GET UR MIX OUT MID TERM REPORT 2013

Get your mix out: Reach a Hand Mid-term

Report 2013 Report

www.reachahand.org

CONTENTS Introduction Activities

2

3

Cultural Icons

5

Mbwase Activations

6

Special thanks to:

R

Foreword As young people for young people we like to communicate about issues concerning our sexuality and well-being and recognize our sexual rights by building skills and reaching out to other young people and encourage them to positively enjoy the aspects of their sexual health and sexuality.

RAHU prides itself in identifying with the young people, involving them at every step of the project right from planning, content development, training, implementation and evaluation. In this project RAHU has attracted a pool of over 100 volunteers and interns that were trained as peer educators to support and implement the program.

With funding from MTV staying alive Foundation and support from local partners and well wishers RAHU was able to launch the 2013 version of the “Get ur Mix Out” school outreach program a Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) project in 30 schools aimed at triggering safer behavior and positive attitudes towards sexual health and HIV/AIDS and improving the role of young people in promoting good health.

Together with the young people RAHU developed the strap phrase or slogan “MBWAASE” that is a local Ugandan (Luganda) slung that means leaving or going from one place to another. Therefore, “Mbwaase” in this case means empowering young people with information and knowledge to reach their full potential, imagine and realize their future dreams. It literally means advancing from the ordinary level to a more informed and empowered level in life.

RAHU worked and consulted with other organizations and individuals that are doing similar youth programs to train peer educators, develop message materials, provide HCT services and acquire materials and resources that were disseminated through channels and platforms like social media and in a language that young people appreciate and understand.

Today’s young people often look for inspiration and direction from celebrated and renown personalities in various disciplines such as music, art, theatre, fashion, health and business, therefore it’s on this basis that Reach a Hand Uganda uses cultural icons who act as ambassadors that share their experiences and give inspiration talks and meaningful direction to the young people we reach out to.

I also take this opportunity to thank the organizations and individuals that made it possible for RAHU to realize its intended project objectives in the first phase of the ‘Get your Mix Out’ campaign 2013. Our acknowledges go to: MTV STAYING ALIVE FOUNDATION, RUTGERS WPF, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH UGANDA (RHU), AMON MULYOWA OF COMMUNICATION CONSULTS, NTV UGANDA, CAPITAL FM, SCHOOL TIMES newspaper, INTERNATIONAL HEALTH SCIENCES UNIVERSITY (ISHU), CHILD AFRICA, SIKIA MEDIA SERVICES, PABLO LIVE, GO SMS, INC WEAR, KAMPALA CITY YANGE, RAHU VOLUNTEERS. RAHU hopes to create a generation of responsible young people who care and make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health and rights. ………………………………………..

Humphrey Nabimanya Team Leader RAHU

2 Introduction Get your mix out! Campaign which is a behavior Change campaign targeting young people between the ages of 15 to 24 focusing on empowering the youth to understand their sexuality as they grow in order to make informed choices in life and understand the aspects surrounding HIV/AIDS. The theme of the campaign is “My body, My life, My Choice” which encourages free and open d iscussions about sexual reproductive health issues among the youth. The theme is supported and promoted by a strap phrase or slogan “MBWAASE.” “Mbwasse” is a local Ugandan slung that means leaving or going from one place to another. It literally means advancing from the ordinary level t o the next best level.

Therefore, “Mbwaase” in this case means empowering young people with information and knowledge to reach their full potential, i magine and realize their future dreams.

It is a phrase that awakens the young people to the reality of preparing themselves on how to deal with their health choices and career a spirations a fter being empowered w ith s kills and knowledge about their sexuality.

The campaign was r olled out i n 19 s chools in f our districts (Kampala, Wakiso, Mpigi and Mukono)

3 Activities Stakeholders meetings A stakeholders meeting was held on‌.. at Reproductive Health Uganda conference room. The participants comprised of Head teachers, Partners and young people. This was aimed disseminating the campaign ideals and them adapting to it.

Volunteer recruitment and orietation RAHU received over 100 applications for volunteering during the campaign; these were interviewed by a panel arranged by RAHU and a total of 30 volunteers were selected. They were trained in communications skills, had refresher training on sexual reproductive health and rights issues. A data base of the volunteers has been put in place for easy monitoring and evaluation of the volunteers.

-pictures

Interest group SRHR workshops These were conducted in 14 schools. The young people were met in small groups. The volunteers would facilitate the sessions were the young people would identify challenges related to SRHR and HIV/AIDS and these were addressed by the peer educators and technical persons.

Focused Group Discussions These were conducted in 14 schools. The young people were met in small groups. The volunteers would facilitate the sessions were the young people would identify challenges related to SRHR and HIV/AIDS and these were addressed by the peer educators and technical persons.

Inspirational and career guidance presentation by keynote speakers RAHU has a unique approach of using celebrities and role models who give inspirational talks to the young people in the fields of reproductive health, career and education, sports and entertainment. These also become mentors to the young people during holidays.

-pictures -table list of personalities

Keynote Speakers Maj. Rubaramira Ruranga HIV AIDS activitists and executive director of the National Guidance and Empowerment Network of people living with HIV/Aids in Uganda (NGEN).

Milly Katana HIV AIDS activitists and Public Health Specialist at JSI/NuPITA PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISOR at Knowledge Management and Communications Centre

Sarah Kakayi Works with community reproductive health and sexual health services, NHJ Newharm United Kingdom

Julie Solberg A successful business woman and executive director child Africa.

