ANNUAL REPORT 2010

* Listening * Telling true stories * Addressing adolescent and adult sexuality In 2010 STF sadly said farewell to Charlotte Kanstrup when she returned to Copenhagen. Seen above with clients at Gulu Youth Centre, Charlotte was Counsellor of Development at Danida in Kampala from 2005 to 2010. She was an ardent supporter of STF’s model, and STF is immensely grateful for the guidance she provided. abbreviations Straight Talk radio shows capture deeply private moments. STF Board of Directors AMYC Amuru Youth center Interviews are conducted in huts, AJYC Ajumani Youth Center classsrooms, clinics and small ARVs Anti Retrovirals living rooms and under trees. BCC Behaviour Change Communication They are assembled into shows CCTs Centre Coordinating Tutors in STF’s Kampala studio. CSF Civil Society Fund DATIC District Agricultural Training and Information Center DEOs District Education Officers Straight Talk Foundation (STF) is a Ugandan NGO, DHOs District Health Officers set up in 1997. It grew out of a teen newspaper, Chair: Aggrey Charles Odere, Rev Gideon GYC Gulu Youth Center Straight Talk, started in 1993. Today it practises Kibenge, Under Advocate, Lex Uganda Byamugisha, FGD Focus Group Discussion Communication for Social change. Secretary, MoES Christian Aid HCT HIV Counseling and Testing IPPF International Planned Parenthood Federation Its main focus is preventing HIV in KYC Kitgum Youth Center ADOLescents. MoES Ministry of Education and Sports MOU Memorandum of Understanding STF also supports Parents and TEachers NUREP Northern Uganda Rehabilitation Program to have safer and healthier sexual lives and to help PACE Programs for Accessible Health , Communication and Education PIASCY Presidential Initiative on AIDS Strategy for Communication to Youth adolescent have safer transitions to adulthood. STF PPET Post-primary education and training adheres to a Know your epidemic- know Mondo Kyateka, Anne Akia Feidler, Catharine Watson, PS Primary School your response approach and follows a Sexual Assistant Chief of Party, USAID President, STF PWDs Persons With Disabilities Commissioner for Communications health promotion model. Youth, MoGLSD Support for Health, R&E Research and Evaluation Zambia SGBV Sexual and Gender Based Violence SRH Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health In 2010 STF worked in 17 languages. STF STI Sexually Transmitted Infection communicates through and SS Secondary School Radio, print face- STF Straight Talk Foundation to-face. STF is concerned for the well-being of all UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization adolescents and their families. However, it is particularly UNFPA United Nations Fund for Population Activities concerned about the most-at-risk, especially Girls, Oliva Muhumuza, Headteacher, Railway UNICEF United Nations Fund for Children Children’s PS UNITY Ugandan Initiative for TDMS and PIASCY Orphans, adolescents living with HIV or with WILD Wildlife Landscapes and Development for Communication special needs, and adolescents in complex Dr Frank Kaharuza, Justina Kihika, Susan Ajok, Olivia represented the board at Tree Talk’s Director, Research, Freelance Executive Director, one millionth tree event in August 2010. She 4RS Runyankore/Rukiga/Runyoro/Rutooro environments such as fishing communities. CDC/UVRI Consultant STF is seen here with a Muvle seedling. Table of Contents

Message from the President 2

Message from the ED 3

PRINT 4 Positive dignity 7 ST & YT in Braille 8 Letters/distribution 10 ST and YT at a glance 12-13

TREE TALK & FARM TALK 14 1 RADIO 18 A Straight Talk radio trip 22 ST radio brings changes 23 Parent Talk testifies 24 Parent Talk saving marriages 25 Radio letters/Maps 26-27 Radio topics & partnerships 28

FACE-TO-FACE 29 Outreach and training 30 Teachers’ fairs, sensitization 33 Working with CBOs 34 Youth centres 35 Special needs & Batwa 40 National interns/volunteers 41 2 International colleagues 41

RESEARCH & EVALUATION 42

FINANCE/ADMINISTRATION 45

3

STF is all about activism, personal warmth, conviction, solidarity and talk.

1 In the top photo, STF’s Jacki Alesi, 25, laughs with students of Arua SS. “They had asked me about using two condoms,” she Above: a young girl with Down’s Syndrome says. “We were enjoying the discussion.” expresses her thoughts at an STF workshop at Kireka Home for the Mentally Handicapped. 2 In the middle photo, STF’s Runyoro-Rutooro radio journalist, Juliet Kabahuguzi, 20, demonstrates condom use to a group of Says Quinta Apiyo, who runs STF’s work students in Tororo. in special needs, “She was complaining that boda boda men deceive girls that they are wanted at home and then take 3 In the bottom photo, Parent Talk Ateso journalist Ruth Achope, 30, talks earnestly to parents in Kabermaido. The conversations them and rape them.” can never finish.

STF 2010 Annual Report 1 Message from the President

his is my seventh always fail unless they are accompanied by talk. Tannual report for STF. Since the report We also want to justify talking about sex in 17 languages is a painstaking and account for what we did with the $3.4 million of yearly audit of foreign taxpayers money that donors gave us in 2010. We everything that we would not spend it the way we do if we did not think it tried to do in the “works” – after all the money could be used for schools previous 12 months or cash transfers. The research and evaluation section is -- and not a PR particularly dense. But today donors and charity watchers exercise, the writing such as “Givewell” and “Good Intentions are Not Enough” never gets easier. demand far more than an intuition that something works. I run up and down Givewell notes that less than 10% of international charities stairs in our Kampala follow proven approaches and insists that charities exhibit building, asking an unusual degree of transparency, publicly disclose “How many radio failed programmes, systematically commit to publishing stations aired us evaluations, and provide a complete picture of how for free? How many money is spent. people did we reach?” And I shake my head sadly, when our data seems improbable or reveals a problem. “We This does not daunt us. Our approach is proven, and treated 4000 adolescents for STIs but gave out only 1000 public disclosure is what this report is all about. For condoms? What is happening here?” instance, we are open that we provided PEP to fewer adolescents in 2010 than in 2009 and are not happy about But writing the annual report is also deeply satisfying. it. I need a letter that shows how little 12 year olds know about AIDS yet how large sex already looms in their lives, Today the gold standard is randomized controlled and our letter team hands me a pile in seconds. I sit with evaluations. But where would STF find an unexposed staff, looking for the perfect image that captures what control group? Givewell concedes, however, that some we do. “Wow, what was happening here?” I ask, as we NGOs have “macro stories” that provide evidence without click through photos on a computer. separating people into treatment and control groups. “Programs are considered promising when they are I hear stories I had not heard before, of our staff going associated with past demonstrated success in improving deeper into villages and conversations than I ever people’s lives.” STF has many such stories. imagined. “You guys are amazing,” I chide. “Why didn’t you tell me you did that?” I find out that Quinta used $75 STF addresses HIV in the context of sexuality and of her per diem to rent a field for landless “pygmies”. I sexuality in the context of culture. So in 2010 I was excited see that in condom demos, young people now hook the to attend UNFPA’s Global Consultation on Sexuality dildo into the front of their trousers as our field workers Education. But I clashed with colleagues from UNESCO, run a commentary on “correct and consistent” use. “Is Population Council and IPPF over their new sexuality that embarrassing?” I ask. “No,” they answer, smiling and education guidelines. As they told me Straight Talk was unfazed. anti-sex, I told them that their curricula underplay the consequences of sex for adolescents in countries with We asked Fred Womakuyu, Uganda’s most meticulous generalized HIV epidemics, little contraception and much documenter of social reality, to take annual leave from early marriage. The New Vision where he is a senior feature writer, and travel around Uganda and impartially enquire about us. One curricula states that “There is no right age to have I wanted to know how a radio show can cause people sex. Each person has to determine when he or she feels to form a club and how a child perceives our papers. ready.” STF believes, in contrast, that there may not be a His findings appear in “boxes”. What strikes me most is right age but there are certainly wrong ages, such as early the simplicity of what people told him. They really did adolescence or when you entirely depend upon parents not know that it was OK to talk to their wife about sex for school fees. Sex, especially for girls, puts an end to or that a husband or wife sometimes does not feel like education, which is the greatest promoter of well-being. intercourse. They learnt that from our parent radio show. We parted as friends, but with much on our minds.

If this report seems heavy and pedantic, it is because I thank STF’s managers and staff for their terrific work the work is heavy and we want to make our case that in 2010 and our board and donors for being so generous mass media interventions are essential for preventing towards us. HIV: ideas are even more important than services, and biomedical interventions (PMTCT, HCT and others) almost Catharine Watson

2 STF 2010 Annual Report Message from the Executive Director

traight Talk Foundation had a successful year in 2010. In 2010, STF’s work SWith an income of almost UGX7.6 billion, about $3.4 for teachers was million, its achievements included: enhanced by support • about 12.6 million newspapers and adolesent print from UNITY/USAID materials produced and distributed. to produce Teacher • 4836 half-hour radio shows broadcast over 48 radio Talk for primary and stations, in 17 languages for adolescents and nine for secondary schools. parents. We strengthened • a conservative estimate of 126,345 people reached our work with young directly by STF staff in schools and communities. positives and grew • many thousands more reached “indirectly” by the 614 our special needs peer educators, 217 teachers and 46 CBO workers that programs through STF oriented in 2010. our core work and • sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services (family Gulu and Kitgum planning, HCT and STI treatment) availed to over 10,000 Youth Centres. We young people at its youth centers in Northern Uganda. started writing a • 68,313 letters received from its radio listeners and new strategic plan to readers, more than in any year since we started in 1993. define our direction 2011-15.

STF has a specialized niche with young people and a Funding for many civil society organizations in 2010 was comparative advantage. Its mass media materials are precarious. So, to make economies and continue reaching a trusted household name. Currently 80-85% of young our beneficiaries, we integrated STF programmes, people have access to an STF radio show in their mother e.g., STF print and radio teams conducted face-to-face tongue. Its interpersonal work is innovative in addressing counseling and group talk. sexuality, the core driver of HIV in Uganda. After 18 years, STF remains committed to being We are committed to meeting and preferrably exceeding adolescent-driven, talk rich and sex positive. Vital our beneficiaries’ expectations for comprehensive components in our quest for quality are documention, sexuality education and SRH services. Our actions follow model-building and developing staff through monthly these key tenets: learning sessions, on the job training and mentorship. • Implementing interventions backed by evidence. We are proud to deliver the highest standard of • Recognizing the diversity of STF beneficiaries and communication for social change to adolescents and significant adults in their lives. adults in Africa. • Building, nurturing and preserving strong partnerships with the key players in ASRH. Strategic planning and innovative thinking are other key elements in our journey to excellence as a world best The year saw the departure of Executive Director Julie practice in HIV prevention. Quality is our passion, and Wiltshire and Director of Grants and Special Projects our energies will remain dedicated to it. We are grateful Stuart Campo. We wish them both well. We welcomed to all our donors and partners without whom, our Victoria Kajja , a CDC Fellow from Makerere’s School achievements would not be possible. We hope that you of Public Health at Makerere, and were proud when will find our 2010 report useful. Nabbumba Nuru went to UNAIDS Geneva to represent youth on a six month fellowship. Susan Ajok

Photos through the years, learning through doing -- Susan in a classroom on an outreach in 1999; at health fairs in the early 2000s. She joined STF in May 1998 and became Grants and Special Projects Manager and Director of Programmes before becoming Executive Director in October 2010. She has an MPH from the School of Public Health, University of Washington, and a BA in Sociology and Political Science from Makerere.

STF 2010 Annual Report 3 Boys at a secondary school enjoy a Straight Talk on drug abuse. Boys often use bravado to hide anxiety.

Ugandan boys have a later median age of first sex than girls: 18.1 versus 16.4 years. However, boys today are more likely to have sex before 15 than boys in older age cohorts and than girls: 17.5% of boys aged 15-17 had had sex before 15 compared to 10% of girls. (UHSBS, 2004)

Besides the risk of HIV, sex can have severe social consequences for school boys, including reducing their chances PRINT of completing their education. The girl’s parents may force them to marry their daughter or threaten them with prison. The boy’s parents may conclude that their son has lost interest in education and4 ceaseSTF 2010 paying Annual hisReport fees. TF has worked through print since 1993. For six STF’s high volume, low cost, talk rich, print model has Syears, until STF started its English youth radio show been replicated by “Straight Talks” in other African in 1999, print was STF’s sole channel of mass media countries. The key to STF’s print model, as with its radio communication. Straight Talk, a newspaper for secondary approach, is to create conversations with young people. school students, was launched in October 1993. Young So besides STF journalists meeting young people in the Talk for young adolescents was launched in February 1998. field, Straight Talk and Young Talk draw on the letters that young people send in -- a record 23,143 in 2010. STF produces other “talk” papers with important niches -- Tree Talk, Farm Talk, Teacher Talk and Straight Talks in A good example of this was the May 2010 Straight Talk on Ugandan languages. However, Straight Talk and Young labial elongation. About 100 young people, mostly girls, Talk remain STF’s flagship products, accounting for 9 wrote in with their stories about this widespread cultural million (71.5%) of the 12.6 million copies of the print practice, enabling STF to put together an informed and materials that STF produced in 2010. insightful paper. “Pulling” is valued for enhancing sex but also, upon reflection, seems to distract girls from their Overall, 2010 was a year of intense work for the print education. It is often done communally at school and department. The seven journalists and four designers seems to encourage girls into early sex. produced 71 different products -- newspapers, leaflets, posters, calendars, books, newsletters and more.

