RAHU QUARTLY NEWS LETTER

RAHU

Quar ter l y Newsletter Volume 1 Issue 1 February - April 2012

Inside

Peer Led Education Sessions

Teachers Worksshops GetH20 game Advocacy campaign - Hold on Song

young people for young

info@reachahanduganda.org www.reachahanduganda.org

Contents: 1. Foreword................................................................. 3 2.

The Get your mix out! Campaign............................ 4

3.

Peer Educators Orientation.................................... 5

4.

Role Models Orientation........................................ 5

5. Peer Led Education Sessions.................................. 6

Mbogo College School.................................. 6

East High School............................................ 6

Lowel Girls School......................................... 7

Bethany High School..................................... 7

Emma High School......................................... 7

Our Lady Of Africa S.S. Namilyango............. 8 Teachers Workshops.....................................

8 6.

Focused Group Discussions.................................... 9

7.

Geth20 Game........................................................... 10

8.

Hold On Song – Advocacy Campaign..................... 11

9.

Pictorial RAHU......................................................... 12

10.

Concerns raised by young people.......................... 13

11.

Our Facebook Page................................................. 14

12. Partners................................................................... 15

Editorial Team

Bakshi Asuman

Tumwebaze Carolyne

Namara Jesica 2

Atukunda Daisy

Foreword by the Team Leader T

his campaign has been effective this quarter which has been focusing on Sexual and reproductive health education and empowerment which is a basic investment to young people, -this includes linkages to HIV and AIDS, and has been proven as the most cost effective intervention possible for empowering young people make informed choices in life.

Being the young people are the majority we believe delivering information and skills on their sexuality and behavior has contributed to the character development towards the responsibility of young Ugandans.

RAHU has contributed towards creation of a young nation that will support the development of the society.

In the 1st quarter of 2012 RAHU kicked off the implementation of a youth based campaign dabbed “GET UR MIX OUT�; Young people are often not visible in debates on sexual and reproductive health, and the continued refusal of some powerful institutions to address the realities of 21st century living, in particular for young people, places both present and future generations at risk.

RAHU is a key player in empowering young people with Sexual Reproductive and Health information using a peer led education model.

As this newsletter demonstrates, RAHU continues to learn from its experiences. We remain committed to a culture of increasing efficiency, effectiveness and accountability to the young people.

As RAHU we would like to appreciate the efforts of RAHU peer educators, volunteers, role models and partners for the grate work and engagement with RAHU towards empowering the young people.

Humphrey Nabimanya Team leader

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GET YOUR MIX OUT CAMPAIGN Get your mix out! Campaign is a Behavior Change strategy targeting young people between the ages of 15 to 24 focusing on empowering young to understand their sexuality as they grow in order to make informed choices in life and understanding the aspects of HIV/AIDS.

The Campaign shall be driven by a concept of the 3Ts that shall help young people elaborately understand and give young people tips on how to work hand in hand with their daily life challenges and how to deal with HIV/AIDS and understanding their sexuality as they grow.

The Campaign shall be driven by a concept of the 3Ts that shall help young people elaborately and how to deal with HIV/AIDS and understanding their sexuality as they grow.

Goal

To conduct peer education sessions that empowers the young people with life skills and knowledge on sexual reproductive health and future goals in order for them to make informed choices in life.

Objectives

1. To mobilize professional personalities to facilitate career guidance and peer counseling sessions 2. To enhance on the capacity of the young people to make informed and responsible choices and decisions in life 3. To enhance on the knowledge about future opportunities available to students through increased career guidance 4. To enhance positive living among young people through using positive young people in their positive testimony sharing.

5. Promoting the goodwill of SRHR youth friendly services amongst the young people through connecting them to SRHR services by use of referral cards.

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PEER EDUCATORS ORIENTATION On 15th Feb 2012 RAHU peer educators had an orientation meeting at Reproductive Health Uganda.

The main aim of the orientation is to equip the peer educators with information about RAHU and make them empowered with the right information to be communicated.

A total of 28 peer educators were oriented.

Issues handled included; 1.

2.

3.

4.

Information about RAHU Information to be passed on Communication skills Expectations

ROLE MODELS ORIENTATION

On the 17th Feb 2012 role models had an orientation meeting at Diakonia Country offices.

A total of 10 role models were oriented.

This was aimed at creating awareness amongst the peer role models on the challenges and the prospects young people look at in life and how they can be addressed.

