A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation Voices of Young People

A Healthy Living for a Healthy YoungProduced Generation with Funding support from AmplifyChange 1 Introduction

Uganda Youth Network (UYONET) is implement- Change, Uganda Youth Network is engaging its ● Reduction in Sexual Reproductive Health CSOs operate to become more youth oriented. ing a two-year project titled “A Healthy Living downstream partners at national and district level related risks and gender-based violence for a Healthy Young Generation”. It is a youth led to implement the project in the 6 (six) districts among adolescents/youth (girls and boys) social empowerment project that seeks to support of; Kampala, Wakiso, Nwoya, Rubirizi, Kasese and aged 13-24; In this booklet, we bring you stories of impact young people aged 13 – 24 years on sexual Buikwe. ● Increased capacities of local social support stories as told by a cross-section of project Reproduction Health and Rights. The project systems to promote SRH and Rights and as well beneficiaries (both primary and secondary) integrates promotion and access of Sexual Repro- The project’s overall goal is to contribute to a as respond to GBV among the young people; and key gatekeepers from the six project ductive Health (SRH) services and Gender Based healthy youth population, free from violence and districts. Violence (GBV) prevention among young people empowered in an inclusive society that promotes ● Increased number and capacity of youth while seeking to empower them to demand for state accountability. Specifically, the project led organizations influencing the space where fulfilment of their rights in a participatory and contributed to; Enjoy reading! inclusive manner. With funding from Amplify-

A group picture after the four days Peer Educators’ training in Kasese

A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 2 A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 3 MESSAGE FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

riven by our passion that all young people areas such as Rubirizi, Nwoya, Kampala and Kasese, deserve a chance to live healthier lives, our youth were involved in budgeting processes at Ddevelopment work around advocacy for both community level and district level, a slight Sexual Reproductive Health Rights for young peo- reduction in harmful-cultural practices against girls Critical issues for young ple while ensuring that young people making safe especially forced marriages and early marriages, sexual reproductive health choices and adopting Increased involvement of youth in decision making people including Sexual safe behavior is critical in improving the quality of especially at local government levels on youth and Reproductive Health life of the young generation. To be successful in oriented services especially Sexual Reproduc- this area, young people need to be at the forefront tive Health Services, Increased capacity of youth and prevention of of advocacy on issues pertinent to their lives! This focused CSO engaged in participatory governance is one of the great lessons we learn from. and civic processes and have pushed for ordinanc- Gender-Based Violence es aimed at fighting and preventing GBV. have since become high A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation” project. The once volatile voices of young people Critical issues for young people including Sexual priority areas for plan- have gained volume over the period of two years and Reproductive Health and prevention of through partnership and strategic coalition youth Gender - Based Violence have since become ning, budgeting and are actively influencing processes of gender high priority areas for planning, budgeting and programming in the sensitive legislation. We now see increased programming in the districts unlike before. These knowledge on SRH&R and GBV prevention among are attributed to the empowerment interventions districts unlike before. the youths, increased health budget through by the project working with “grass root” CSOs and national level budget advocacy through engage- community structures centering on the power of ment with different stakeholders such as the collective advocacy and building youth-led social Members of Parliament, ministry of health officials movements driving change and creating a lasting and Ministry of Finance officials, increased youth impact! This affirms positive strides towards participation in advocacy through empowering achieving our advocacy goals as we strive for a just youths led CSOs in advocacy skills and it was noted world that advances young people’s rights and that in some equality for young women