Straight Talk and Young Talk Straight Talk provides the full package of comprehensive sexuality education, addressing both abstinent and sexually active young people, and therefore covering issues ranging from delaying sex to family planning and preventing abortion. It takes the position that not having sex is the wisest choice for in-school adolescents but recognises that some readers are in relationships.

Young Talk, for pupils in upper primary school, holds that 10-14 year olds are too young to ever have “good” sex to which they truly consent aware of all the consequences. So it provides sex-positive content on understanding body changes, sexuality and reproductive health. It encourages children to say no to bad touches, ask for help, speak out, have constructive friends and complete primary school.

STF newspapers, particularly Young Talk, use puzzles Deeply absorbed, a boy looks at a Straight Talk with articles on “the first and games to draw in readers. By posing questions, time I had sex” and “protecting your fertility by avoiding STDs”. they probe readers’ knowledge. In the April 2010 Young Talk, readers were asked to advise Dan who wrote in to complain that “there is a girl in my class who, when the Although highly economical, STF’s print model costs more teacher is teaching, puts her bums on my leg and shakes per person reached than its radio approach -- about 25US them”. Readers advised him: “That is bad manners. Ask cents a year versus 10US cents. But print materials can be her to stop it. If she refuses, report her to your class shared, conserved and pinned up on walls for years. STF’s teacher.” “She is teasing you. Tell your parents about it. 1996 calendar - “Safer sex is respect” - is still up at Arapai, They can help you.” This technique, called crowd sourcing, Uganda’s top agricultural college, 14 years later. generates authentic problem-solving, taps adolescents’ experiential wisdom, and gives them exercises in critical Adults who work at STF sometimes feel drained by thinking. the constant re-working of the same themes: sex, HIV, menstruation, assertiveness, girl-boy relationships, Both papers make copious use of experts, such as resisting negative peers. Yet, that content is what young doctors from the Ministry of Health, who provide input people seek: there is a new sexual generation every five on complex subjects such as - how does male circumcision years. protect against HIV? And what is a CD4 count?

Printed on newsprint at a cost of just 2-3 US cents a copy, each newspaper has four A3 pages -- enough to accommodate articles and illustrations as well as the stories and questions of about thirty adolescents. “We include their messages and pictures too,” says print 13, in his last year of primary director, Topi Agutu. The above letter is from a boy, school. Twenty-five years into the HIV epidemic, it is only natural that children

ask basic questions and need answers. Print STF 2010 Annual Report 5 Publications 2010 Prior to printing, all STF newspapers are No. Total pre-tested with beneficiaries to check Publication title Print runs issues printed quality and comprehension. In 2010 STF 150,000 YT; 150,000 ST; 1000 FT; TreeT Calendars 4 332,500 conducted pre-testing in 20 schools and 31,500 sites, such as Naguru Teenage Centre. 530,000/month Feb-June; 490,000/ Young Talk 10 5,590,000 month July-Dec In all, STF print journalists conducted 330,000/month Feb-June 300,000/ interviews, pre-tested papers and/or ran Straight Talk 10 3,450,000 month July - Dec “journalist for a day” in a total of 89 100,000 copies of “4Rs” and Luganda Straight Talk in Ugandan schools, coming face-to-face with 4655 4 issues; 60,000 copies of the Lwo and 380, 000 languages Ateso issues young people in 42 districts. Teacher Talk for Primary 4 300,000 copies of each issue 1, 200,000 and PPET After printing, each primary school Farm Talk 2 150,000 copies of each issues 300, 000 receives 28 copies of each issue of Young 100,000 April Lwo; 100,000 July Talk, and each secondary school 46 copies Lwo; 250,000 April English; 250,000 Tree Talk 7 706,500 July English; GTZ bulletin 1500, GTZ of Straight Talk. leaflets 3000, Tree Talk book 2000 Braille Young Talk 2 150 300 One of the print department’s proudest Braille Straight Talk 2 100 200 achievements in 2010 was publishing STF Nga’karimojong 1 10,000 10,000 “Talking Points” its style book and print guidelines. In STF Print Guide 1 50 50 many respects, this was long overdue. STF annual report 1 1500 1500 However, it took months of hard work 60,000 Kenya version; 50,000 Uganda to unpack how exactly STF builds a Scouts Voice 2 110,000 version paper. Dongo Pacu paper + 3 1500 English Dong Pacu; 6000 Lwo 5 7500 e-newletters version There was much to get down, including 100,000 copies HIV prev 4Rs Everyday Health Matters: and Luganda; 300,000 English the choice of fonts, colours and other “HIV prevention” (Luganda 5 “child survival”; Child survival in 500,000 and 4Rs) and “child design parametres for each different Luganda/4rs camera ready but not survival” in English printed “talk” paper; policies on sensitive On STDs 15,000 English, Luganda issues (if a girl writes in about being HIPS leaflets 4 10,000. On condoms 15,000 English, 50,000 raped by her cousin, should we publish Luganda 10,000 her name?); how to be relevant for Book: NUREP best practice 1 1000 1000 both boys and girls and even gender- Batwa book 1 1000 1000 transformative; how to situate content Malaria Consortium 2 300 600 manuals for young people having sex side-by- War Child Holland manuals 2 Not yet printed - side with content for adolescents who Mvule Trust annual report 1 300 are delaying sex; and how to talk about Total 71 12,641,450 preventing HIV without stigmatising young people living with the virus. “Everyday girls get their first period and need to know that it is not a sign that they should start Other newspapers sex,” says print director Topi Agutu. In 2010, besides ten issues of Straight Talk and Young Talk each, STF produced “Every day a new school comes on board to get 30 issues of several other newspapers. our papers,” adds print manager Martha Akello. Tree Talk and Farm Talk are discussed on “Since we have been producing Straight Talk since pages 14-17. 1993, I often meet older people who say that the newspapers helped them to live better lives.” Ugandan-language Straight Talks: written for young people who are out- It was a source of satisfaction for STF that in 2010 of-school but literate in their mother its print materials continue to show up in research tongue, in 2010 these newspapers Straight Talk Foundation Kololo as vital references for adolescents,P. O. Box 22366parents Kampala Uganda Tel: 0312-262030/1 and were produced in Lwo (Lok Atyer PRINTProduced by Print Department, StraightGUIDE Talk Foundation, 2010 Email: [email protected] Web: www.straighttalkfoundation.org teachers. (See page 42.) Kamaleng), Ateso (Ener Eitena), Luganda (Twogere Kaati) and 4Rs or Runyakitara In 2010 STF pursued its strategy of “journalist for a day”, (Tusheeshuure). Out-of-school youth are highly diverse, which allows the young people to conduct interviews, ranging from young people who have not had sex to suggest subject matter and determine the content of the those who, usually girls, are married and already have papers themselves. Although this methodology involves children. STF tries to address the varied needs of these lengthy upcountry trips and is too expensive to be used youth. for every issue, in 2010 STF was able to work with eight schools in Kitgum to produce a Straight Talk on “getting In 2010 the local language papers looked at the along with your parents” and a Young Talk on “violence is importance of having friends and sub-topics such as always wrong”. enjoying love without sex; making sex safe from disease

6 STF 2010 Annual Report 3 Straight Talk, February 2011

You have a right to inform yourself about condoms

When used correctly every time you have “Your chic says you are the only fish sex, condoms in the pond but the moment you go can prevent away, she gets other lovers.” infections D Byansi, Kololo SS, Kampala. What is the use of staying in a relationship that exposes transmitted through you to HIV/STDs, unwanted pregancies or death? May be “Just wants to sex like HIV/ it is time to end that relationship if your guy or girlfriend... taste sex and STDs. They also go.” J Odongo, prevent unwanted "Is interested in sex more than 20, S3, Acaba pregnacies. If you are living anything.” M Ajapo, 19, SSS, Oyam Nakanyonyi Girls SS, Jinja with HIV, condoms will prevent you from infecting others and and early or unwanted pregnancies; using condoms; Teacher Talk: STF launched "Threatens to leave “Orders and re-infecting yourself. Use one and HIV counseling and couplenever testing listens before sex. A key Teacher Talk in 2002 for you if you refuse to condom for each round of sex. If talking point was that trustor and respects love are good but do teachers in primary schools. have sex with them.” you use more than one condom not protect against HIV. Basedyour on decisions the testimonies of Since then Teacher Talk has R Byaruhanga, they will all go off and expose young people, the process ofto producingdelay sex.” these papers is Kabale Trinity College become a key teachers’ you to unwanted pregnancy and R Nalwoga, interactive. The Luganda paper featured 12 males and 13 resource, promoting the STDsfree condoms from health "Is secretive. He or females from Mpigi, Masaka,Kasangombe Rakai, Kyotera, Kiboga and government’s sexuality and centres near you. They are free she does not want Kyankwanzi districts. TheSS, Ateso Nakaseke paper featured 23 young HIV prevention programme, in government hospitals. You you to know about people. PIASCY; increasing the use can also get them from Naguru his/her family.” Amos Okok, 21, a Teenage centre and Youth Centres "Asks for sex immediately at the of Young Talk; and helping B Nantongo, 15, in Gulu, Kitgum, Adjumani and beginningTwogere of the relationship.resident in Anaka to improve the quality of S3, St Mary’s trading centre, Amuru, Amuru Brenda Nakimbugwe ye mwanjuzi education and increase pupils’ When you accept,wa plogulamu he Twogere Kaati ku or she tells SS, Luwero ladiyo. wuliriza: Buddu FM Masaka, Sun FM Mityana, Radio Kiboga, Beat FM, Akaboozi Ku Bbiri, Kampala Ogw'omwenda 2010everyoneKaati how they had sexleft withschool after P6. persistence in school. Okuba n’abantu okum- Lwaki tubeera pi, okwewa amagezi A partially-sighted you. A boy n’ebirowoozowho rushesebizimba toA devotedask for reader of n’emikwano? Joyce Ajok, at Gulu PS sex does mikwanonot mikulu gyetuli. love you." teacher, Batusanyusa. Okuba Lok Atyek Kamaleng, With UNITY-USAID and the mukwano gw’omuntu ffa nfe, kimatiza. Emikwano beE bantu be twesiga era nga tubassaamu ekitiibwa. Tuba Annex for the Blind reads a Teacher O Kabagenyi,n’ebitusanyusa bye bimu wamu 19, Kamurasi n’empisa. Batuwa obuwummuliro, he says it helped him ne batubudabuda era batuwa Ministry of Education and n’amagezi. Omukwano omutuufu akuzzaamu Talk about how to improve teacher- Know PTC, Masindiamaanyi ng’oyita mu bizibu. ebyenjawulo. Mu biseera byange Twesigama ku mikwano era ne eby'eddembe, nsamba akapiira ne mikwano gyange. Nzannya to learn how to read tusanyuka nabo mu ebiseera nga Sports (MoES), in 2010 STF birungi. Emikwano gisobola okuba katemba n’okuyimba mu kwaya.” bakazi banno oba basajja banno, oba basobola okuba abakazi nga Mukuume omukwano gwamme student relationships. gwe oli musajja, oba nga basajja nga gwa maanyi. Mwogere gwe ng’oli mukazi. Musobola awatali kukwekereza era mu okubeera emikwano egya bulijjo mazima. Londa emikwano nga in Lwo. wegendereza. produced four issues of Teacher naye ne munyumirwa enkolagana yammwe. Godfrey Kanuagyi 17, Kasansula, Ssenyondo Lawrence, 26, ow'e Rakai akoze okusalawo okutuufu. Senyange, Masaka agamba: Agamba: “Neewala emikwano “Bizinensi ngikola ne mukwano egingamba okw'enyigiria mu your body

gwange. Ntunda chapati ye n’atunda by'okwegatta. Ndi mbeerera, Talk, two for primary schools enkoko. Ssente tuzitereka ku nerekereza eby’omukwano. Ntya akawunti eyaffe ababiri. Tugambana okukwatibwa siriimu.” Lubega Steven 20, ow’e Rakai agamba: “Londa ensimbi ze tuba tutereseewo. Lowooza mu bwegendereza ku ki emikwano egikuwa amagezi agagasa era nga gikuyamba okwekuuma. Sirina muwala muganzi wange. mikwano gyo kye gigamba okukola. Wewale emikwano egikugamba okubba, okunywa omwenge, enjaga, Mpulira ng’ekiseera tekinatuuka. Tokola kintu olw'okuba mikwano era egitassa kitiibwa mu bantu bakulu ne bazadde baabwe.” Nekuuma nga nenyigira mu bintu gyo bakikola. Kiyinza okuba Young Talk and and two for post-primary eky'omutawaana gyoli. “My penis is huge,

