BEYOND: A Youth-Led HIV Stigma Reduction and Peer Mentorship Program

PROJECT TITLE
Beyond Status: Peer-Led HIV Stigma Reduction and Youth Mentorship Program in Coastal Kenya

PROJECT OVERVIEW
Beyond Status Initiative (BSI) is a registered, youth-led Community-Based Organization (CBO) based in Likoni, Mombasa County, Kenya. Founded in December 2025 by Mwanaidi Chamosi, a young woman living with HIV who experienced stigma firsthand, BSI delivers peer-led mentorship, safe spaces, and awareness programs that empower young people to move beyond the labels society puts on them — HIV positive, rape survivor, mentally ill, "damaged goods" — and help them see that they are more than any single status.

THE PROBLEM
Coastal Kenya, particularly Mombasa, Kwale, and Kilifi counties, faces a severe youth HIV burden exacerbated by stigma, lack of safe spaces, and limited youth-friendly services.

Challenge Mombasa Kwale Kilifi Source
HIV prevalence (youth) 4.5% 3.2% (hotspots up to 6%) 2.5% (Kilifi North 3.6%) NASCOP, County Reports
Youth HIV testing coverage Low 31% Low Kwale CASP
Youth on ART — 2,000+ 26,307 adults; 1,653 children County Health Data
Teen pregnancies (2021) — 9,000+ Part of "triple threat" The Star, Health PS
GBV (girls before 18) 1 in 3 — — National Data
Youth unemployment 40%+ High High Local estimates
Key population HIV prevalence (FSW) — Up to 29% — NASCOP
What existing programs miss:

Adult-led → youth don't trust them

One-off workshops → no lasting support

Avoid HIV entirely due to stigma

No follow-up → youth left alone

No key population focus → FSW, MSM, PWID, transgender youth excluded

Male survivors invisible → "men don't get raped" myth persists

OUR SOLUTION
Mentorship as the primary engine. Everything happens inside trusted peer relationships. Youth trust youth. Lived experience builds credibility.

Our 7-Week Curriculum
Week Topic Key Sub-topics
1 Life Skills Social skills, emotional skills, critical thinking, decision making
2 Personal Development & Growth Goal setting, discipline, confidence, overcoming fear
3 Advanced Mental Health & Resilience Dealing with failure, emotional resilience, healing from trauma, coping strategies, referral pathways (Befrienders Kenya 1199)
4 Understanding Your Body, Consent & Boundaries Puberty, consent (FRIES model), peer pressure, healthy vs unhealthy relationships
5 Protection, Risks & Responsible Choices Pregnancy basics, STIs, protection methods (condoms, PrEP, Dapivirine ring, injectable cabotegravir), where to get help
6 HIV Awareness U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable), stigma reduction, testing as courage, adherence support
7 Gender-Based Violence Types of GBV (physical, sexual, emotional, economic), reporting pathways (1195, 116), support for male survivors
Our Core Programs
# Program Target Group Status Key Activities
1 Mentorship & Safe Spaces Program Youth 10-24 Active 7-week curriculum, 2 sessions/month, 20 core mentees
2 Health & Awareness Program Youth, community Active HIV education (U=U), mental health first aid, SRHR
3 Protection & Support Program Youth, male survivors Active GBV awareness, consent education, safeguarding, male survivor support
4 Dignity Support Initiative Girls, young women Active Sanitary pad distribution (200+ girls/year), menstrual health education
5 Youth Empowerment Program Youth, young women Active Financial literacy, budgeting, saving, entrepreneurship
6 Stigma Breakers Campaigns Community, schools Active School tours, street activations, art activism, community dialogues
7 Internal Therapy Sessions Members, mentors Active Group therapy, peer support circles, individual check-ins
8 Schools Mentorship Outreach Primary & secondary schools Active 7 schools in Likoni, 3,000+ students accessible
9 Podcast: "Beyond Status – Unlabeled" Youth, public Planned Weekly episodes on stigma, HIV, mental health, GBV, key populations
10 Economic Empowerment Pipeline Youth, young women Planned Financial literacy training, business starter kits (KES 5,000 grant)
11 Male Survivor Support Program Male survivors Planned Confidential individual support, referral, advocacy for male rape kits
12 Key Population Support Program FSW, MSM, PWID, transgender youth Planned Confidential individual support, referral to friendly services, no police involvement
OUR GEOGRAPHIC GROWTH PLAN
Phase Timeline Geography Youth Reach (Cumulative) Key Partners
Phase 1 Year 1 (2026-2027) Mombasa (anchor) 300+ Swahilipot Hub, Close the Gap, 7 schools
Phase 2 Year 2 (2027-2028) Kwale 600+ Teens Watch Centre, Base Titanium, Kenya Red Cross
Phase 3 Year 3 (2028-2029) Kilifi 1,000+ Angaza Initiative, YVAI, Asante Aid, NCPD
Phase 4 Year 4-5 (2029-2031) Beyond (National/East Africa) 2,000+ TBD
OUR REACH & CAPACITY
Current Reach (as of May 2026)
Metric Number
Registered members 79 (61% female)
Trained peer mentors 20
Partner schools (Likoni) 7
Students reachable through schools 3,000+
Youth reached annually 200+
Mentorship sessions per year 24
Sanitary pad recipients (annual) 200+ girls
Our Team
Position Name Phone
Founder & Executive Director Mwanaidi Chamosi 0728763473
Programs Director (In charge of all matters) Ramadhan Mvudi 0758086186
Head of Mentorship Mwanasiti Mohamed 0704494496
Head of Finance Hamis Mohammed 0758095450
Secretary Arshe —