Issues handled included; 1.

2.

3.

4.

Information about RAHU Information to be passed on Expectations Communication approach

5

PEER LED EDUCATION SESSIONS

The peer led education sessions are a youth to youth approach that is aimed at empowering young with skills and knowledge that enable them to make informed choices in life.

RAHU has been conducting these peer led education sessions using role models and peer educators.

These have excelled in various sectors and young people look up to them.

Key note speakers have been giving key note addresses at the various schools.

MBOGO COLLEGE SCHOOL At Mbogo College, Hajji Jamir Sewanyana Mpagi; Member Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply; UK Member Institute of Procurement Professionals of Uganda; President Rotary Club of Kampala Kibuli; Secretary Youth Entrepreneurship Research Association; Member Uganda Muslim Youth Development Foundation, -gave a keynote address on Life Skills Building among young where he gave the young people the 5 Ds concept; I.e. he hinted on the 5Ds of sucess i.e Discover, Dream Big, Design, Develop Skills, and Destiny. That they can use in achieving their dreams

EAST HIGH SCHOOL During the peer led education session at East High School, Dr Ian Clark Proprietor International Hospital Kampala and Mayor Makindye Division delivered a key note address on the entrepreneurial opportunities in the social and health sector for the young people and how they can easily tap in the fast growing Ugandan economy.

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LOWEL GIRLS SCHOOL Jane Kasumba an Advocate; a Political Scientist and a Media & PR Communications Practitioner and PRO of UBC TV during the peer led education session at Lowel Girls School discussed the role of the girl child in the development of the nation, and the girl child education as a fundamental element in development.

BETHANY HIGH SCHOOL

At Bethany High School, Major Rtd Rubaramira Ruranga an HIV/AIDS Rights Activists and Director NGEN+ gave a key note address on the Young people

and HIV/AIDS.

In his address he gave the young people a 5Ds concept that looks at empowering young people to discover their zero status and how to cab the virus from spreading to other young people.

He gave a Testimony on how he has lived with HIV for 27 years and he his still counting. “Unplanned sex beahiavior is the most common way young people get HIV.”

EMMA HIGH SCHOOL

While at Emma High School during the peer led education session, Kawsea Isaac Founder and Director I AM Ugandan, and Kampala City Yange gave a key note speech on Patriotism.

He described what it meant to be proud of Uganda.

He also explained what makes one Ugandan. “The change you want starts with you”

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OUR LADY OF AFRICA S.S. NAMILYANGO Issac Richie, -Founder Kampala City Yange, Former

Member of Limit X gave a key note address on decision making.

He highlighted on making informed choices and setting goals as a basic component in life.

One has to have a big picture which is a vision so as to have a good life. “be challenges, get interested, but always have that picture.”

TEACHERS WORKSHOPS

During the teacher’s workshops, they discussed the challenges both the young people and students do face in school. This was aimed building and mending the relationship between the students and the teachers. This was always handled by a technical person who would engage in discussions with the teachers.

The teachers pointed some of the following issues.

Teenage pregnancy, lack of interest of academics by the young people, limited time for the young people to do self discovery, these were carried out in all the schools visited.

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FOCUSED GROUP DISCUSSIONS After the key note addresses, the young people were basically divided into smaller groups and they were joined by the Peer role models and peer educators.

• • • • • •

The following were the main issues handled during the focused group discussions; Pregnancy for boys and girls Boy girl relationships Decision making and life choices Career building HIV/AIDS and its effects Life planning skills

ACHIEVEMENTS

• The following issues were handled; Sexual reproductive health and rights, Gender and equality, Entrepreneurship skills, HIV/AIDS and its effects, Career development • 19 schools and 1 university have been reached with sexual reproductive health and right issues • A total of 19,206 young people, 9,114 boys and 9,311girls were reached • This furthered partnerships between RAHU, and its partners i.e. Reproductive Health Uganda(RHU), Young Empowered and Health(YEAH), Capstone investments, International Health Sciences University (IHSU), Raising Voices • The participants acquired more knowledge and facts about reproductive health in relation to HIV AIDS. • The outreaches were an opportunity for the Role models to interact and share experience about the challenges they go through as young people