OTIM RONALD - Executive Director A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 4 A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 5 APPRECIATION

he Board and Management of Uganda Youth ing partners for the services rendered to ensure Network expresses its deep and sincere successful project delivery. Tgratitude to AmplifyChange for the invalu- able support that has made possible a successful The Board and Management of UYONET also implementation of a Healthy Living and a Healthy appreciates the district project implementation Your relentless advocacy Young Generation project. The success registered teams; the Peer Educators, District Advocacy has been due to the timely strategic funding from Networks and the Changes for the support, for better service delivery, AmplifyChange, and due to this, a lot has been commitment and sacrifice towards the project achieved in terms of promotion and access to implementation. Your relentless advocacy for community outreaches Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) services and better service delivery, community outreaches and experiential sharing prevention of Gender Based Violence among and experiential sharing is what makes this project young people. great by causing valuable impact among the young is what makes this project people in the respective project districts. In an exceptional way, we recognize and appre- great by causing valuable ciate our partners for their relentless technical Lastly, we deeply appreciate the Xpo Imaging team impact among the young and moral support extended throughout the for being able to traverse the project districts and project implementation process. We particularly interacting with the key stakeholders and benefi- people in the respective recognize Naguru Teenage Information Center, St. ciaries to carefully put together this booklet and Francis Health Care Services, Youth After School the documentary, your valuable efforts cannot go project districts Initiative, key district departments in the project unrecognized. districts and the all the six project implement-

MUNYANGABO JOSEPH A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 6 A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation - Chairman Board of Directors 7 MESSAGE FROM PROJECT OFFICER

t is important to appreciate that Sexual and of living, its impact on the sexual and reproductive reproductive health and rights (SRHR) broadly health needs of young people has been less than Iapplies to the concept of human rights to adequate. For example, studies have identified sexuality and reproduction, and is concerned young people in Uganda and other sub-Saharan Investing in building with the connection of four distinct fields—sexual African countries as having limited access to SRHR health, sexual rights, reproductive health, and services and implausible methods of GBV preven- SRHR access and GBV reproductive rights—of sexual and reproductive tion, and lack of staff trained to address the sexual prevention is crucial to wellbeing. To maintain one’s sexual and reproduc- health needs and education gaps of young people. tive health, access to accurate information related Therefore, this project came in timely to respond enable young people to sexuality and a choice of safe, effective, affordable to such critical health need of young people in the contraception options are key. country. realize their full-poten- tial to shape humanity’s A human rights framework emphasizes access Uganda has one of the fastest growing population to information to empower individual freedom in the world with 78% of the population constituting future of choice with respect to deciding whether to of youth and children. The high population growth be sexually active or not; the pursuit of a - satisfy is coupled with weak regulatory institutions in ing, safe, and pleasurable sexual life; choosing a regard to checking the effects of SRHR and GBV on partner; consensual sexual relations and consensual the young people. In Uganda, there is a discrep- marriage; protection from sexually transmitted infec- ancy between universally formulated sexual and tions (STIs); and family planning, all if effectively reproductive health rights and the local political, managed drastically reduces incidents of Gender economic and community contexts in which Based Violence among families. young people live. This discrepancy requires that a comprehensive rights-based sex education takes Whilst Uganda has a national adolescent health this local reality into consideration, an aspect that policy that aims to streamline adolescent health a Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation concerns into the national development process to project is seeking to address. improve young people’s quality of life and standard

KALAMIAH SAM - Project Officer A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 8 A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 9 NANDASE Leilah - Peer Educator SSEJJEMBA Hassan Change Agent As a youth leader in her district, Lailah’s role involves visiting the youth in the grass root communities to assess the Hassan was born HIV positive and has been challenges youth are faced with to support her advocacy work grappling with stigma before joining in the Njeru Municipal Council. Lailah uses the same opportu- ‘A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation’ nity to interact and share SRHR/GBV related information with Project in Buikwe district as a Change Agent. the young people especially the available SRH services.