Issac Ruchie Founder Kampala City Yange, Entrepreneur and Musician

Faridah Nambi Founder Nambi Children’s Initiative

Fauziah Nakiboneka Drama Producer at the Ebonies and Producer at VCL studios Kenneth Kimuli aka Pablo A celebrated comedian in Uganda and director Pablo Live

Awel Uwihanganye Foreign Policy, Communications, and Investment Consultant

5 Cultrual Icons Patrick Idringi aka Salvado Telecom Engineer, Founder &Director -The Krackers Ltd, Radio personality on 91.3 CapitalFm, Comedian & MC

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RAHU has a unique approach of using celebrities and role models who give inspirational talks to the young people in the fields of reproductive health, career and education, sports and entertainment.

Bedford Brian, Musician

Able 4, Musicians (Group)

Antonio & Phil, Dancers

Robin Kisti, TV personality

Moris Hassa, Advocate/Musician

Sylver Kyagulanyi, Advocate/Musician

TESTIMONIAL Testimony from a young positive (Nicole) Nicole Uwimana was born April 19 1990, in Kampala Uganda to Rwandese parents. She attended Buganda Road Primary school before joining Pal and Lisa secondary school.

Nicole lost her parents when young and was taken on by my aunt at the tender age of 4.

At 10 yrs she was defiled and i contracted HIV though she didn't know at the time.

"I used to take medication without knowledge of what ailment i was treating. from the time i was defiled, i went through a lot; stigmatized and mistreated by those i was staying because i was HIV + yet this was hidden away from me." Nicole says.

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"I used to take medication without knowledge of what ailment i was treating. from the time i was defiled, i went through a lot; stigmatized and mistreated by those i was staying because i was HIV + yet this was hidden away from me." Nicole says.

Nicole found out about her status in 2008 while she prepared for her S4 final exams after deciding on her own to take an HIV test.

"It was heartbreaking and very hard to believe. I was very bitter with my aunt because she hid this info from me." says Nicole.

Nicole accepted the fact that i was HIV+ because there was nothing she could change about it.

Nicole is currently a peer educator with Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU) and travels with the team whenever they visit schools. It is here that she shares her story encouraging students to have a positive out look towards life even when faced with the most threatening life condition.

7 MBWASE ACTIVATIONS

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During the activations this is when the whole school gets chance to be met a key note address is give the following activities take place during the activations

8 Number Of Young People Reached During Focused Group Discussions

HIV/AIDS skit by IHSU students

Live performances by local artists (Bedford, Bakri, Able 4 and Emma, Bad Heavy, Amy among others.)

Skits by students and RAHU volunteers

Student performances

9

10 NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE REACHED DURING ACTIVATIONS

Comparison of Young People Reached

11 Kyuka youth outreach dance messages KYUKA YOUTH OUTREACH is a ministry that use dance ,music, visual arts, drama, sports to catalyze a positive way of living with in communities. Kyuka is a luganda verb meaning ''change''. This ministry brings together people of different back grounds such as religion, age, tribe, status. During the campaign they performed dances with messages in relation to SRHR.

Media Outreach Facebook Twitter Website Tv Radio Newspapers

12 Website

Facebook

13 Twitter

14 HEALTH COUNSELLING AND TESTING BY REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH UGANDA AND REACH A HAND UGANDA Free HIV testing

In partnership with Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU), RAHU has carried out free HIV testing in schools. Young people instantly get there results and those that need referrals are handled by RHU

A student being tested by a UHMG pasonel

RESULTS

SEX School

Female

IUIU Kaboja

Male

Negative

150

149

1 3

Mbogo College

28

50

75

Atalas College

24

40

64

69

69

Sumayya Girls

Positive

Hana Mixed S.S

36

66

98

4

Lowell Girls

51

65

113

3

Hana Mixed S.S

6

103

104

5

Brilliant High Sch

13

48

60

1

Bishop Cyprian S.SDay

33

53

85

1

Bishop Cyprian Boarding

45

74

119

East High

86

22

108

School

322

740

1044

18

15 A PIE CHART SHOWING NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO TESTED

Impact of the School HCT Services It provided opportunity for YP to get to know their HIV STATUS for the first times since services and information had been extended proximal to where they spend most of their time at school

First time testers

Second time testers

Male

279

43

Female

663

77

Total

942

120

RAHU-RHU HCT RESULTS PER SCHOOL AND GENDER

16

Referral services for CD4 count were done to those who tested positive Those identified with STIs were referred for more diagnosis and management Some schools like Hana Mixed school were able to understand and appreciate female and male condom usage since several demonstrations and educative sessions were conducted.

Some young persons were referred for safe male circumcision to government health centers near their place of stay as a result of the interventions by both RAHU and RHU team.

IEC materials like posters.stickers on reproductive Health were distributed to students.

Personal testimonies from HIV activists helped young persons to test for HIV/AIDS’ We appreciate the support provided by parents of those students who tested positive for understanding and appreciating the work of Reproductive Health Uganda-Youth department,Kampala branch and Reach A hand Uganda team for facilitating disclosure since some parents contacted had previously failed to disclose to their children

Lesson learnt

Integrated ASRHR services enhances youths to access services and information when extended to places where they spend most of the time like schools.

Challenges

Sometimes, shortages for HIV algorithm testing kits interfered with high turn up of students which necessitate d mobilization for kits from other partners plus going back to some schools to provide services to several young persons, hence more resources need to be added plus services for STI diagnosis on site.

Concerns by young people

young people for young people

Reach a hand

Plot 566, Kigowa Rd. Ntinda P.O.Box 21288, Kampala Uganda info@reachahand.org Tel: +256 (0) 312 275 683 Cell: +256 (0) 774 256 109 www.reachahand.org