Coverage per school No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

School Mbogo College School Kawempe St. Peters Nkokonjeru Mukono Midland High School Kawempe Atlas High School Gayaza Lowell Girls School Mpigi East High School Kisaasi Namirembe Hillside Gayaza Manchester High School Kisaasi Brilliant High School Kawempe Maryland High School Entebbe Kisubi Mapera Entebbe Hana Mixed School Nsangi Emma High School IUIU Kabojja Campus Katikamu SDA Gayaza Campus St. Geralds Wakiso Universal Girls Kisaasi Our Lady of Africa Mukono Bethany High School Mariam High School

Female 200 245 434 331 456 425 615 345 456 1123 600 243 431 546 212 121 640 434 461 893

Male 356 563 673 432

TOTAL

9311

9715

654 789 334 543 1781 789 341 567 321 134 123 657 658

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GETH20 GAME GetH20 Challenge is a game about water scarcity, life in slum areas and community development.

It’s fun and serious. GETH2O is a game which simulates the complexity of life in the slums, the scarcity of water, how to deal with it.

Already 80,000 downloads and counting, spread the word. To create awareness and discussion about life in informal settlements, the problems that people have who live there, how those problems are caused, lack of clean water, general infrastructure, corruption, bad leadership, crime and of course how those problems can be solved.

A total of 15 RAHU peer educators were trained to conduct the game and a total of 15 schools and one youth community got trained in the game a board game was left at every school were it was trained.

Goal

To conduct peer led education sessions that empowers the young people with life skills and knowledge and future goals in order for them to make informed choices in life.

Objectives

1. To enhance on the capacity of the young people to make informed and responsible choices and decisions in life 2. To empower young people to make informed choices in life.

3. To enhance on young people’s capabilities of engaging them in community work

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HOLD ON SONG – ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN

In partnership with Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU), an advocacy campaign is being carried out in secondary schools using a song titled “Hold On” sang

by Tonicks, Omulangira Suna, Data and Keko.

The song is passing on key messages on early pregnancy, life planning skills and life choices among young people. It is targeting the stake holders and policy makers too.

Goal

To conduct peer education sessions that empowers the young people with life skills and knowledge on sexual reproductive health and future goals in order for them to make informed choices in life.

Tonics and Data perform at Hana Mixed School

Objectives

1. To mobilize professional personalities to facilitate career guidance and peer counseling sessions 2. To advocate for promoting access to Youth friendly SRH services among school administrators 3. To enhance on the capacity of the young people to make informed and responsible choices and decisions in life 4. To enhance on the knowledge about early pregnancy through creative arts.

5. Promoting the goodwill of SRHR youth friendly services amongst the young people through connecting them to SRHR services by use of referral cards.

Tonics performing at Emma High School

Target Group

Stake holders in and out of school i.e. teachers, school management committees, parents teachers associations, board of directors, and young people in school.

Achievements

1. A total of 1791young people 745 males and 1046 females where reached with information on causes and effects of early pregnancy, abortion, adolescent access to sexual and reproductive health services 2. A total of 111 teachers 35 female and 76 male teachers were reached 3. The students became open up and shared their challenges with the facilitators like engaging themselves in early sexual relationships, peer pressure.

4. There was impact amongst the students in a way that their esteem was increased the young people were able to come out and express themselves on issues surrounding engaging in early sexual relationships.

5. Teachers got opened up and brought out the challenges young people face in life engaging in sexual relationships while still at school, problem of disclosure to the teachers and other elders.

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Pictorial RAHU

Xenson and Jackie addressing students

Playing the GetH2O Game

Jeremy of NBS TV in a focused group discussion

Group photo of RAHU Team at Hana Mixed School

Maurice Hasa performs at Atlas High School

Kironde B. Program Officer UNFPA at Brilliant H.S.

Sula Mbuga Headteacher Hana Mixed School

Cleopatra, - a RAHU Goodwill ambassador

Paul Mbanza - Teacher and Coordinator RAHU

Role Models during a focused group discussion

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CONCERNS RAISED BY YOUNG PEOPLE:

During the peer led education sessions in schools young people raised some questions and concerns that affect them. Some of them are handled by the RAHU and others are referred to other service providers and technical persons

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Our Facebook Page

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PaRtners

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young people for young people ADDRESS 3rd Floor Media Plaza, Plot 78 Kiira Road. Kampala P.O.BOX 21288, Kampala. Uganda East Africa Tel: +256 312275683, Cell: +256 774 256109 E-mail: info@reachahanduganda.org , www.reachahanduganda.org 16