1. LAIKIPIA PEER EDUCATORS (LAPEED)
Maryanne Wangui Nyokabi
KENYA

2. Why were we established?
We shared common challenges such as denied access to health services, rampant violence from the police and the clients and infringement of our rights as sex workers
We were also very ignorant of our rights
We as a collective needed to be united and air out our grievances and issues in unison
Due the empowerment I got from the Sex Workers Academy Africa (SWAA) as a faculty member I needed to empower others and cascade down the knowledge and skills to all the members of my community

3. Milestones of LAPEED
The Sex Workers Academy Africa (SWAA) has played a great role in the formation and organizing of LAPEED
It has continuously provided capacity building and empowerment to LAPEED members through different forums and meetings where its members have been trained and imparted with knowledge and skills
Advocacy has being carried out and peaceful demonstrations by LAPEED members to constantly advocate for sex workers rights
Skills and knowledge gained from the Sex workers Academy Africa has seen the organizations' growth and thus the importance of investing in communities and meaningful engagement being a key element in empowerment

4. In the cascade of the HIV
Currently focusing on prevention – we provide health information as well build capacity for sex workers to negotiate and use condoms with clients
As a collective, a quarter of us are living positively with HIV and receive support to access ART as well as adherence to treatment and this is made possible by the formation of support groups

5. Impact of our activities
Improved adherence to treatment among members
Self disclosure has improved
Increased uptake of condoms subsequently reducing STIs/HIV infection among members
The collective is more empowered than when we started
Sex workers now feel a sense of belonging and can gather and assemble

6. Challenges
Violence remains a great challenge and a threat to the lives of sex workers
The collective is not yet fully empowered to receive direct donor funding
Constant rape cases and sex workers being murdered still remains a major hindrance to equality and justice

7. Sex workers in Nanyuki demonstrating and showing solidarity after one of their own was murdered.
LAPEED organized the demonstration and mobilized its members in huge numbers to fight for their rights as sex workers

8. Lessons Learned from SWAA resourcing LAPEED
We should advocate for sex worker–led interventions since they understand better their needs better than anyone else
When sex workers are empowered, they take charge of their lives and change for the better
There's a great importance to invest in communities particularly those of sex workers – more funding is needed to ensure sex worker-led programs like SWAA continue and expand
Capacity building and community empowerment are critical elements needed in a sex workers organizing

9. Thank You