In Kenya’s informal settlements, where 70% of the population are young people, adolescent girls and young women face severe systemic inequality. In places like Korogocho, Dandora, and Mathare, high rates of teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence, maternal health crises, and economic vulnerability are not coincidences, they are the direct outcome of public health systems and municipal budgets that ignore the voices and needs of youth.

Founded in 2022, Xolani Women of Hope was born from a fundamental belief: young women and youth in informal settlements are not just passive beneficiaries of services or victims of poverty, they are rights-holders, community leaders, and essential policy advocates.

What began as a community-based initiative targeting economic empowerment and green skills has evolved into a movement for civic participation, gender justice, and health rights advocacy. We recognize that sustainable livelihoods and health equity cannot be achieved without transparent local governance, responsive health spending, and direct community oversight.

Today, Xolani organizes, equips, and mobilizes youth and women across Nairobi’s informal settlements to track public resources, demand accountable budget allocation, and hold decision-makers accountable—ensuring that those who use community services have a direct say in how budgets are planned and spent.