Amazima ku siriimu: Abaana abamu abazaalibwa Nyumirwa okwagala okutaliimu kwegatta ne siriimu kati bavubuse Nakanjako Olivia, 19, ow'e Mbizzinya, Edda nga kizibu abaana abazaaliddwa Straight Talk in Mpigi agamba: “Nina omulenzi gwe institutions. These focused on teacher pupil/student ne siriimu okukula n’okutuuka njagala. Enkolagana yaffe ya okuvubuka. Kati bawangala ng’ensonga tandika nga is there any herbal emu ku bibasobozesa bwe bujjanjabi tuli ba mikwano, naye ne twagalana. obwongeddwamu amaayi. Tetwegatta. Ntya okufuna embuto ne siriimu. Tetunaba kwekebeza ffembi Naye era kimanyiddwa nti abaana Braille: Concerned relationships, HIV stigma, helping teachers to understand abamu abalina siriimu tebalaga bubonero siriimu, naye tuteekateeka okukikola. bwonna okutuusa nga bavubuse. Enkola entuufu yandibadde nti abaana Buule Mwakola okusalawo okutuufu okugira medicine which can abazaaliddwa n’akawuka ka siriimu baweebwa eddagala eriweweza ku siriimu nga mulinzeeko okwegatta. Tebeereza (ARVs) mu mwaka gwabwe ogusooka mu bazadde bo bwe bawulira ng’ofunye that visually-impaired bulamu. and manage their own sexuality, supporting teachers olubuto. Topapa. Lindako okwegatta. Wekebeze siriimu, bazadde bo bwe Mwongere okumanyagana okusingawo. baba nga balabika ng’abalina siriimu. Okujjanjaba amangu kye kisinga. Kubiriza make it small?” Okubeera mu mukwano tekitegeeza kwegatta oba kufumbiriganwa. Lindako bazadde bo n’abenganda zo nabo okwegatta okutuusa ng’osussizza emyaka 20. Kikukuuma ng’obulamu bwo okwekebeza siriimu naddala nga bali adolescents were with HIV, helping teachers to feel more comfortableand got married. We are committed to embuto, era bazaalire mu ddwaaliro. bulungi era ng’a weewaze akawuka ka siriimu. Isaac,18, Kasubi SS, Kampala cut off from HIV and about adolescent sexual and reproductive healthsupporting (ASRH), you to be the best you can be. sexuality education, child-friendly teaching methods, and creating supportive Why do you think it is big? STF started producing Straight Talk and Young Talk in will formenvironments your future for are young with people.you. We encourage you to develop safe It seems you are comparing Braille in November 2009. In 2010 STF produced two WatchA wheretotal of you 1.2 millionare and Teacher who you Talks are were printed and friendships with boys and girls at your yourself to someone else. issues of each. Each This copy week, costs I talked$12. (See to boxa girl on page 8.) with. distributedKeep your inrelationships 2010. with guys in open places. school, church and through life. God That is wrong. During whose life has been changed by an Not all guys have the right brings different people in your life for adolescence, the size of unexpected pregnancy. I also talked intentions for you. It is a purpose. May God guide your future your penis starts to grow to your cousin Reste (not real name) natural to be attracted to as it unfolds day by day. like any other part of your who is a mother at 16. She wants to body. guys but remember that sex continue with school but her uncle By Pastor Andrew Every person is not for now. lost interest in paying her school Mwenge, Kampala differs in penis fees. Reste will need to work twice as Baptist Church I compare those two girls size, shape hard to support her baby and to find to Sandra who took her and length. money to go back to school. Jackie with Mita parents' advice serious. College Straight Talk club Some are fat So my sweet littlethe choicesdaughter, that She studied finished school chair Wasswa Hassan (R) and short. and counsellor Nsimbe Others are Muhamood (L). The boys long and thin. were paying a courtesy That is normal call on STF. and natural. Do not use herbs to treat your fears. The diary of a young positivechild. My CD4 count was 400. My Visit a doctor to check doctor advised me to start taking I'm a free person now. I can you properly. If you have ARVs when I was six months an infection, you will be Thank take my medicine anywhere pregnant. They could check me to without fear. So dear friends, treated. It is good to be SInce 2009 StraightJacky Talk has says:“Jacki, I was so impressed by see if my baby was growing well concerned about your run a monthly diaryyou of a allyoung who calledyour story. I have a big problem if you have HIV, open up. or if I had any other problem like Sharing my story with you is penis. Always take care of it positive. In 2010 in thisespecially diary, my OGsthat and I need you to help me pressure. They also encouraged to keep it healthy. Jacki Alesi, 24, promotedOBs positivewho were wonderingwith.” Girl saving someone’s life. You too me to give birth from the hospital dignity, health and preventionhow I got by the strength to can do the same. Test together which I did. This helped me By Dr Paul Semugoma, sharing her story of livingshare with my status.“How I was many times can I get HIV with your girl or boyfriend and produce a baby who is free of HIV. International Hospital , HIV. Since she publiclytired disclosed of living inwhen darkness. I have sex?” Boy know your status. After birth, I was advised to give Kampala

her status, she has receivedI wanted 152 to show“Hi, you Jacki, advise me. I have too my baby nevirapine syrup for two phone calls and ten texts.that telling someonemuch sexual your desire.” Boy Question to Jacky: weeks. I did not breastfeed him status is good. When you Dear Jacky, did you go to reduce chances of infection. I “Hi, Jacki, Can you helpdo me that, open you are“I have set itchingfree. skin near my for antenatal when you got advise mothers living with HIV to up like you did. I am reallyPeople scared will alwaysvagina. be When there I scratch, the skin pregnant? They say women Quiz: attend antenatal and give birth Have you ever people might hate me.”for Girl you, you peelsfreely off.” interact Girl who get help from the hospital from hospital. walked into a hospital with them and they accept can give birth to babies who or shop and asked for you. don't have HIV. M Amulen,18, DO YOU HAVE a condom? Tell us

Print your story. Write to PO BOX, 22366 S4, Bethany Girls SS, Soroti QUESTIONS FOR Kampala Self-stigma does not help. STF 2010 Annual Report 7 Send them to You live like a prisoner Yes my dear. I JACKY? ANS: PO BOX 22366, KAMPALA and you may fail to get attended atenatal care at treatment because you fear Nsambya Hospital for my third people to see you at the clinic or know that you are on treatment. Sexuality education for vision-impaired adolescents have is to read hard and succeed in future. If we fall for girls, we shall be a useless lot because we shall have nothing to show.”

They read the Straight Talk Braille by feeling dots on the paper with their fingers. Each class receives one copy, which the students read in turn. At Friday club meetings, they write letters to STF. “I had heard good things about STF newspapers in the past from friends able to read.” Says Godfrey Joga, 19, in S3. “When I read ST Braille, I learnt a lot.” Janet Kwaga, 21, in S5, says, “I learnt to be assertive and avoid walking alone or at night to avoid bad people.”

Teacher Maxi Akabway says Straight Talk Braille is important since teachers are too busy to provide sex Reading Braille: students at St Francis SS for the Blind in Soroti, education. STF journalist Jane Nafula, who manages reading Straight Talk in Braille. the Braille issues, says “people take advantage of blind youth, especially the girls, who are raped. They have hree boys are having a hot debate at St Francis low self-esteem and think abusers are doing them a SS for the Blind. One says that a friend told him T favour by having sex with them.” that if he does not have sex, he will become abnormal and never produce children. But his friend says that tudents with limited sight also benefit from the he read in the Braille Straight Talk that this is not ST radio show. Alice Ngobi, 22, in S5 at Iganga true. “Delaying sex protects us from HIV, helps us S SS listens to it on Capital Radio. “I learn about concentrate on studies and earns us respect from early marriage, AIDS and sex and relationships. It women.” He says that he manages his sexual desires encourages us to pursue education for a better life.” by “reading books and Straight Talk Braille and playing sports”. By Fred Womakuyu A third boy says, “As disabled youth, the only pride we

Straight Talk clubs

t St Jude’s College in Bugiri, Juliet Mukisa, 15, is Areading the latest Straight Talk. “I am getting tips for our club. We meet every Friday.” She has chosen the topic “how to care for people living with HIV/AIDS”. She tells the club that caring for people with HIV starts with getting rid of stigma. A biology teacher adds, “Caring for people with Esther Muzaki, HIV helps them know that they are important like 16, confesses anybody”. Muzaki acknowledges her misconception that she thought and promises to treat people with HIV better. sitting next to a Mukisa shifts to relationships. She says that Straight person with HIV Talk says a good girl-boy relationship does not mean might infect her. you have to have sex but “in case you cannot control She is avoiding your feelings, you can use a condom”. She explains them. Mukisa to the 60 club members that, used correctly and for says, “Look at every round of sex, condoms can protect them from what Straight Talk unwanted pregnancies and HIV/STDs. says. HIV is not transmitted that t Green Hill SSS in Bugiri, teacher Jimmy Kimumwe Club activist Jane Mukisa looks at Straight way. It is mostly Asays Straight Talk helps teachers control sexual Talk with classmates. Being in a Straight Talk transmitted by feelings. “You may be tempted to have sex with club is a way to become more assertive and gain sex.” students. Straight Talk reminds us to never do that.” leadership skills.

8 STF 2010 Annual Report Young Talk: teaching us about our bodies ius Ngole, 13, is a pupil at PMoroto Municipal PS. He wants to become a doctor but he knows he comes from one of Uganda’s least developed regions, plagued by insecurity, poor schools and drought.

But this has not stopped him from thinking and, through a Young Talk club, he has learnt about sexuality, body changes and HIV/AIDS. He has also made friends, gained confidence and can now speak to a large crowd of people without fear or hesitation. “It is helping me to stay at school because, in my region, we value cattle not education,” he says. “But cattle are stolen and dying due to drought and diseases. We are also dying from hunger.”

Ngole says if he gets educated, he will get a good job and help his parents overcome poverty and survive Karamoja’s harsh conditions. The club has 50 members who plant trees and read Young Talk. Says another member, Peter Lomanio, 14, “We are now good writers and my dream of becoming a journalist is being fulfilled. We request STF to continue advising us.” Serious faces at a Young Talk club in Layoko PS in Gulu. STF is Teddy Adungo, the club patron, says Young Talk has unsure how many Straight Talk and Young Talk clubs exist in schools because most done a lot for her pupils. “In Karamoja, nobody talks form spontaneously and simply use the copies that STF sends the schools as a catalyst for talk. However, it has over 800 on its mailing list. Some schools use the to children about body changes or sex education. newspapers as teaching tools in class. But doing both -- having a club and using They think it will encourage them to have sex. But the papers for teaching -- is ideal. through the club, members have learnt about their bodies and how to control themselves.” to the classes. t Kyengere PS in Wakiso, Kibirango Shafique At Bumatte PS in Asays that Young Talk is teaching them about Bundibugyo, Joyce their bodies. He started growing pubic hair and he Mbambu, 15, says knows it is normal. He adds that Young Talk is advising the papers discuss him to abstain from sex. He manages to do this by important issues reading his books, helping his parents at home and like body changes playing football. Esther Matoho, a teacher at Matutu and HIV/AIDS Memorial PS in Wakiso, says that Young Talk is helping prevention. At her to teach her pupils better. “There are many things VH Public School that I do not know as a teacher. But experts and in Lira, Naizuli students writing in Young Talk have opened my eyes. Martha, 15, says From each issue, I am learning something.” that Young Talk is like a textbook because what is taught in their science lessons also appears in the At Lotukei PS in Abim, Francis Ojole, 13, says that newspaper. when Young Talk comes, they first meet as members of the Young Talk club and then distribute the copies By Fred Womakuyu Print STF 2010 Annual Report 9 Letters by districts Letter feedback District Total District Total 1. Adjumani 128 44. Koboko 32 2. Amolatar 46 45. Kumi 186 Newspaper Letters received By gender 3. Amuria 54 46. Kyegegwa 6 Young Talk 15,409 9127 F 6192M 4. Apac 196 47. Kyenjojo 93 5. Arua 452 48. Lira 1302 Straight Talk 7734 4786 F 2984 M 6. Bubulo 2 49. Luuka 4 7. Budaka 4 50. Luweero 159 Farm Talk 567 8. Bududa 45 51. Lyantonde 3 9. Bugiri 1677 52. Manafwa 99 Tree Talk 422 10. Bukomansimbi 1 53. Maracha 2 Teacher Talk 122 44F 78M 11. Bukwo 1 54. Masaka 164 12. Bundibugyo 192 55. Masindi 313 Total 24,068 14,047F 9254 M 13. Bushenyi 136 56. Mbale 264 14. Busia 2789 57. Mbarara 18 15. Butaleja 2 58. Mityana 67 etters are STF’s main feedback system. The year 16. Dokolo 116 59. Moroto 60 L2010 saw a sharp surge of letters from pupils and 17. Fort portal 18 60. Moyo 227 students. In 2010 STF received 24,068 letters to its five 18. Gulu 120 61. Mpigi 10 19. Hoima 121 62. Mubende 407 main papers. Young Talk received 15,409 letters, an 20. Ibanda 7 63. Mukono 677 increase of almost 100% over 2009 in which it received 21. Iganga 99 64. Nakapiripirit 4 8040. Straight Talk received 7734 letters, more than 22. Isingiro 6 65. Nakaseke 15 23. Jinja 431 66. Namayengo 11 doubling the letters it received in 2009. 24. Kaabong 4 67. Namutumba 39 25. Kabale 304 68. Nebbi 18 Print director Topi Agutu explains the boom in 26. Kabarole 9 69. Ntungamo 167 letters this way. “We believe it is because we have a 27. Kaberamaido 133 70. Otuke 9 28. Kalangala 45 71. Pader 111 dedicated print team, who make sure that every STF 29. Kaliro 60 72. Pallisa 123 trip up-country carries papers and pre-paid envelopes 30. Kampala 2199 73. Rakai 3 for young people. This has simultaneously improved 31. Kamuli 226 74. Rukungiri 1079 distribution and made it easier for adolescents to write 32. Kanungu 437 75. Sembabule 5 in. Adolescents have always had so many questions but 33. Kapchorwa 67 76. Serere 25 34. Kasese 1134 77. Sheema 41 have often not been able to send them to us.” 35. Katakwi 57 78. Sironko 30 36. Katooma 10 79. Soroti 531 Girls write in to both Young Talk and Straight Talk more 37. Kayunga 32 80. Tororo 372 than boys. Making the papers appealing to both gender 38. Kibale 23 81. Wakiso 388 is a challenge. 39. Kiboga 143 82. Yumbe 47 40. Kiruhura 17 83. Zombo 9 STF received letters to Straight Talk and Young Talk 41. Kiryandongo 187 84. Tororo 372 42. Kisoro 27 85. Unknown 2695 from almost every district. But learners in some districts Grand Total 21645 are more engaged than in others. Top responding districts were Busia, Bugiri, Kasese, Lira, Rukungiri to make sure it hears from young people from all and Kampala. With a population of almost 2 million, districts. Letters reveal the myths and misconceptions Kampala’s strong response is no surprise. But the high that young people hold about sex and their bodies. response from these other districts is partly due to They also reveal young peoples’ struggles to manage STF monitors on the ground, young men with bicycles love, relationships, school, money and family life. The who track STF radio shows to make sure they are aired following are recurrent themes. and visit the post and education offices to make sure the newspapers get out. STF is particularly concerned • Culture: “My friends tell me that if I don’t pull about large districts such as Kabarole and Rakai from (elongate my labia) I will not give birth in future.” which it receives almost no letters. Adolescents may be receiving the papers but not have means to respond. • Pregnancy and STDs: “If a girl swallows four The post office network is weak in some parts of panadol before having sex, can she get pregnant?” “I Uganda. In 2011 STF will embark on a renewed drive was raped when I was 12. When I urinate, I see pus.”

