Kenya
He/Him
2023 Cohort
Passionate about transforming sexual health education and promoting pleasure as an integral part of well-being, Deogratia Apwoka Okoko is a dynamic and visionary leader. With over 6 years of experience in driving impactful economic and community development initiatives, Deogratia has dedicated his career to creating positive change in the lives of young men.
Pleasure inclusive SRHR curriculum 
Deogratia Apwoka Okoko is a passionate SRHR practitioner with over eight years of experience designing and advocating for youth-cantered, gender-transformative, and pleasure-positive health programs in Kenya’s coastal counties. He works at Moving the Goalposts (MTG), integrating SRHR, safeguarding, and football-for-development to create safe, inclusive spaces for young people. A Pleasure Fellow with The Pleasure Project, Deo champions sexual wellbeing, pleasure advocacy, and rights-based programming. His work addresses gender-based violence, HIV prevention, teenage pregnancy, and harmful practices like FGM. Deo has moderated regional conversations on masculinity, sport, and pleasure, and was recently featured by CNN for his leadership
During his Pleasure Fellowship, Deogratia led the OpenTalk Project, which integrated pleasure-positive SRHR education into sport-for-development programs in Kenya’s coastal counties. Targeting young men aged 9 to 24, the project trained 30 coaches to deliver engaging, consent-focused sessions to 623 players. Key themes included pleasure, consent, gender equality, and healthy communication. The project resulted in a 30% increase in SRHR knowledge and a 15% improvement in attitudes among participants. Ongoing support and supervision help ensure the continued impact and sustainability of the initiative within community teams.
Deogratia is currently leading male engagement efforts at Moving the Goalposts (MTG), integrating pleasure-positive SRHR into sports-based programs for boys and young men. He is expanding the OpenTalk model, providing support supervision for trained coaches, and co-developing a refined curriculum. Additionally, Deogratia engages in advocacy through regional platforms like MenEngage Africa and collaborates with local partners on community-driven SRHR initiatives. He is also part of the Equal Play Effect network, contributing to regional discussions on pleasure-inclusive approaches and exploring new partnerships to scale impact across Kenya’s coastal region.
Highlights
Deogratia plans to develop a pleasure inclusive SRHR curriculum working with young men in Kenya.
The OpenTalk Project, implemented during Deogratia’s Pleasure Fellowship, aimed to integrate pleasure-positive, rights-based sexual and reproductive health education into sports-for-development spaces targeting young men (ages 9–24) in Kilifi, Mombasa, Kwale, and Tana River Counties, Kenya. Using football as a mobilization tool, the project provided an innovative platform to engage boys and young men in critical conversations on consent, pleasure, healthy relationships, and gender equality.
Deogratia and his team developed an adapted curriculum drawing from The Pleasure Principles and Moving the Goalposts’ SRHR manual, utilizing interactive football drills to simplify complex SRHR topics. A total of 30 male coaches were trained to deliver 40-minute pleasure-inclusive sessions before football practice to 623 players across 30 community teams.
Since its completion, the project has evolved into a sustained advocacy model within Moving the Goalposts’ Young Men Engagement Program (YMEP). The team continues to monitor and support coaches through regular supervision visits, ensuring consistent delivery and quality of sessions. Post-training assessments have shown a 30% increase in SRHR knowledge and a 15% improvement in attitudes towards consent and pleasure. Communication skill outcomes are being tracked through ongoing field-based assessments.
Despite funding challenges, the project catalyzed broader community dialogue around pleasure and contributed to shifting harmful norms among young men. It has been showcased at regional platforms like the MenEngage Africa Symposium and featured by CNN, reinforcing its value and scalability.
The Pleasure Fellowship was transformative it deepened my understanding of pleasure as a vital part of sexual health and empowered me to boldly integrate it into youth programming. It challenged me to reframe conversations with boys and young men, shifting from fear-based to pleasure-positive approaches. The experience not only strengthened my voice as an advocate but also inspired new partnerships and innovations in sport-for-development spaces. It affirmed that pleasure is not a luxury it is a right.
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© 2025 The Pleasure Project. All rights reserved.
The Pleasure Project is an initiative by Taking Action for Sexual Health CIC.
© 2025 The Pleasure Project.
All rights reserved.
The Pleasure Project is an initiative by Taking Action for Sexual Health CIC.
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