‘Since the start of this project in 2018, we have been able to Am HIV positive and my life was a advocate for Youth Friendly corners for easy access of SRH mess before I joined HOME (the place which services like free HIV counselling and testing and provision of helps children who live with HIV). Prior to join- condoms for HIV protection. We are doing our best to ensure ing this project as a Change Agent, I would that at least every Government health facility in the district tutor kids about positive living for 1 hour be- has a youth friendly corner. cause I was not well informed on the subject and above all I lacked confidence. Now with Gender Based Violence is so rampant in our district because the SRHR knowledge and confidence acquired people; regard less of the age group, their rights are violated through training under this project, am able in many different ways. We have been able to involve the to not only to tutor kids, but my peers on SRHR police and other relevant authorities like the local leader- issues. ship and the office of the District Community Development Before becoming a change agent under Officer and probation, and we have been able to introduce a this project, I was proud and would undermine toll free line in case of any emergencies as a way of strength- my peers thinking they can’t educate me. Now, ening referral systems. I’m open to learning and sharing experiences, I have grown to be a responsible person and I Amplify Change Project has empowered me to be an effective have made my parents proud. Whenever I go leader and has enhanced my advocacy capacity. I couldn’t to the field, Derrick accompanies me. We even imagine being an advocate for important issues affecting formed a savings group and whenever we meet youth before I became part of this project. The project has to save, we share knowledge and experiences. exposed me to so much knowledge. As a leader, I mentor the I’m so happy to be part of AmplifyChange Proj- youth and am able to identify the needs of different people ect. regardless of age. I am very grateful to UYONET and Amplify Change for this project because there’s a lot of change in our community and district at large.’

A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 10 A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 11 MUGWERI Derrick Peer Educator, student, S.2

Before joining the program, I was in bad peer groups but now am a role model and a responsible person who my friends look up to. Young people respect me because I teach them.

Life at home was extremely ha r d (the situation at home was very lonely and hard) but now as a peer educa- tor, I’m able to interact with my peers in different groups and I can also support my family from the facilitation I receive for conducting peer led outreach sessions. I have worked and NAMUHENGE so far trained over 30 young people. - I have no regrets joining this pro- Mercy Change Agent gramme. Before joining this project, I had a very low self-esteem. I am proud to say I have gained self-esteem and can now free- ly express myself in public. One of the greatest challenge facing young girls in our community is early pregnancies, so because am empowered by the project, am able to guide and counsel my peers about how we can be assertive about our body changes, how one can avoid HIV/AIDs and early pregnancies.

Through the project, I have attained communication skills. I can now The two friends Derrick and Hassan have formed effectively communicate especially on issues pertaining to sexual repro- a youth savings group in their village and they ductive health and the stigma surrounding it; for instance, I didn’t know what use the group as a platform to share knowledge to do when one experiences menstruation periods but this project has made me and to teach their peers the dangers of drug a champion in that. Above all, I have learnt that u can’t serve two masters at ago, abuse and other vices. you can’t pursue relationships and education at the same time. Great thanks to UYO- NET and AmplifyChange for giving me the opportunity.’

A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 12 A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 13 NAMULI Erony NANDIITA MERISHA Student at Ngogwe Baska view SS beneficiary Student at Ngogwe Baska view SS, Change Agent

I joined this project after listening to a certain Before Joining the Project, I was inspired by the announcement made by the chairman of our skills they promised to teach us as youths. After village, and as a beneficiary, this project has being taught life skills especially about HIV/AIDs I a lot of importance and has benefited me a became a Change agent and started teaching my lot in many ways that is to say, the Amplify fellow youths in my village. I taught them about Change Program has taught me how to man- the ways how HIV/AIDs is spread, its signs and age menstruation periods like cleaning my- symptoms and how to prevent it. As a youth, my self, using pads, menstruation cups and also life was changed and I got courage to talk to my cleaning them. From all this, they managed to fellow youths, my discipline was changed totally change my life a lot from using banana fibers, and my life as a girl at home was changed. As a dirty clothes and grass to sanitary pads and a change agent, I face challenges for example the clean life as a girl in the adolescence stage. I shortage of transportation to different youths I also learnt how to prevent myself from boys teach in our community, though am glad that am and men who used to deceive me and not only doing something great for my community and the me but also many girls in our village country as well.