The editorial team: from L to R, Aida Nanyonjo, Jackie Abongowath, Jane Nafula, Print Director Topi Agutu and Print Manager Martha Akello. Missing are Fred Ouma and Paul Kiwuwa, who were on an upcountry trip when the photo was taken.

10 STF 2010 Annual Report • Body changes: “When I was young, my breasts were • Drugs and violence: “My parents take alcohol. Then small but now they are growing so big that I fear that they burn clothes, break things and chase me from clan leaders have bewitched me.”; “My penis is small. home. They want me to stop schooling.” My friends say that when I marry, my wife will divorce me and I can’t produce children.”

• Relationships: “I have a boy who loves me too much but I don’t love him. He tells me that when I love him, he will give me everything.” “There is a teacher who wants to love me. I told him I am still young. Should I accept him or report him to the head teacher?”

• Condoms: “My friend is totally against condoms. He says it is indirect killing. Is this true?” The letter team: in 2010 these young people logged, categorised and answered all letters to Young Talk and Straight Talk. They selected letters to appear in the papers and sent out prizes.

9000 18000 Young Talk letters 2002-2010 Straight Talk letters 2002-2010 8000 7734 16000 15409

7000 14000

6000 12000 5168 5000 4288 10000 8040 4000 3625 3530 8000 2936 3000 6000 2000 1638 1813 4000 3278 1070 2902 2555 1000 1781 1995 2000 1202 1114 0 0 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 Years Years

Distribution

About 35,000 copies of each STF they are posted from Kampala. It has 6350 Category No. newspaper are inserted into The New mobile numbers for primary schools, 3848 Primary Schools 13,391 Vision. Others are delivered to NGOs in for secondary schools and hundreds of Secondary School 3272 Kampala. The bulk of STF newspapers numbers for CBOs. Teachers’ responses Straight Talk Clubs 715 go out through the post. STF has 25,000 show their desire for the papers. Young Talk Clubs 103 addresses on its mailing list. “We spent a year without Young Talk Tertiary Institutions 553 because we changed our PO Box!” St Noah CCTs / Teacher Colleges 598 To encourage teachers to collect the Kampiri PS, Mityana District Education Offices 80 bundles, STF sends texts reminding them District Inspector Offices 80 “Thanks for the notification. I am going to pick their newspapers two weeks after Health Centres 1874 to pick them now.” Uganda Martyrs PS, NGOs 507 Mbarara CBOs 1532 “We always receive our monthly packages. Baptist Churches 73 They have helped transform my pupils.” Catholic Churches 118 Oyamai PS, Amuria Church of Uganda 806 Islamic Institutions 45 “We need 1000 copies of Young Talk!” Police 120 Bubulo Mixed PS, Mbale Prisons 57 “We receive Straight Talk late, so we Libraries 81 cannot participate in quizzes.” Bamusuta MPs 306 SS, Kiboga International addresses 266 Farm Talk Institutions 175 “You promised me a diary but I haven’t A nurse at a clinic holds papers to distribute TOTAL 24,577 to young clients. received it.” Kirwala PS, Masindi Print STF 2010 Annual Report 11 Straight Talk at a glance 2010

HIV basics Straight Talk Newspaper for radio show blind students Memory loss or forgetfulness is a in Lebthur Straight Talk Founda- HIV basics common condition among people living with HIV. It is goes on air Be the caused by a condition called AIDS Dementia Complex connecting tion has started pro- I share a desk with a friend living (ADC) that affects the brain. ADC is usually caused Abim and ducing a newspaper with HIV. Some students say I will by an infection that occurs because of a weakened Kotido. Meet also get HIV from her. Can I leave immune system, as is the case with for blind students. It her? Boy, Kasese. many HIV-positive people. Before Joyce is called Straight Talk 2010 the coming of antiretroviral drugs Napeyok NO. Don't leave her. You cannot Braille. Braille is a (ARVs) many HIV-positive people get HIV by sharing a seat with JULY Nakia, 23, method of communica- of suffered memory loss. But now it can the show's someone who has HIV. It is sad that Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat be prevented and treated with ARVs. presenter. tion used by blind peo- your friend is being stigmatised. master People living with HIV need our If you stay with an HIV-positive persons, it is important ple to read and write. It 31 1 2 1 2 3 to always remind them to take their medicine on time. love, care and support. Stigma is was invented in 1821 when people do not want to be near 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 by Louis Braille, a blind Vol.16 No.2 March 2010 or share something with people. your This can happen at school or in 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Vol.16 No.2 February 2010 the community. Stigma can also 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 come from people living with HIV themselves. This is called self stigma 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 and is the worst form of stigma. life Stigma spreads HIV as those living with the virus may deny to have it or fear to seek treatment and support. They may continue infecting the very

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat people they love such as husbands, 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 wives, girlfriends, boyfriends and What is.... children. Remember: HIV thrives on fear, ignorance and secrecy. Stop 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 & stigma today. Dr Stephen Watiti, 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Rise shine Mildmay Centre. Make career choices carefully 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 t is a New Year. Make the best out of determined. If I can't be a lawyer I will every situation. Everyone is special be a music star." should be protected sex.” 28 29 30 31 and gifted and that includes you. t is now over 25 years of HIV I and still thriving in Uganda. Use that gift to rise and shine in These are Deborah and Bernard’s GoodIf you really feelSex ready to have career choices. A career is a way of Why? Dr Stephen Watiti , Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat everything you do. For instance, I sex and you are sure the right making a living. Some careers like working with Mildmay says what do you want to be in time has come for you, before medicine or law require specific it is because of three main 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 future. you take that step, test together training. Others, you learn through reasons.1. SEX 2. SEX 3. SEX. with your partner for HIV/STDs. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 watching others do it, like music. Deborah Watiti, 19, S6 vacist, Yes, we know you are curious Akello M, Dabani Girls, Busia If you are not sure about your about sex. So it is time to says: Good sex does not transmit 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Gayaza HS, dreams to be a career choice, talk to a career 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 talk about good sex that will diseases to your partner. paediatrician (childrens' doctor). “I had a teacher, parents, your adult 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 dream to be like my dad, who is a doctor. siblings or friends. Talk to make HIV history in our lives, Dr Kakoraki Alex of Murchison Bay Hospital, As a little girI I would families, communities and 26 27 28 29 30 people in the field you are Kampala says, “Good sex is the best. It is 28 29 30 31 escort him to the clinic. interest in. If you want to be country. Special thanks to to done after you have consented and agreed OCTOBER There was a feeling of an accountant, talk to some go to the 197 straight talkers on the principles and values of having sex. satisfaction. When I told accountants about their work who answered the Straight Negotiate and agree on what you want to Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat dad that I wanted to and what it takes to become Talk October 2009 quiz on do. be a paediatrician, he 1 2 3 31 1 2 like them. Most people will be good sex. Know the HIV/STDs status of your was excited. However, pleased to help you. partner. Should one of you be infected, 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 on many occasions Mawanda M, S3, Manchester protection should come in. Live sex does he asked me if I was Kenneth Lukwago, teacher from HS, Bugiri, says, “Good sex is done not necessarily lead to satisfaction. Even 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 sure about my choice. Makerere College, says, know at the right time, in the right state of protected sex can be enjoyed. Don’t go for And I always said yourself and be honest about your likes mind. It must be after your education. sex during class time. Avoid having sex in 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 yes. In S5 I chose to and dislikes. Good sex is not defiling or raping unfinished buildings or bushes. You could do Physics, Chemistry, someone. It must be with someone be bitten by a snake or pierced by sharp 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Biology and French. I believe I'm going to you love. Someone ready to have sex objects. ed 197 interesting letters from pass to go to the university.” with you. Ask yourself Straight Talkers. • What am I interested in and feel Matende Benard, 18, S4, Rena Nakia dressed in Loo, a If both of you or one of you is not Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat passionate about? Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat College, Mayuge, wants to be a • Does the work require physical Lebthur traditional attire. ready to have a baby, then, good sex lawyer. "I want to judge people fairly activity? Am I willing to perform at It is made of a goat skin 30 31 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 without favour. My favourite subjects are the level required? and beads. Loo is used Agriculture, Biology and Geography. My 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 • What knowledge, skills, training are during weddings or when Kisubi star is ST fan friends say this course is expensive but I am needed in this work? hosting special guests. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 • How and where can I get the training? Lebthur is a small tribe in Kyeyune Michael,17, is one of the 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 • Will there be jobs when I complete Abim and Kotido. It is bad to despise work which students who scored 8 aggregates can help you become a bet- 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 training? in 8 subjects in the 2009 O-Level 28 29 30 Journalist • Can I write, speak, relate with others ter person. Cooking is partly a Nakia wants to be a Exams. and take personal responsibility? source of my school fees. I want journalist. She has a BBC He is now in S5 at St Mary’s College to become a cardiologist to treat These skills will always be useful Kisubi,Wakiso. Kyeyune is humble, Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat for a day certificate in journalism people's hearts. Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Hullo Straight Talkers in Bugiri, • How much does this job pay? Can it intelligent, friendly. earn me a living? and hopes to get a 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 thank you, for working with us. In diploma and degree. “I I’m, a fan of Straight Talk. In December 2009, Straight Talk jour- He says: I have always worked hard. primary, lost my guardian in S4. In primary, he got 4. My mother 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 nalists visited Bugiri. Are you I enjoyed reading Young Talk • Stay a virgin Quiz: But I believe this is not encourages me to work hard and I The big question for our visit circumcised? Where did you do it and it taught me the benefit of 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 . the end of the world. I cooperate with teachers. Drug abuse is on the • If you are sexually active always was: What are we planning to from? Tell us your story and WIN abstaining from sex. I hope to Quiz: be in future? Eight Straight Talkers will keep working hard abstain till marriage. I don't have rise among young people. Share with 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Write to Straight Talk PO Box I’m doing Biology, Chemistry, from different schools were trained towards my goal.” a gilrfriend. One of the of the us stories of how drugs are secretly use a condom. Unprotected sex is Denis Nabbi (Uncle D), one 22366, Kampala. Mathematics/Food! I took nutrition 27 28 29 30 26 27 28 29 30 31 as journalists for a day. Afterward, interesting issues I have ever read brought in schools by students and how of journalists for the day because I want to teach people how is “Girls are Equally Intelligent”. the biggest risk for young people. they interviewed fellow Straight interviewing Denis Mawanda of to eat healthy food. I enjoy cook- those who abuse drugs are affected. Talkers about what they plan to be Bukooli College, S1, in his shop It is true girls are intelligent. Write to Straight Talk, PO BOX, 22366 K'la rUHAAMA SS, NTUNGAMO, IS our STAr ScHOOl. Throughout 2009 we ing. I learnt from my mother. She I encourage young people to in future. Read more inside. at Bugiri town. Both want to received letters from Ruhaama SS. Make your school shine in 2010. Acacia Avenue, Kololo, PO Box 22366 Kampala, Uganda. Tel: (256 31) 262030, (256 31) 262031, Email: [email protected], Website: www.straight-talk.or.ug has a catering company. Idon’t feel read Straight Talk Newspapers become lawyers. Write to Straight Talk, PO Box, 22366, Kampala. ashamed to cook.