Our Partner Schools (Likoni Sub-County)
# School Name Type
1 Shikadabu Primary School Primary
2 Maji Safi Primary School Primary
3 Likoni Primary School Primary
4 Mwaweche Primary School Primary
5 Mishimboko Girls High School Secondary
6 Mtongwe Girls High School Secondary
7 Likoni Secondary School Secondary
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT
Typical Youth Program Beyond Status Initiative
Adult-led Youth-led & youth-governed
One-off workshop 12 months continuous support
Avoids HIV Centers lived experience (founder living with HIV)
No follow-up 20 core mentees with monthly check-ins
No key population focus Confidential programs for FSW, MSM, PWID, transgender youth
Male survivors ignored Dedicated male survivor support program
Vague budget Full line-item transparency
No safeguarding Written policy + hotline referral
Stays in one location Clear geographic expansion plan (Mombasa → Kwale → Kilifi → Beyond)
OUR SAFEGUARDING COMMITMENT
All BSI facilitators and peer mentors must:

Sign a Code of Conduct

Sign a Confidentiality Agreement

Complete safeguarding training

Follow the two-adult rule (no one-on-one closed-door meetings)

Report any safeguarding concern immediately to the Executive Director

Safeguarding Reporting Pathway:
Youth feels unsafe → tells any mentor or calls founder → founder receives within 24 hours → if urgent, call child helpline/GBV hotline → if not urgent, confidential log + follow-up within 72 hours → action taken → youth informed

OUR CONFIDENTIAL CODE SYSTEM (For Sensitive Records)
BSI uses a confidential code system (BSI-CF-XXX) to protect the identity of:

Category Code Range Access
Members living with HIV CF-001 to CF-050 Executive Director only
Male survivors CF-051 to CF-070 Executive Director + Programs Director
Key populations (FSW, MSM, PWID, transgender) CF-071 to CF-090 Executive Director only
Safeguarding disclosures CF-091 to CF-100 Executive Director only
No real names are recorded in sensitive files.

OUR BUDGET
Package Amount (KES) Amount (USD) Impact
Core Package 299,000 ~$2,300 24 sessions, 20 mentees, basic dignity supplies
Mid-Tier Package 500,000 ~$3,850 Core + double dignity + 2 more mentors + graduation event
Growth Package 1,000,000 ~$7,700 Mid-Tier + part-time coordinator + M&E software + second location
Cost per youth reached: ~KES 1,000 (~$7.70 USD) per year

OUR FUNDING NEEDS
Priority Donor/Funder Amount Timeline
High Root to Rise KES 500,000 - 1,000,000 Ongoing (matching funds)
High Local CSR (Base Titanium, KCB) KES 300,000 - 500,000 Ongoing
Medium EmpowHER Fund (Aidsfonds) €50,000 - 100,000 November 2026
Medium GlobalGiving $5,000 - 10,000 Ongoing
Medium County Government (Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi) KES 200,000 - 500,000 Rolling
CONTACT INFORMATION
Name Position Phone Email
Mwanaidi Chamosi Founder & Executive Director 0728763473 beyondstatus2@gmail.com
Ramadhan Mvudi Programs Director (In charge of all matters) 0758086186 beyondstatus2@gmail.com
Mwanasiti Mohamed Head of Mentorship 0704494496 beyondstatus2@gmail.com
Hamis Mohammed Head of Finance 0758095450 beyondstatus2@gmail.com
Organization Email: beyondstatus2@gmail.com
Location: Likoni, Mombasa County, Kenya
Registration: Registered CBO – Mombasa County

END OF FULL PROJECT DESCRIPTION

QUICK REFERENCE CARD
Field Value
Project Title Beyond Status: Peer-Led HIV Stigma Reduction and Youth Mentorship Program in Coastal Kenya
Organization Beyond Status Initiative (BSI)
Location Likoni, Mombasa County, Kenya
Founded December 2025
Founder Mwanaidi Chamosi (young woman living with HIV)
Mission Empower youth through mentorship, safe spaces, and awareness programs
Annual Reach 200+ youth (current); 300+ youth (target)
Peer Mentors 20 trained
Partner Schools 7
Key Focus Areas HIV stigma reduction, mental health, GBV (including male survivors), key populations, life skills
Geographic Plan Mombasa → Kwale → Kilifi → Beyond
Email beyondstatus2@gmail.com
Phone 0758086186 / 0728763473