A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 14 A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 15 NAKAKWA Florence NALUBEGA Assy Peer Educator. Counselor

Peer Educators in this project identify and provide peer The Youth face many problems for instance education to youth groups in communities. They help early marriages, school dropouts, rape cas- create awareness among young people about the dan- es etc. Unfortunately, one of the girls in my gers they may be exposed to if they don’t take SRHR se- neighborhood was raped and left pregnant riously and provide information on referral systems. with HIV. Many youths work and once ex- posed to money, they do not want to go This is my second year in this project. Before I back to school. Equally, there is a lot of stig- joined the project I had just given birth to my 6-month ma and many do not want to test for HIV old baby and I had not planned for it very well so It was because they are afraid of the outcomes. unwanted pregnancy. I realized that many youths don’t get the chance to talk to their parents, but this project DAN has brought peer educators who are age creates awareness to the youths and many girls have mates with the youths that are knowledgeable been taught how to make reusable pads and the dangers and can educate each other. In Njeru, there they may face while using some certain items. was a huge problem of a gang called “boys” who would steal from people but now many Our role in the society is to create awareness about the have changed and they are no more. Our dangers they may face due to sexual exposure, help youth have started to work and gambling has them to access referral centers in case of any issue that is been reduced. I believe that the impact of that overboard, more so counselling them in order to become this project will last because there has been a a better person. lot of change in our society.

Furthermore, I have learnt that many youths don’t know I have learnt that many youths have low their rights, and I have learnt how to love people and self-esteem but since we introduced youth how to associate with different types of people. My life centers, it has helped curb this problem. has never been the same ever since I joined this project, Many are more self-aware and confident I happy that I even appear on TV stations and I reach out to speak out about the problems they face. to the youths, I attend government meetings about the There’s a very good working relationship youth budget and lastly that many girls in our society between us and UYONET and we hope the can finally open up on things that affect them and more project does not stop soon so that we can so believing in themselves continue reaching out to our peers.

A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 16 A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 17 Nagawa Hajjara NSIMBWA Ibrahim Jojo Peer Educator Peer Educator Being a school dropout, I considered It’s been two years since I joined Am- this project a big opportunity for me to plify Change Project. Prior to that, I interact with my peers. As a peer was not informed about sexual re- educator, I teach young people GBS productive health and GBV (Gender and SRH and encourages the youths Based Violence) but when I joined I not to drop out of school like me. learnt to reach out and give referrals Before I joined this project, I had no to different youths in our community. idea about sexual reproductive health but now I can teach my peers through My self-esteem has been greatly peer educators’ community outreach boosted and I can now take my stand program. on issues. Some of my achievements in this project as a youth are very vis- Through this project, I have learnt how ible; am empowered and my financial to make pads and am able to teach status is promising now because I young people about menstrual plan efficiently. hygiene. I have also gained self- confidence, and the facilitation I Am able to tell bad peer influence receive during the outreach sessions which has caused a lot of problems to helps me cater for my personal needs. I young people. I would love to send my have acquired immense knowledge on appreciation to UYONET and Ampli- family planning like abstinence, being fyChange for the support and knowl- faithful and use of condoms. I have edge the project has given us. even gained confidence and can take a right to decide on what is good for my life.

Am very grateful for this opportunity that has been given to me because it has opened my eyes to the realities of life.

A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 18 A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 19 Jonathan Bwambale Peer Educator.

When I became a Peer Educator, my friends and I formed a group of 20 people both male and females. The project has helped me to improve on my communication skills especially in public and I have been able to make new friends.