Straight Talk.indd 1 1/8/2010 11:03:32 AM

Don't allow to be used HIV basics HIV basics: Good sex for HIV positives Dear youth, we have also HIV basIcs: BEAUTIFUL: been in that stage. Don’t let Young people in Africa Good sex is after studies and when you ought have taken the fight against can handle sex outcomes such as a baby. anyone abuse your body. If Jacky Alesi you are in school and want Microbicides A NO is NO HIV rather serious driving is a volunteer at Talk to your partner about your HIV status to be a doctor, concentrate Microbicides are substances women against th Girls, Make your down the rates of the Straight Talk Foundation. and test together. If you are sexually to protect girls or disease. She represented Uganda active, use condoms to prevent HIV re- on that. Try to do everything in its right time. Wagalukka HIV during sex. They are not yet " " stronG and at the 8th HIV conference infection, unwanted pregnancies and d effective NO They are choosing safer sex Benah, a teacher at Nyenga available. Researchers are still gels, in Vienna, Austria from STDs. Nuru Nabumba sincere. Boys, accept practices such as waiting SS, Mukono. working hard to find safe an be put July 13 - 22, 2010. At the More on good sex for HIV on pg 3 microbicides. They will come in Girls' and longer before starting to conference, she learnt that foams and creams that can NO have sex, choosing one young positives have a in the vagina. Microbicidesmelt atcan body be never despise a Girl Ahabyona Amos, sexual partner and using right to sex. But she asks: Students of St Lucia condoms. Are you using condoms? SS, Mpigi. Sometimes specially designed to AhabyonaKatooke Amos,SS, temperature when placed in the who says . Kyenjojo says Hi! Being faithful? With girls are forced out NO Katooke SS, Join the new breed of vagina. Unlike condoms, microbicides Kyenjojo says Hi! whom are you having of school because of young people to fight HIV. sex? Is it the right bride price. Boys may 0 could be applied before sex without male permission. Dr Stephen Watiti, Vol. 15 No. 6 July 2010 time for sex? steal to raise bride Vol.16 No.4 April 201 Mildmay Centre Vol.16 No.5 June 2010 price. This is not cool. Pick the good things about bride price and avoid the bad things.

The Pokot are a small tribe of My girlfriend and I are virgins. I plan Why sex to marry her next year. I wanted to about 80,000 people who live in Karamoja. marry her this year but cattle rustlers took my father's 300 cattle. We pay is such a big deal! Alex says: "I'm a Pokot from Loroo bride price of about 40 cows. village in Amudat district. My show ou are curious about Make your first time a great Tune In Now to gives people in my community I encourage young people to stay sex. Maybe you feel memory. Early sex could lead to important information. Some do not virgins and demand for their rights. I Ylike trying it out. unhealthy thoughts about sex sT radio show know HIV is a killer without a cure. demanded for my right to education. But your parents, elders, as expressed by these straight My father wanted me to stay at home teachers and Straight talkers from Victor Hill SS, We speak 17 Ugandan I give them skills to survive despite and look after cows. Talk encourage you not Kampala: languages. We would challenges like cattle rustling, famine to have sex yet. Why? like to introduce to and lack of clean water, seeds and I insisted to be taken to school. I Because when, how, "The first time I had you new Lusoga and medicine for cattle. I talk about health joined P1 when I was 11. I worked where, why and with sex I felt a lot of pain. I Rufumbira presenters problems like Female Genital Cutting hard and succeeded. I have a whom you have sex couldn't move properly. Joy Namukuwe and (FGC), a common practice among the degree in Development Studies from Makerere University." can destroy your life I felt like I had a serious Ronald Hakiza. Pokot. forever. wound down there. I swear, I will never Before you start having practice it again," writes Joy, 21, hosts sex, think about a time NN. the Straight Talk radio show in when you will have it Lusoga (Twogere Lwatu). She Can be a sign "When I had without worries of getting Sex replaces Susan Babirye. A student Violence is common in our homes and Bride price can sex I was so of love, respect pregnant, HIV/STDs and at the right of Kyambogo Universtiy, Joy has community. Yet it leads to death, injury, deny a woman dignity and uncomfortable Any behaviour or act that being arrested, your parents time, with the a boyfriend but is waiting to have causes harm to someone is unhappy families, shame, fear, school for over a and seriousness safety in her marriage. She or teachers finding out, right person sex after studies. She says: “Work violence. It can be physical, dropout, poverty, disability and spread of week. I don't can suffer lack of freedom to dropping out of school. If you for the right hard towards what you want to be emotional or sexual harm. HIV/STDs. Let's say NO to it. reasons is want to do it again," remembered for.” Bride price is an old speak and make decisions. are living with HIV, you will have no fun. Ssenkubuge Benjamin. Sexual violence ranges from words, President Museveni has signed the tradition practised by many Asite Sunday, Maracha SS, from being of age and mature worries of re-infection. It can expose her to violence unwanted touches to forced sex. About Domestic Violence Act. It punishes communities across the world. In adds: “It is a token of appreciation in thinking, we are materially REMEMBER: No adult Alex one in four women between the ages a partner who injures or endangers Uganda bride price is known by ” able to support a family." and leave her stuck in an Yes, this time will come soon. Why 19, and not a price tag. really expects you to abstain forever. Ronald, , of 19 and 49 had their first sex against the health of the other. It also forbids different names, such as “Enjugano” abusive relationship. hurry. Sex will always be there. It is fun is the new presenter of Tuvuge , 24 Their only prayer is that you start their will. Boys too are violated sexually repeated sending of abusive messages or “omukaaga” in western Uganda, To Vivian Naigaga, and great after studies, after 20 years Lwatu, a Straight Talk Lufumbira radio Limale Buni Dission, S6, Wandi Some parents force sex when you are truly mature and is the host of Straight Talk by either females or males. About 10% and letters. People who hurt their “lim” in the north, “omutwalo” in with a partner whose HIV/STD status He says: Progressive Arua says: "Bride price S3, 15, Comprehensive their daughters to practice safer sex. show. Ronald is very careful on matters of radio show in Pokot. nd of males in Uganda have suffered sexual partners can be fi ned UGX 910,000 or central Uganda. The husband-to- you know. is a way of testing the boy's ability to College Kitetikka, sex because he has grown up seeing boys "Violence against women a violence. Some were raped in the imprisoned or both. The court be takes gifts such as cattle, goats, marry early so that take care of the wife and eventually Wakiso, bride price creates in his village being forced to marry girls if girls is common in my village. are anus by other males. If you are sexually may also order the offender cloths, local brew and money to they can gain riches children. In our community we are strong marriages. "It brings they make them pregnant. He has also seen They are not valued. They abused, ask for help. to pay compensation. the bride's family before marriage. proud to show our in-laws that apart a sense of accountability into from bride price. This scary pictures and videos of people with beaten and not allowed to Domestic violence In response to a quiz in October's marriage, giving both families can deny girls the Make a STDs. “Some STDs are terrible that say anything. I condemn Emotional violence: Repeated lies, is against the Straight Talk, 98 of you wrote to us. a say in it." they eat off the penis.” Oouch! violence." law. right to study or a free broken promises, withholding affection, We loved your letters. Here healthy QUIZ: Keep safe, protect your extreme jealousy or humiliation, threats we start with positive ones. choice of husband. penis. against a person and controlling a But watch out! Bride price can also Boys also face start What would person’s every move, including how to Napayo Caroline, dress, what to eat or where to go. Iganga SS, says: “Bride back fire on young hardship as they If you are already having sex, don’t you look Straight Talk radio show is men and woman. Read price is open recognition of struggle to pay. sit back and say: “Well, I have been also in English, Luganda, Physical violence is any act that this Straight Talk and nt in The 2010 World Cup has just ended. women as valuable members Sometimes they doing it this way. There is no poi out for in is forceful, unwanted and harmful like think seriously about or Runyankole, Ateso, Lumasaba, For the first time in history, an of society. It is the official stamp changing my ways.” You can stop tickling or hugging, pushing, pulling, the marriage you want. miss marrying the y Lebtur, Pokot, Ngakaramojong, African country, South Africa hosted it of marriage.” always use condoms correctly ever a marriage slapping or holding someone down, girl they love, who Luo, Lugbara, Lusamia, between June 11 and July 11. Thirty two time you have sex. Make a healthy partner? countries participated. Of these six were punching, beating, kicking, burning and Jackie Midiya, S6, has been forced to start, for you and your loved one. Kupsabiny, Madi and from Africa. The football used during the hitting someone. About 70% of women

Namatende Zaina, S3, Cityland College, Wakiso, marry an older often It is never too late to change your Send your sto- Runyoro/Rutooro, Lukonzo. World Cup was called JABULANI. This between 15 and 49 years have suffered says: “Bride price shows a Kakungulu HS, Wakiso, says: polygamous man for mind. Learn from your mistakes means celebration in Zulu language. physical violence. You too have witnessed woman’s value. In the Bible, “Bride price is outdated and turns girls ries and funky violence as expressed in your 87 letters in to become a better person. Life Spain are the champions.They beat Adam had to be put to sleep into property. Some men abuse their wives bride price. Atuki pictures to Listen & Nertherlands 1 - 0. The youngest player response to a violence quiz in ST. Read and a part of him used to physically or emotionally. They feel wives are Turner, Mifumi without risks is simply more fun and was Sergio Busquets, 21, from Spain. Straight talkers' views on page 2. purchased commodities; like cows or cars.” Straight Talk create Eve. He somehow paid. Read more on page 2. much safer. Jimmy Kimumwe, Make use of your talents and shine. teacher, Green SS, Bugiri PO Box 22366, Kampala Learn!

InSPIRATIon: "We are HIV BASICS InspIratIon: Not everyone HIV basics Champion MOSES KIPSIRO Avoid HIV re-infection who smiles at you is a friend. You could be thinking: “I already have HIV and don't masters to our choices but NO CHILD SHOULD BE BORN WITH HIV He is a 24 year old Uganda’s athlete. During the need to protect myself. I can have unprotected slaves to our decision." A real friend helps and guides Adherence: Some HIV positive you to stay safe and useful October 2010 Commonwealth games in New Delhi, sex.” Wait a minute! You still need protection. Dr About 140,000 children are living young people are not taking their HIV medicine India, Moses won gold medals in 5000 and 10,000 Sabrina Kitaka of Paediatric Infectious Diseases with HIV in Uganda. Many got the with a belief of having been cured of HIV/AIDS in Clinic (PIDC) at Mulago, says: “You may get more meter races. This was the fi rst time in over 70 years virus from their mothers. that an athlete was winning gold medals in the two STDs like syphilis and gonorrhea or a pregnancy. You A research by the Joint Clinical Research church. Others are abandoning treatment due to could also get re-infected with other types of HIV. Centre shows that HIV positive mothers on peer pressure. Stopping treatment causes drug races during the same games. To improve his There are different types of HIV. If you have HIV Prevention of Mother to Children Transmission resistance and need for you to take much more talent Moses used to train on the hills of type 1, which is common in (PMTCT) can produce babies without HIV expensive drugs. If you are HIV Bukwo, his home district. Discover your talent and use it well. Uganda, you could get HIV if they use Highly Active positive pray for healing but type 2. These types have many Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). continue with your treatment. sub types like A, B, C and D. These include three types When you have more than one of ARVs instead of a single The missionaries knew better, type, your body weakens very dose nevirapine currently they built churches and fast and may develop resistance being used. PMTCT is hospitals. Dr Stephen Watiti, to ARVs. You may also develop recommended for all HIV students of Cambridge College, Mildmay Centre AIDS very fast. Don’t be a danger Students of Buhara SS, Kabale infected pregnant mothers. Wakiso, during a visit to stF to yourself and others." enjoy Straight Talk papers. offices in Kampala. Vol. 15 No. 10 October 2010 Vol.16 No.9 August 2010 Vol.16 No. 10 September 2010 Safe male Circumcision Reduces males' chances of getting HIV by 60% but it is not a cure mong the Bamasaba In less than 10 seconds, they had cut (Bagisu), if you are born a it and the boy now turned a man. Aboy, you can only become By 10am, some people were drunk. a man after you have been His grades have declined, he changes circumcised. Peke Charles Walimbwa, an moods and does not talk to his friends. He has even stopped showing elder from Manafwa, says: up for football practice. John's friends Marked every even year, the "Circumcision has been performed for Bamasaba circumcision ceremony know he has been experimenting with centuries. It is a sign of identification and drugs and now they are worried. (imbalu) got underway at Mutoto cleanness." Cultural Centre in Mbale on August Straight Talk Club 6, 2010. Yes, these days drugs are members of KyamakandaTo be successful, SS, Recent studies done in Uganda, found everywhere. Many Runkungiri, say: " Kenya and South Africa show that students are tempted by the have a plan to help you turn your Candidates’ faces were smeared with medical male circumcision reduces millet yeast. People danced to songs short excitement or escape dreams into reality. A life plan gives the chances of getting HIV by 60%. that drugs seem to offer. you not just a destination, but also a encouraging candidates to face the "I was circumcised from Arua knife. Then, one brave boy came way to get there." Hospital. I read in the newspaper About 20-30% of admissions cases into the middle of the chanting men. that males who are circumcised After making his way through the to Butabika Mental Hospital are due have fewer chances of getting HIV. I to drug abuse. Majority of these are thick crowd, he jumped onto the talked to a doctor who told me that it platform. Three ‘surgeons’ held shiny young people between 16 and was true." Odama Millian, 16, S3, 21 years. traditional knives ready to cut the Lomunga SS, Yumbe foreskin.

