I have worked with different sexworkers protection and Rights promotion in the past five years providing both programme and administrative support in local and National initiatives across Kenya. My experience both at the local level, National level and international has given me multi-cultural and group experience and extensive skills on the different dynamics of interaction and challenges that sex workers have been facing including the trauma they have had to endure in view of the false beliefs of HIV/AIDs by the communities.

Maurine Murenga is a passionate advocate for the health, development and human rights of women and girls living with HIV and a pioneer of the young women and adolescent girls living with HIV movement in Kenya. Maurine’s passion for advocacy was driven by her lived experience and the inequalities and vulnerabilities young women and adolescent girls living with HIV were experiencing in her community. She founded ‘Lean on Me Foundation’, an organization that provides comprehensive care and support to adolescent girls and young women living with HIV and affected by TB in Kenya.

Maurine currently works as the Global Fund Coordinator of the International Community of Women Living with HIV (ICW Global). She is a member of Gender Technical Committee on HIV and AIDS in Kenya, The Communities Delegation to the Global Fund and the Global Fund Advocates Network.

I have been living with HIV since 2001 and identify as a queer, feminist, artist and activist. As a graduate of the young people’s movement, I have a deep love for supporting young women, adolescents and girls via CYWAG. In addition I have been very active around issues such as criminalization of HIV and other marginalized communities such as sex workers, people who use drugs and LGBTQ. These days I am interested in collectively building a strong, transformative, feminist movement of empowered, passionate ICW women that are going to heal the world.