The project has created awareness about GBV and the causes ASINGYA Mbambu Janet like misuse of alcohol and drugs. Furthermore, the project has Peer Educator. reduced the dangers of early pregnancies in girls by teaching them about the pills, condoms and how to abstain. Am proud to be a peer educator in my community teaching my peers SRHR and GBV issues. I was recruited into peer education by Vision International Actors and I have since gone through a This project has strengthened my career and I have inspired number of trainings and these trainings have enhanced my understanding of SRH/GBV issues. a lot of people. I have also gained skills like communication And being a social worker this has boosted my knowledge and skills for social work. I have learnt & self-awareness. I was able to abandon the bad groups about Gender Based Violence and its dangers which has helped me personally because I used to where I was using drugs and am able to visualize a bright be a very violent person. The peer educators’ training manual has taught many life skills. future. Thanks go to UYONET and AmplifyChange for More still, I formed I group where we teach the youths about sexual reproductive health and the opportunity youth rights, which is crucial in uniting them. I pray that this project goes on for a longer period A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 20 21 MAGEZI John, Mayor Member of the District Youth Network - Rubirizi

As a District Advocacy Network, we take lead on all district level advocacy initiatives and help to coordinate the dif- ferent stakeholders to support in addressing the iden- tified youth concerns and encourage the youth to participate in different programs/ activities. Participation of youth in district level programmes has increase due to Musambi has worked with their knowledge on their rights. The project has also reduced AC project as a peer educator on the number of drop- since its inception in outs due to increased 2018. He has helped many self-awareness. youths to transform their lives, We introduced a platform for every become assertive and share youth in the community to access the their challenges freely so they services in different communities. The youth now have knowledge about GBV and can speak can be helped. To him, the up freely. Being educated about SRH / GBV, the opportunity to become a peer youths are advised to seek help where necessary. The educator fell like manna from project is intended to help the youth and teenager but has heaven. also greatly helped the Old. We are now encouraging the youth to be vigilant in the planning and budgeting processes to have their concerns capture for redress at different levels of decision making, thus the need to expand to other sub counties.

A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 22 A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 23 SSALI Ivan From Kinwato - Bussi. NAJUUKO Hariet Tebankiza south Parish Bussi sub-county - District Advocacy Network What the peer educators have taught me, has helped me in protecting myself so as I As a DAN, I do make research on what has not gone can prevent myself from things like adul- well, find out problems affecting our community, find tery so that I don’t get to find diseases like out their causes and then their solutions. So far in our HIV/AIDs, gonorrhea and many others. research, we have managed to discover that, youths in This project has helped me in a way that Zinga have not got their right to education due to lack I can also come out and speak in public, of schools, shortage of school fees and corruption in I can also be able to build something for government aided schools. And also the problem of myself, I can also tell my fellow youth lacking electricity power at the main hospital in Zinga about the benefits of this organization yet Bussi also had no hospital, pregnant ladies about to according to what I have learnt from my deliver had to sail to Entebbe main hospital yet there educators.. was no boat to sail them. Ladies were dying at a death rate of three pregnant ladies every month just because I joined this project in the year 2019; and of that problem. Also as ladies, we are missing a lady at it has helped the community in a way our police station, how can a male police cop come to that it has sensitized the youth about how arrest a lady at home. they can protect themselves from various diseases. After discovering all the above problems in our communi- ty we launched an advocacy campaign with the concerned The benefits I have got from this organi- people and now we are getting positive feed backs. Solar power zation, I have acquired awareness in the was planted at the main hospital in Zinga and an emergency boat was things that I have been taught like how to purchased to help sail the pregnant mothers from Bussi and Zinga. avoid most diseases, how to utilize things, skills of how to protect myself and this has To implement this program in our community, we need to move to different helped me get involved in certain import- places in order to learn new things and also improve on the training we got. Also ant things with my fellow youth. carry out evidence based advocacy, we need camera s to take photos as evidence of advocacy issues. Since I am a student, I was requesting this project to be extended in schools so that As DANs, we also rely on the information provided by Peer Educators who directly interact other youth in schools also get a chance to with the communities during peer led community outreaches. We greatly thank UYONET and benefit from it.. AmplifyChange for the support.