A circumci- CooL: students of Manafwa Hs, sion candidate at Mu- say: "We are cool and confident. Living a Good Life toto. Each circumcision year in "President Museveni said Living a Good Life We do not abuse drugs." How many children do you want to have in future? Start planning now Bugisu is named after a significant in Mbale: "Circumcision is he number of people in event. In 1986 it was called Musev- good but don’t think your thing TUganda is increasing very Mugoma Roggers, eni because that is when he became fast. We are now 32 million 16, S3, Kiyuya Seed has become a metal so you can people with 1.2 million babies president.This year it is called Omukolon- have sex with anybody and HIV School, Masindi golo Omukakha/Nametsi because the being born every year, according Star Bamasaaba elected their first Omukukha won’t catch you. Aren’t there to the State of the Uganda who wants two (cultural leader) and Nametsi after the Bagisu who have AIDS but they here are thousands of body, they find their way into your me to sleep at night. There Population Report 2010. children says: Bududa landslide that killed over 250 are circumcised? Cutting helps drugs that cure, slow, or bloodstream and are transported is a time I fell sick but the “Children are beautiful schools people. Regardless of your culture or small time but the cure of AIDS Tprevent diseases, helping to parts of your body, such as your medicine I was given from the This high population weighs heavily flowers. They need a We received more religion, studies show safe male is to stop prostitution." us to lead healthier and happier brain. hospital could not work. The on available resources, leading to lot of attention and care.” than 50 letters from circumcision is good for all lives. But there are also many doctor said I had taken too poverty. But you can change this. males. illegal, harmful drugs like alcohol, Although drugs can make you feel much of illegal drugs and my As future parents, make the best Watch out for the each of these schools: marijuana that young people good at first, they can cause harm body was not sensitive to the decisions for your children. One of factors pushing up our San Giovanni SSS, Kanungu; Be Patient - take.", to your body and brain. Drug medical treatment. the important decisions you have to population: Pilkington College, Jinja; Kasubi Dr David Serwadda, Makerere abusers often have trouble make is your family size. High teenage SS, Kampala; Blessed Parents exercise University School of Public Health at school, at home, with pregnancies. By age 16, Vocational SS, Runkungiri. says: "Being circumcised does not friends, or with the law. one in every four girls Prof EN Sabiiti from Makerere self control mean you can now sleep around The chances that University, says: “Whatever we is either pregnant or Each school with every girl or woman. You still someone will "Drugs cause brain, do, we must understand that we will up having a quality population that already has a child. Our culture forbids a girl to have sex with a have 40% chances of getting HIV commit a crime, heart, liver and High fertility rate. Ugandan women boy before she has officially introduced him to one day pay for it. Our population is skilled, gainfully employed and and high chances of infecting Use of these drugs is against be a victim of a lung diseases. is ever increasing but the size give birth to an average of seven WINS the family and gotten their consent. Those days, contributing to the national your partner if you have HIV. Be school rules and regulations. crime, or have Some affect your of the country will never development.” children, the third highest fertility a football before the introduction, the boy and girl would responsible. Behave like the man Focus on your books. We an accident are ability to make change.” rate in the world. sleep in the same room. They would be smeared would not want to see you higher when healthy choices Low use of family planning you have become. Abstain from Guys, choose a & a netball expelled from school." that person is and decisions. methods causes unplanned and with certain oil. Former Mityana manageable number sex, be faithful and use condoms abusing drugs. Young people who unwanted pregnancies. Dear headteachers, Bishop Dunstan of children and In the morning, the two would be checked. If a trace correctly every time you have sex." drink, are more likely Low education, especially of the encourage your ake you think better or solve Bukenya is a father contribute to a of oil were found on the boy, he would not marry to get involved in girl child Poverty Polygamy students to write The truth is, drugs don’t mhide feelings and problems. of four. He says: “We developed Uganda the girl. He would have shown that he is impatient. So even if you are circumcised, first go for an HIV test with your partner. dangerous situations, Desire to have boys or girls to Staight Talk problems — they simply the feelings and problems should all give birth to and better quality of PO Box 22366, If no trace of oil were found, then the girl’s father "Drugs are chemicals such as driving under When a drug gets finished,e. Drugs can destroy every Pressures from the society. would discuss bride price and you would get - children we can provide life for you, your family, Kampala "You still have 40% chances of or substances that change When I was the influence of drug or remain, or become wors a healthy choice to for so that Uganda ends community and country. married officially. Adam Caku, Clinical officer, the way our bodies work. still chewing having unprotected sex." aspect of your life. Makesays Edith Mukisa, getting HIV and high chances of day and stop drugs, er Barakala HC II When you swallow, inhale, mairungi, it a counsellor with Engend infecting your partner if you have HIV." or inject them into your was hard for Health. The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating • Calendar: Be the Master of Your Life •ST Feb: Career choices•ST March: What is good sex•ST April: Bride price•ST May: Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) and labial elongation•ST June: Why sex is such “a big deal”•ST July: Your right to education •ST Aug: Safe male circumcision •ST Sept: Drug abuse •ST Oct: Living a good life •ST Nov/ Dec: Make your parents your best friends

The design team: from L to R, George Mukasa, Gordon Turibamwe, chief designer Michael Kalanzi, and Allan Dentine

12 STF 2010 Annual Report Young Talk at a glance 2010

Young Talk, February 2010  Not for SALE: Not for SALE: HIV Basic Young Talk is FREE HIV Basic If PEP prevents HIV from multiplying in Young Talk is FREE • Know your rights Is it true that if you have sex the body, why doesn’t it cure HIV in an once you cannot get HIV? • Know your rights • Stay in school • Stay in school already infected person? Katushabe • Say No to sex Okware Peter, Al-Jama PS, • Say No to sex Joshua, Nakasero PS, Kam- Sex Education for primary schools Bugiri Sex Education for primary schools pala. No. It is not true. Having sex Vol 13 No 3 March 2010 once is enough to make you PEP stands for Post Exposure Prophy get HIV. If your penis gets - laxis. This is medicine that prevents HIV into contact with infected infection, PEP is given to people who blood and vaginal discharge, have been raped, defiled or come into you can get HIV. The best contact with the blood of someone w ho way to protect yourself from has HIV. This can be in a road accident or if a health worker accidentally gets in HIV is to delay sex. contact with blood of patients with HIV. Who is a Dr Semugoma Paul

PEP doesn’t cure HIV. It is only given t o people who have been tested and don’t have HIV. It must be given within 72 hours (3 days) from the time of rape, ac- cident. After 72 hours it may not work. When HIV enters the body, it looks for a white blood cell with a CD4 cell. This friend? cell has a special door that allows HIV to A friend is someone who likes the same things like you, enter inside it. Inside the CD4 is where someone you can trust and depend on. A friend is someone HIV can live and produce many other viruses. you can have a good laugh with and is honest. A friend can be a girl or a boy. When someone who has been raped is Stay a given PEP, it will stop HIV from entering Boys, do you have friends who are girls? the CD4 cell. So HIV will die before pro - ducing other viruses. This stops infec Those are your girlfriends. Girls, do you - tion of HIV from happening. If someone have friends who are boys? Those are your already has HIV, PEP cannot work. This boyfriends. is because the virus will have entered My friend Aisha is good. Be friends the CD4 cell and produced many other Aunt Liz Okello, our counsellor says: She does not tell me viruses. Teach your brothers, sisters, It is normal for a girl to have a boyfriend, or 2010 and parents about PEP. You can get PEP to steal. She respects a boy to have a girlfriend. Friends respect teachers, does not tell Virgin with in: All district hospitals, Pediatric one another. Be yourself around friends of Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Infectious Disease Control (PIDC), the opposite sex. Behave well. Boys, having lies and she encourages Mulago, Kitgum Youth Centre and me to work hard at 31 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 your Gulu Youth centre a friend who is a girl doesn’t mean having sex. Girls, having a friend who is a boy does school.Fatum Shabra, 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 not mean having sex.Young Talk visited 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Parents Bembe Hills PS, Luwero district and talked to pupils about Luwero 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 elcome back from the holidays. It is morning and wish them their friends. Wa New Year, as you grow up many a nice day. 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 things happen and you may not know what • Welcome them from In life, we all need 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 28 28 29 30 31 25 26 27 28 29 30 to do. work with a smile. Give friends to: Talk to your parents. They are good source them something to eat You can have a friend without having sex.I have a • Play with • Help in bad and of wisdom. They love and care about your or drink. girlfriend whom I like. I share with her eats. I do not Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat good times wellbeing. Parents want the best for you. ask for sex. We exchange gifts on big days like on • Help with work at home • Give company • Help in class 30 31 1 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 • Thank them for taking christmas and Idi. Juma Nasur, P7, Bembe Hills PS, Talk to your parents about growing up, • Talk to • Learn good things care of you. Luwero 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 friends, body changes and studies. • If you do something from Counsellor Edith Mukisa says, “It may not Edith Mukisa 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 wrong, say sorry Parents be easy to start talking but keep talking to a professional counselor • When asking say please If someone tries to 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 them. When you talk to your parents, you: Flash back: • Get the right information • Surprise them with a gift How to handle defilers have sex with you, 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 27 28 29 30 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 29 30 31 voice • Have safer behavior like on their birthdays and Robert, Bwire Sitanga a parent from Have you heard? shout and scream for avoiding sex anniversaries. Girl kills a defiler defiler is an adult who Namayemba in Bugiri says: A help you. Parents want Some parents may not know • Do what they like, avoid Last year in November, a 14 plays sex with a boy or girl I am a father of six. I am their first teacher. Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat to be friends how to talk to you. Help what they don’t like. year old girl from Bushenyi who is below 18 years. Both Protect yourself from I talk to them about avoiding sex. Early with you. them start talking. Make boys and girls can be defiled. 1 2 3 4 • Listen and only speak stoned to death a 40 year defilement by: 31 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 sex leads to HIV/STDs and unwanted Patricia them your friends: A defiler can be someone you Nyadoi, when your parent has old man.The man was trying to • Walking in groups 6 7 8 9 10 11 pregnancies. You have a right to talk to • Greet them every know, a relative or stranger. 5 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 10, P5, finished talking rape her. The girl was alone in the • Avoiding lonely places parents. My daughter feared to tell me house. Her brother had gone to 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Hindocha PS • Not moving at night 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 when she got her first menstruation in Bugiri, was look for firewood. Walakira Godfrey a • Not talking and accepting gifts 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 period. I got used pads one of the Journalists for the day counsellor at Straight from strangers hidden under her bed. I journalists, This girl lived alone with her Talk Foundation says: 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 28 29 30 26 27 28 29 30 31 says: To make If it is someone you live with, Some body parts to attack: told her it is natural to In December 2009, YT vis- ing to parents in this paper. brother. Their parents died. When my mother my •Speak out. Tell your parents/ • Dig your fingers into the defiler’s get menstruation peri- ited Bugiri district in Eastern Abulo Isabella, P6, El this happened, the girl was friend, I work Uganda. We trained eight Shaddhai Christian School taken to Police. The Federation guardians you are not eyes ods. It shows you are hard at school, Young Talkers from different says: I talk to my parents of Women Lawyers (FIDA) helped comfortable being left alone •Hit the stomach hard with your • Say no to bad touches, gifts, money and sex. do house work growing. Every woman schools as journalists. They when they are free. We talk her. Now she is back in school. with that person. elbow experiences it. and respect •Find a safe place like at your aunt’s •Lift your knee and push it as hard • Report anyone asking for sex. Stay Safe her. interviewed fellow pupils and about school, behavior and What she did was in self defense. Acacia Avenue, Kololo, P. O. Box 22366 Kampala, Uganda. Tel: (256 31) 262030, (256 31) 262031, Email , [email protected], Website: www.straight-talk.or.ug wrote the stories about talk- any interesting things. She did not want to kill. place. and fast into his testicles

Young Talk goes to Lira al-Jama Not for SALE: Not for SALE: Not for SALE: Star PS, bugiri In March, Young Talk Young Talk is FREE and butiru Young Talk is FREE journalists, visited Young Talk is FREE schools • Know your rights • Know your rights PS, Mbale • Know your rights children in Lira. After • Stay in school • Stay in school • Stay in school We have received over 50 schools children walk back • Say No to sex • Say No to sex • Say No to sex letters from these schools. home in straight lines. Sex Education for primary schools Sex Education for primary schools Sex Education for primary schools They don’t play on roads. Congs, you win footballs and netballs. Headteachers, Vol 13 No 4 April 2010 This is good and helps you Vol 13 No 5 May 2010 Vol 13 No 6 June 2010 stay safe. Young talkers, please encourage your learn from Lira pupils. Be pupils to write to young talk. Po box 22366, disciplined. Kampala

