to special services, including camp opportunities during school breaks. These overnight camps provide time and space for young clients to participate in intensified group therapy, art therapy, hear from motivational speakers, and more.
Alongside the center’s two full-time counselors, a Male Champion, and a Community Health Worker, these centers also employ Adolescent and Youth Peer Counselors (AYP Counselors) — young people living with HIV who have completed the program themselves and are trained to recruit, mentor, and walk alongside new AYP clients throughout the nine-month journey.
Spearheading the success of the pilot is AYP Coordinator George Otieno, someone familiar with the challenges the young people he works with face. Having been born with HIV, Georgia is equipped to help clients deconstruct stigma. “Having been a young person not too long ago, whenever we face adversity in life, we look for an easy way out. Through interacting with them, I learn more about how to help them stay and find solutions,” he says.
AYP Client Spotlight: Justine
At just 13 years old, Justine took on an unexpected new title: mother. Her shock deepened during an prenatal visit, where her positive HIV status was confirmed. Justine self-stigma poured into every part of her life, and she bought into misinformation she heard about her ARVs. She disposed of her medication and isolated herself from others, including her daughter after she was born. Out of fear of passing the virus along to her child, she refused to breastfeed her, despite encouragement from health workers.
“That fear affected my relationship with my daughter. I was afraid to even touch her. The truth is, I’ve struggled to love her. I've given her everything she asks for, but without love."
Justine was initially drawn to the Untold program to delve into economic empowerment seminars, but ended up gaining so much more. Not only did the counselors speak life into her, being around other people with HIV helped her put her walls down. She now has three people in the program whom she considers her best friends.
To anchor her through it all, Justine gave her life to Christ after learning more about Him in the spiritual counseling sessions. "I’ve learned how to pray and believe in God for everything. I’ve seen His faithfulness come to pass in my life,” she says.
Justine wasn't working before Untold, but now is earning income as a hairdresser, a skill she learned during the program. The savings group she joined is helping her actualize her dreams of owning a salon. Most importantly, she is ready to step up for her daughter and “be the mother she deserves.”
“I used to have no hope, but today, I have hope. I love myself, and I’m ready to start a new life.”