A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 24 25 AHMED Menya Am also happy to report that we were able to advocate for the construction of a Vocational In- 1 2 In the AmplifyChange project, stitute at Zinga and this was passed in the bud- am working as a supervi- get paper. We have involved youths in the youth sor for peer educa- affairs for example, youths have been used as tors and DANs peer educators to teach their fellow youths. for Wakiso District. A Going forward, we need to use audiovisual plat- Health Living forms for easy learning since majority of youth for a Healthy Young are prefer watching videos than the normal Generation is being im- trainings used. I also propose that the project plemented in Kasanje Sub is extended to other Islands which have similar county and the Islands of Bussi. needs.

4 3 This project has empowered young men I finally thank UYONET and AmplifyChange for and women to advocate for an increment extending the support into our forgotten villages in the Health Budget at Bussi sub-county and especially on the Island of Bussi and we request Kasanje town council. The project has also been for the continued support to the Island commu- able to advocate for an increment in the number nities of health workers at Bussi heath center III.

The young people have through sustained ad- vocacy have been able to have the purchasing of the Ambulance boat and the boat that would sail the students from the Sub- islands of Ka- kyanga and Zinga to the main island of Bussi for school and health services included in the bud- 1. A Peer Educator making a presentation on the SRHR myths. get framework paper for 2020/2021. 2. Busana residents halt fishing to attend the SRH/GBV campaign 3. Peer Educators training in Sexuality & Gender session 4. Naguru Teenage Center providing services to client during one of the health outreaches in Buikwe district

A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 26 A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 27 BUKIRWA Jackie Peer Educator.

It’s now a year since I joined this project. I love be- BIIRA Sarah ing around youths and bringing change to people. Ever Peer Educator - mother of 1 since I joined, I learnt how to be open minded; I learn from others through sharing with them different experiences and I saw an advert with my uncle about Amplify Change Proj- how to overcome challenges. ect and was inspired to join. I wanted to learn more and save the young generation. Ever since I joined this project I have learnt Due to this project, am now aware of where to go in case I and achieved a lot. face any problem regarding SRH/GBV, more so I know my I have been exposed to the knowledge of use of condoms (female con- rights as a girl. Youth who had dropped out of school in our doms) and about menstrual cycle and hygiene. The transport allowances society have started going back due to the positive influ- I receive help me pay school fees for my 7yr old daughter, and I have made ence of the project. I greatly appreciate UYONET for the many important friends in this field. At community level, we have been able programme and request that the project covers more to reach out to the school dropouts who are helpless by encouraging them years and expanded to more sub counties. to join vocational institutes. A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 28 A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 29 MUSASIZI Abdul Nasri District Advocacy Network

Am a member of the district advo- cacy network and our work include; KULE Amon sensitizing the youth, counselling, Peer Educator School Drop out reaching, enhancing youths to go for regulator checkup. We are under the umbrella called amplified change Am a school dropout, and I got to know theme; A healthy living / health gener- about this project through a friend who ation. encouraged me to join. In the 2 years After joining this project, I am a changed I have spent in this project I was able person now, I have transformed from a to start up a saving group that would street boy to responsible youth leader. help the youth and the community at The project helped me to discover my- large which would solve their financial self. I have been able to attain knowl- problems. edge and skills, and due to this, am now employed now as a youth mentor. I have been able to gain more confi- Am a role model and now working to dence through my capacity building build trust between parents and their training s. We have reached out to spoilt children. many groups of youth with information on family planning, contraceptives/ This work however, comes with chal- condom, savings and credit and gender lenges; some people take me for grant- based violence. ed and am being judged because of my past, limited peer educators who can- This project has contributed a lot on not meet the demand for their services my personal growth and development and many expenses incurred in trans- because young people look up to me portation during community outreach- and am respected in our communities es. I would like to take this opportunity and this makes me so proud of myself. to thank UYONET for the continuous support and the platform to reach out too many.

A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 30 A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 31 MUKONA Mesearch 1 2 Peer Educator (Ngogwe Sub-county - Buikwe District)

I I Joining this program has 4 3 really changed my status in society as a youth. The project has enabled me change my behav- ior, my code of dressing and I have also changed in many other social aspects. Now am able to speak in public especially to my fellow youth.