Child headed Star pupils Stella Arach, Adire PS, Apac; Jennifer Mbabazi, Kyanyuki families PS, Kasese; Munga Jakisa, Agiermaah PS, Nebbi and Kule ome children are taking Tororo Hospital for long. One Naston, Bunyangule care of their brothers of our aunties used to chase and sisters because PS, Bundibugyo S us from her home. My sister, Since the year they have no one to help who was 12 then was in charge started, these them. Most of these children of cooking. I would wash pupils have have lost one or both parents. plates, sweep the house and Mityana Public Their relatives may not be able to the compound. School, thank written more help them. than six letters you for welcoming to Young Talk. During school days we go to young talk to your Alice Nantume, P6, 13, the garden before going to congratulations. school. Busazi PS, Bugiri says, her school. Mummy is back home you win t-shirts, dad died when she was 10 but she is still sick. So we are books, pens and years old. Shortly after her still in charge of our home. pads. Prizes will father’s death Alice’s mother be sent to your Many children are like fell sick and moved away from Nantume, is reading hard. She wants to become schools home. My brother and I had Nantume. You can help these children. Find out how to do a nurse. Last term, she was 12th out of 75 pupils to take care of six children. in her class. “I don’t miss school. I wake Our mother was admitted at it page 3. up very early in the morning and do Pupils housework before going to school. I want of Kiswa PS, to be a nurse so that I can treat people.” Kampala. “Alcohol is NOT Alcohol can HIV Basic like needles and razor blades. HIV cool, we say Is it true that if you drink a lot of soda can also be got from mother to child Body changes during pregnancy, when giving birth elcome back from and have sex with an HIV infected holidays. We hope it was NO to it” person you can not get the virus? Edotu or breast feeding. A programme W uria fun. This term Young Talk is Moses, Katine Wera PS, Am called Prevention of Mother to Child waiting to receive your letters. Transmission can prevent this. Say Write to us. Not a sign to start sex harm you nt A special thank you goes to all Drinking a lot of soda will not preve NO to sex and wait until you Ayabare Prossy, 14, This is usually between 10 to 16 rus if you of you who write to Young Talk. HIV infection. You can get the vi o are an adult who can make P7, Nyamwegabira PS, years. But some children start have unprotected sex with a person wh good choices to stay safe. Dr Kanungu, asks: “I don’t even before ten or after 16 years. HIV CORNER Many of you write asking about Stay alive, say to alcohol HIV Basic has HIV/AIDS or if infected body fluids Paul Semugoma, International have breasts yet. My r if you body changes: My friend fought with an HIV positive boy. like blood get into a cut, wound o Hospital, Kampala friends says I should There is nothing you can do to HIV and kissing NO He got a small cut on the hand when the boy ents •Menstruation and breast growth make body changes start earlier Mirembe Desire, 13, Bugolo have sex to develop o you know the It also causes: • Accidents scratched him with a finger nail. Can he get are cut with infected sharp instrum for girls stopped.” Girl, 13, breasts. What can I or later. Everyone has their own Junior School, Kampala, dangers of alcohol? • Fights • Rape • HIV infection HIV? Maguire Vianiey, 13, P7, Kisanga •Wet dreams, penis size and asks: “Can you get HIV P7, Aduku Road, Valley PS, Kabarole do?” speed and time to start. DWell, when you • Unwanted pregnancy • Loss deep voices for boys through kissing? Yes, you drink alcohol, your of respect because of doing SDA, PS, Lira Your friend can’t get HIV. HIV is not active •Pubic hair growth and This is wrong. Having Before puberty starts, the brain can get HIV. Kissing involves behaviour changes. You shameful things like urinating in on the fingernails. It is active in blood, vaginal Youngest King takes charge of his Kingdom pimples for girls and boys sex produces different messengers exchange of saliva through fluids and semen. HIV is spread through: DOES NOT can’t think, walk, talk and your clothes. • Bad smell. make you get body called hormones. Hormones tell mouth to mouth contact. HIV Alcohol also hurts •Unprotected sex with an HIV positive 2 million people. The young Oyo see well. You even start n April 17, 2010, the You are confused and changes. Body your body when and how to is found in fluids like blood, families and person became a king at age three after his Lesson we learn telling lies and stealing. •An infected mother to child during, world’s youngest King, worried about what to do changes grow. semen, vaginal fluids breast “I used to drink little communities. pregnancy, giving birth or Oyo Nyimba Kabamba father died in 1995. “I still find it a when these changes start. ARE NOT milk and saliva. In saliva HIV Alcohol can also cause breast-feeding O from King Oyo? a sign to start sex. “My friend tells me •Sharing Iguru Rukidi IV, turned 18 little uncomfortable when people Even if he is a king, he is alcohol with friends. sharp instruments like During puberty these hormones is very small but you can diseases and death. bow, before me especially the older hardworking. He has stayed My dad was tough. I that her parents take needles and razor blades. years. Some of you want to know Boys and girls start move inside your body and start get HIV if you kiss an HIV ones,” said King Oyo then. in school. He respects other alcohol and they always if there is anything you can getting body to slowly change the body from infected person and both Dr D Basangwa, of wanted to show him He is now in charge of his children and elders. fight. When they fight Say No to sex and do to make your body changes during that of a child to an adult. So you of you have wounds in your Butabika hospital, says: that I was old. My do not share sharp Tooro Kingdom in western When he started school, King Oyo start changing. mouth. You may have a wound they break plates, said: “My friends at school do not puberty. start seeing body changes. “Alcohol leads to diseases of friend was defiled when furniture.” objects. Uganda. King Oyo encourages in the mouth and don’t know the brain, heart and liver. It also Dr Paul Semugoma, care that I’m a king. They like me as young people to stay it is there. Stay safe. she was drunk. I learnt R Auma, 13, P5, Elohim International Hospital His kingdom is one of the many a good person and I respect all of Dr causes loss of water from the Kampala in school. Puberty is a sign that you are growing up and the body is preparing Paul Semugoma, International body, failure to have children.” how bad alcohol is and PS, Bugiri kingdoms in Uganda with over them.” for the day in future when you might choose to have a baby. Hospital Kampala

Yt APRIL final 1.indd 1 4/8/2010 9:14:45 AM Yt June 1.indd 1 6/10/2010 9:24:27 AM Not for SALE: Not for SALE: Nyangoma Young Talk is FREE Not for SALE: Young Talk is FREE Young Talk is FREE Doris of • Know your rights Nyakasanga • Know your rights • Know your rights • Stay in school • Stay in school PS, Kasese • Say No to sex • Stay in school says, “sex • Say No to sex • Say No to sex Sex Education for primary schools Sex Education for primary schools is not good Sex Education for primary schools for young Vol 13 No 7 July 2010 people.” Vol 13 No 8 August 2010 Vol 13 No 9 Sept 2010

Pupils of Buhundu PS, Bundibugyo say: “We say Faith Gune, P7, NO to early sex. It leads Children with HIV Kawempe Decourous Early pregnancy to early pregnancy.” HIV Basic School says: Is it true that when you wash Avoid bad touches and your penis immediately after bad groups that can lead sex, you cannot get HIV? can live healthier lives to early pregnancy dangerous to your life Opolot P, Soroti PS HIVCORNER Is there anyone telling you to have gnes, 14, from Amuru was born with HIV. If you have a friend or relative HULLO THERE, in this This girl and boy have dropped sex? Washing your penis after sex She goes to school. Agnes shares with you living with HIV, encourage them will not protect you from HIV. If you A Young Talk we look at out of school. Besides a girl My friend tested HIV positive. her story: “Every morning my mother packs my ARVS to: early pregnancy. It is one may die when producing a baby She has never had sex. How have sex with some one who is HIV in my bag. I take them from school. My mother told • Take medicine following doc- of the problems caused by and a boy taken to prison. did she get HIV? Naluwedde positive. You will get the virus. me never to miss taking medicine. It is my tor’s advice. early sex. Some children Annah, 14, P7, Butiru Say NO to early sex life.” • Always go to the doctor for Christian Day and Boarding have been given wrong PS, Mbale.s and work hard at your check up. information and deceived Like Agnes, some children are born •Treat any illness early. books. into sex. HIV can be transmitted from with HIV. Children can get HIV • Sleep under a treated an infected mother to the when they are still in the mothers’ mosquito net to avoid ma- Girl, 14, P7, from Nkoma child. Your friend may have got womb, during delivery or while laria. PS, Mbale, says: “A boy told infected through her mother breast feeding. • Eat a balanced diet including me that if I have sex while foods like beans, eggs, fish, meat, when she was still in the womb, Stay out of bathing, the water can weaken at birth, or during breast These children vegetables and fruits. his sperms and I cannot get feeding. can live • Do exercise like walking and pregnant.” This is wrong. healthier lives sports. Has she had any accident? trouble if they start • Do things which make them FOOTBALL FOR GIRLS: Pupils taking happy and not dangerous to Beware of wrong During accidents people may get in direct contact with an of Majengo PS, Soroti play Antiretroviral others. information football in their school (ARVs) • Say NO to sex infected person’s blood. This Always talk to an adult about can lead to infection. HIV may compound after classes. medicines to avoid getting what you hear. Beware and Keep also be transmitted by sharing out of trouble by doing the early. other types of don’t be deceived. HIV. sharp instruments. right things at the right time. ARVs are medicines If it is time for games, go for A girl can become pregnant: HIV lives in the body fluids like for people with • The first time she has sex. games. If it is time to be in blood, semen, vaginal fluids. If HIV to help them • Before she sees her first class, be in class. When time to live longer and these fluids get in direct contact menstruation period. with your body, infection can go home comes, go home healthier lives. • Having sex during menstruation. BUT ARVs do not cure happen. Dr P Semugoma, How to avoid HIV • Even if she has sex while International Hospital Kampala. HIV. swimming, bathing, standing up To avoid getting HIV, or other types of HIV: or washes her vagina after sex. • Say NO to sex. Not everyone with HIV needs ARVs. The doctor will have sex. A sperm cell from the GIRLS, your bodies are still young if you have started releasing • Avoid sharing razor blades, needles and check you to find out whether you can start ARVs or male meets with an egg from the to safely carry a pregnancy and sperms. Boys and girls, wait any sharp objects. Dr Alex Kakoraki of not. Murchison Bay Hospital in female and fertilizes it. This is the produce a baby. to have sex until you are Children in prison • Use gloves when touching blood or start of pregnancy. A baby will take over 20 years, and after your body fluids of any person. Kampala says: “Pregnancy hildren who do wrong things happens when a male and female nine months to grow in the womb. BOYS, you can make a girl pregnant studies. Clike stealing, fighting and having Fighting Keep out of danger sex can be jailed in remand homes. I fought my brother and cut off Lillian Kiwanuka, Senior legal Young Talkers, Remand homes are prisons for his left ear. I did not mean to officer, Uganda Law Reform some of you live or study with children. Young Talk visited Mbale do that. We were playing. He Commission says: ” If a boy children living with HIV. Remand Home and found 39 young pushed me and I hurt myself. I and girl below 18 years are Star School For Teachers people in prison. There were 38 boys got annoyed and cut off his ear. I caught having sex, they will Be friendly to them. If a friend QUIZ and one girl.Some of them told us regret it. My father does not like be arrested for defiling each Buwerero PS Lumino, Busia, is Dear teachers, you spend tells you that they are living me anymore. He does not come other. the Young Talk star school for much time with pupils why they were jailed. with HIV, do not talk about QUIZ: Write and tell us to see me. It is only my mother July. The pupils in this school Do you live with preparing them to be who visits me. Boy 14 It is child to child defilement. them. When you have sent in 29 letters to Young Talk what you are doing responsible people. Stealing It is a crime. The law wins one I used to live with my brother. One day he something to eat, share in May. Buwerero PS someone who has says, defilement can be All the 29 to avoid early Talk to them about the went to the village. I opened his bedroom and Defilement football and netball. HIV? How do you I was caught having sex with a committed by both boys and with them. dangers of early sex and stole his clothes and shoes. I kept some in the pupils win exercise books. pregnancy. boy. My parents arrested him. girls. protect yourself from pregnancy. Give them nearby house. When he came back, he asked getting HIV while me who had stolen his things. I denied. He The boy’s parents also got Remind Headteachers and teachers, right information about Alalo Christine, In charge, reported to police. When the police checked, annoyed and brought police to please encourage your helping them. Write to Young Talk, sex. Family Protection Unit they found some clothes that I was hiding. I arrest me. My friends told me them to pupils to read Young Talk Police advises you to be in Obanya Sylvia, was arrested. I regret why I stole. I miss school it was fine to have a boyfriend and write to Young Talk: Write to Young P O Box 22366, Kampala charge of your life. If you teacher, St Francis and my parents. I am very ashamed. My and have sex. It was my first take their Make exercise commit crimes, you will be P. O Box, 22366, Kampala. Talk, P O Box 22366, School for the Blind, Pupils of Kikonda PS, Kiboga, say: “One way of friends may fear to walk with me when I go time to have sex. I was in P6. I miss school. Girl, 15 imprisoned. your school a star school! WIN books Soroti achieving our life dreams is to wait to have sex back home. Boy, 14 medicine. Kampala until we are married.”