The project has enhanced my network of progressive young people who I can share my challenges with. Through the project, I 1. James Okiror on health talk during the Tongolo Health Outreach have attained a lot of knowledge and skills including but not limited to; 2. Rubirizi Peer Educators discussing their work plans life skills, Gender Based Violence prevention and sexual reproductive health 3. A Young man performing at the SRHR/GBV awareness campaign in Tongolo Landing site access and rights. Am now using the knowledge acquired to train other young 4. A group picture after the Peer Educators' training in Rubirizi town council Hall people in our communities. thanks UYONET and Amplifychange for the great work.

A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 32 A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 33 We as foreigners and refugees in camps, we are so SSENOGA Gerald grateful to UYONET and Amplifychange for consid- Change agent, Ngogwe ering us to be part of this project. As refugees, we Sub-county, Buikwe never thought we also have a right to be part of district such good programmes because most times they are preserves for the citizens. God Bless UYONET and AmplifyChange for their kindness to humanity.

My life before joining this program was not that good, I JERIVE MAYILA - Peer Educator was a juvenile who never respected anyone in our vil- From Democratic Republic of Congo, I am in Kam- lage either older or younger, and I pala with my mother. I am working as a peer ed- didn’t know how to use what I have as ucator in this project. As a peer educator, I talk to a beginning point to achieve wealth and young people about avoiding sexual violence, con- getting what I don’t have as a youth. traceptives and family planning. After joining the project, my life has greatly change. Before I was a juvenile and now after acquiring the This project has enhanced by confidence to talk to knowledge, am a champion among my peers because a liv- my peers about SSRHR/GBV issues and empower ing example of a success story. I strongly support the project them to be responsible for their actions and to be and request that it continues to empower us with knowledge and able to say NO to sexual violence, early marriage skills for social transformation. and unwanted pregnancies. I also inform them of the social support systems where one can access services in the event of any problem

A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 34 A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 35 NAMAGEMBE Reginah MBOZZI Joel (Peer educator Bussi) Beneficiary, Baska View Ssage Peer Educator. My life before becoming a peer educator in the Am working as a change agent in my UYONET project was really strange, I was in a community Kikota village, Ngogwe group of weird youths taking drugs, alcohol, Asub-county, Buikwe District. My life abused people and so on. before joining this project was really weird, I used to ride bikes with my peers and we would One day, we took a lot of alcohol and spent a snatch people’s properties, never respected night on the road. Due to this incident, people hat- my parents even other people in our commu- ed and isolated me, I terribly suffered psychologi- nity, I used to take alcohol, cocaine and other cally and physically. drugs, I was never liked by people plus my par- ents as well. This project has helped me change focus to life from a different angle. Due to these fter reluctantly joining the project, the changes, am now being looked at as first training was my eye opener. I know a very important person in society. Ahow to relate, to be assertive and confi- dent. These skills have aided me to be a very I pray that the project contin- good peer educator and am now highly re- ues to save more young people spected person in society. in different urban places of Uganda who are like me be- fore joining the project.

A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 36 A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 37 MIWUNGO RICHARD KABUGO (Supervisor)

I work as a Community Development Officer, District Gender Focal Person, and also a Coordinator of this project in Buikwe District. This project is implemented in two sub-counties of Ngogwe and Njeru. The project convened Health camps at Nkomb- we and Tongolo landing sites and Njeru central market where young people were able to access youth friendly health services. Under these, young people received treatment and SRHR related information and services.

The DANs played a key role in budget consultation process, the issues raised is what informed the advocacy for inclusion of youth issues in the Buikwe district budget framework paper for redress.

In my recommendations, I strongly propose that UYONET integrates vocational skills in the project that would equip beneficiaries with survival skills.

A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 38 A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 39 PICTORIAL

A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 40 A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 41 Plot 55A Kimera Road - Ntinda | P. O. Box. 33268 Kampala Tel: +256 393 276 944 | Mobile: +256 772 972226 [email protected] A Healthy Living for a Healthy Young Generation 42