Young Talk, October 2010 1 Yt July 1.indd 1 7/29/2010 11:12:34 AM Yt sept 1 .indd 1 9/21/2010 10:29:35 AM Yt Aug 1.indd 1 8/25/2010 1:47:19 PM Be helpful Not for SALE: Not for SALE: to your Young Talk is FREE parents. Young Talk is FREE Avoid bad • Know your rights • Know your rights friends, • Calendar: Stay a Virgin • Stay in school HIV • Stay in school • Say No to sex says Kevin • Say No to sex Aloyo, Sex Education for primary schools Sex Education for primary schools 14, P6, Basic: Pandwong Vol 13 No 10 Nov - Dec 2010 Avoid getting other PS, Kitgum • YT Feb: Be friends with your parents

types of HIV use You could be thinking that beca you already have HIV, you donot need to protect yourself. This is is never

not true. You still need protection. Dr Sabrina Kitaka of Paediat- • YT March: Who is a friend? ric Infectious Diseases Clinic VIOLENCE right (PIDC), Mulago says if you do not protect yourself, you will get more STDs like syphillis, gonorrhea or a iolence is any JOURNALIST pregnancy. You can also get other behavior or act types of HIV. HIV has many types.e Vthat causes harm FOR A DAY: • YT April: Alcohol and its impact When you have more than on fast to someone. Violence Young Talk travelled type, your body weakens very ot can hurt your body and to Kitgum and worked and the medicine (ARVs) may n op feelings. Sexual violence with pupils from work on you. You may also devel can be bad touches Kitgum Public PS, AIDS very fast. which can lead to sex and Kitgum Prison PS, Pupils of Kitgum Public PS say rights defilement. Boys too can Centenary PS, Akworo • YT May: Child-headed families and responsibilities go together be sexually abused. If any PS, Opette PS and one does it to you, ask for Pandwong PS to collect help. stories on violence for this Young Talk. Violence can be lies, threats Congratulations. and not keeping promises. Pupils of • YT June: Body changes not a sign to start sex Decorous PS, Your and Other forms of violence You did a great Kawempe sys, Rights include beating, kicking, It is cool to live job. pulling, slapping, burning and in violent free hitting someone. environment SMILING: Issa Violence is common in our Kilama, Mulunzi • YT July: Children with HIV can live healthier lives homes and community. It Huzaifa and Olok leads to death, injury, unhappy Benjamin of Responsibilities families, shame, fear, school Ochola Richard interviewing Aken Brian from Kitgum Walukuba West PS, dropout, poverty, disability Public PS and spread of HIV/Sexually Jinja. Transmitted Diseases. For • YT Aug Early pregnancy is dangerous to your life o you know your rights? Sulaiman Kyambadde,13, Ketty Nandi, Regional Children SCIENCE Rights include basic P.6, Lugazi PS, Buikwe and family protection officer, example if you are defiled, you pupil. Have you seen this happen? through the nose. I reported Protection Unit, Kitgum Dneeds, like food, clothes, says: “Some children are given Kampala Metropolitan Police CORNER can get HIV. to the teacher and he Police says: education, medical care etc. too much freedom by their says, “Much as you have rights, you “In our school was punished. Mugalu Responsibilities are your duties also have a responsibility to do good STDs stand for Sexually some big boys Malcon, 14, Wakitaka Many children or what you are supposed to parents. This has spoiled them. Say NO to things and listen to your parents and Transmitted Diseases. These fight the young PS, Jinja report cases of do. For example you have the A child cannot do anything at guardians. If it is the right to play, • YT Sept: Children in prison infections are spread through violence violence to the responsibility to bath and be home because of rights. When ones. Others don’t forget to do work and study. having un protected sex with Violence can be from clean, work hard at school and do fight on the If you or your friend police. We help they are told to do something, an infected person. adults like teachers, work at home. way home and is facing violence, them. You too they tell you that they have a You cannot know that a person parents/guardian, aunt When you have your rights and Namuwonge Joyce, 13, they injure their report to an adult. can report. You has an STD just by looking at take on your responsibilities, you: right to play. ” P7, St Paul PS, Kiboga: or uncle. It can also be friends. One Geoffrey Ongom, deserve to be them. Both boys and girls can l Grow and develop well. I have a right to education, food, from a pupil to another day a boy beat Officer in charge treated with love get STDs. • YT Oct: Rights and responsibilities l Have a better life Having the right to sleep in a clean house and me and I bled of Family and Child and care. l Be a happier person. play without a duty protection from defilement and being sacrificed. I also have the Signs of STDs: Having rights does not mean to work is wrong! responsibility to be obedient, to do work like cleaning the Small wounds on private parts, being bad mannered or l compound; the house, washing itchiness, indisciplined. l plates and not coming back Bad smelly discharge Watch touches • YT Nov/Dec: Violence is never right home late. which is like pus, HIV Basic l Pain when passing urine. Bad out for hy is it that there is a Polygamy in which females Girls and boys who have STDs Watch out for people Whigh rate of females suffer more put them at risk may not produce children in who get HIV than male? of HIV infection more than future. STDs damage who want to touch you in the wrong places like Manga George, males. The female reproductive parts. The germs Moyo Boys, PS. which cause STDs live in body the private parts, those organ (vagina) is created in such away fluids like semen, vaginal fluids who want to be with you Dear George, HIV and blood. that it has a big in lonely places or those knows no sex or age. It surface area where Gonorrhea, syphilis, genital who visit when your gets anyone, whether the virus enters easily warts and HIV are examples of parents are not around. young or old, male or than males. This STDs. Stay safe, say NO to sex. female. Females face exposes them to Such people may rape and defilement HIV infection more. Dr Alex Kakoraki, want to sexually which put them at Dr. James Ojom, Murchison Bay a higher risk of HIV Soroti Regional Hospital,Kampala abuse you. infection than males. Hospital Print STF 2010 Annual Report 13 Tree Talk planted 21 species in 2010: hardwoods, trees for poles and firewood, ornamentals, and multi- purpose trees.

Seedlings raised in 2010 by species Species Number %

Teak 42,275 5.10 Neem 88,279 10.65 Gmelina 28,140 3.40 Melia 30,395 3.67 Musizi 17,392 2.10 Orange/ 8,000 0.97 lemon Mahogany 81,883 9.88 Senna 13,537 1.63 Jack fruit 621 0.07 Markhamia 248,747 30.02 Albizia 812 0.10 Jambula 1,532 0.18 Delonix 1,252 0.15 Afzelia 1,034 0.12 Seedlings purchased by Tree Talk from its commmunity groups in 2010 Eucalyptus 242,836 29.31 District Community Seedlings Unit Cost Mvule 19,948 2.41 procured Price UGX Mango 408 0.05 Amuru Gweno Oywe 6,090 103 627000 Fig Tree 405 0.05 Adjumani Avi-Unzi 18,416 181 3,341,600 Avocado 155 0.02 Adjumani Ojigo One 1,000 150 150,000 Guava 433 0.05 Adjumani Amandrea Chakpa 4,100 225 922,000 Grevillea 450 0.05 Adjumani Okutulu Tree Nursery 11,070 151 1,671,000 Total 828,534 100 40,676 6,711,600

Trees/acres planted in 2010 by district District Trees Acres Adjumani 145,581 324 Amuru 223,020 497 Kitgum 247,599 551 Moyo 105,042 234 Gulu 27,000 60 Pader 80,134 178 Total 828,376 1,845

TREE TALK & FARM TALK 14 STF 2010 Annual Report Forester Lucy Edea at the Moyo central nursery with a young casual labourer. Insert: a child signs after a day of putting earth in plastic pots, as Lucy pays another child. Pupils earn money for exercise books and pens during the potting season.

from wind, and beauty. Increasingly, Tree Talk works with Tree Talk prisons and barracks, both big consumers of fuel wood In 2010 Tree Talk was in its ninth year. What started in that have the manpower and land to grow vast numbers 2002 as an “eco-newspaper” that distributed tree seed of trees. to 18,000 schools had expanded to include a large tree growing programme. In 2010 Tree Talk ran “central nurseries” in six districts, capable of producing on average 125,000 seedlings a In August, Tree Talk celebrated the planting of its year (a figure that will jump to 200,000 in 2011). It also symbolic one millionth tree under the USAID’s WILD supported almost 80 community nurseries. The concept project. It was a joyous event. The T shirts said, “Tree Talk is that Tree Talk will buy their excess seedlings after – working for people and trees.” communities have planted all they want. In 2010 Tree Talk bought 40,676 seedlings from five nurseries at a cost of Why does a sexual health and communication NGO about UGX6.7 million or $3024. In 2010 Tree Talk employed busy itself with trees? Partly, because it wants to -- tree an estimated 400 casual labourers in its six nurseries. growing is a mobilizing activity and a favourite of Straight The WILD project focuses on the “conservation corridor” Talk and Parent Talk clubs – but more fundamentally north of Murchison Falls National Park; areas of high because there is dual causality between the environment biodiversity in East and West Madi along the Nile; and vital and HIV. Loss of trees, the drying of water sources conservation landscapes along the Sudan border such as and soil depletion intensify poverty and vulnerability to Agoro-Agu mountains in Lamwo. Since the project began HIV; population growth and poor sexual health place in 2008, WILD-Tree Talk’s nine young foresters have raised immense strain on the environment. Unicef’s State of and planted almost 1.5 million trees in 427 schools and the World’s Children report 2011 states, “If water, food 141 communities in Amuru/Nwoya, Moyo, Adjumani and and fuel insecurity intensify as a result of climate change, Kitgum/Lamwo districts. In early 2011 Tree Talk heard that adolescents, most often girls, can expect to bear the the project had been extended for another 18 months, brunt...” during which Tree Talk aims to grow 750,000 more trees.

Tree Talk estimates that it has caused the growing of 2.2 In January 2010 Tree Talk began three years of work with million trees since 2002. The target is another 5.25 million DANIDA. Called “Tree Talk Plus-Greening Uganda”, this by the end of 2012. Tree Talk plants mainly indigenous or collaboration will allow Tree Talk to continue growing “indigenized” trees. Its model is to work with schools to trees in northern Uganda and produce its newspaper for plant woodlots of fast-growing species and compound the entire country. For the first time for Tree Talk, the and boundary trees that are more “ecological”, such as project document focuses on increasing the resilience mahogany and Mvule. Markhamia lutea, an indigenous of local people to manage climate change. In year 2010, tree, constituted 30% of trees raised and planted by Tree Year 1 of the project, a central nursery was set up in Pader Talk in 2010. The aim is to remove pressure on natural district and 32 schools and six community groups enrolled. forest and help schools meet their colossal wood needs In September 2010 Danida began to support work in Gulu, – for desks, teacher housing, cooking, shade, shelter Amuru, Adjumani and Kitgum districts.

Tree/Farm STF 2010 Annual Report 15 seedlings from Tree Talk? I will cost share if needed. It is a must that each household plant trees.”

In 2010 Tree Talk newspaper was produced in Lwo and English, addressing climate change, watershed conservation, and restoring degraded areas. Each secondary school receives 12 copies of the English issue and each primary school ten. Letters to Tree Talk have poured in. Each is answered and requests for tree seed honoured. Countrywide, Tree Talk dispatched 528 kg of Left: Gershom seed in 2010: Markhamia lutea 8.5 kg; Eucalyptus grandis Onyango, director of 6.5 kg; Grevillea robusta 17 kg; Araucaria cunninghamii 45 environment in the Ministry of kg; Terminalia brownii 48 kg; Podocarpus usambarensis Land, Water and Environment, 56 kg; and Maesopsis eminii 387 kg. By volume, 86% of the plants WILD’s one millionth tree in seed was indigenous. Aug 2010, while (above) Ujhazy Juraj of Wildlife Conservation Tree Talk had an income of $463,000 in 2010 -- $228,000 Society makes a speech. from WILD and $235,061 from Danida. Having planted almost 800,000 trees, this translates as $0.56 a tree. Tree Talk seeks to minimise cost per tree and maximise survival Despite the large numbers of Tree Talk seedlings in the rates. A challenge is indigenous tree seed: returning ground, however, social change and economic forces displaced people are felling mother trees. In 2011 Tree Talk are exerting enormous pressures. In the north, trees are will green tree-less schools; strengthen its nurseries; offer being burnt for charcoal for Juba and southern Uganda; communities a menu of trees; engage prisons, barracks, cleared for agriculture; cut to rebuild homes; and burnt churches, mosques and women’s groups; and obtain for bricks. Hunters set raging fires to drive wild animals; some carbon financing. The year will be tough. The target these ravage trees. Therefore, helping people to think is 2.6 million trees, three times what Tree Talk planted in about their relationship with trees is as critical as planting 2010. trees. Which trees should they burn for charcoal? Can they hunt without fire? When they clear a field, can they leave some trees? In 2010 Tree Talk broadcast 1408 radio spots and held 41 interactive radio shows on TBS FM in Moyo, Choice FM in Gulu, Pol FM in Kitgum and Luo FM in Pader; much air time was offered for free. Among others, Dennis Sidonyi, formerly a primary the call-in shows hosted forest and environment officers, school teacher, is now Tree Talk staff, farmers, former poachers, and charcoal the assistant Tree Talk burners. They addressed where to get seedlings; trees, coordinator for Adjumani. poverty, famine and health; environment ordinances; Here he marks out a why we need forests; and guarding against wild fires. woodlot with a teacher. One caller said, “Whoever wants to burn a field should He has a talent for seed get permission from the authority or prepare fire lines collection. before setting the fire.” Another said, “How free are the

Muge PS in Masaka Started in 2002, Tree This tree in Semliki From 3 to 6 November, grew 80 eucalyptus Talk is a national holds tonnes of Tree Talk and trees from Tree Talk newspaper and tree- carbon. Its roots environment clubs held seed. They prune them growing drive. With this allow water to five climate change three times a year for Tree Talk, your school percolate deep into debates. Here Nakyanzi firewood for cooking will receive seed for the soil and flow Rose, S2, in Makerere school meals. GREAT Albizia or Terminalia. to your borehole! WORK! College gives her Set up a school tree Report illegal tree opinion. nursery in 2010 and cutting to National Write to Tree Talk PO Box 22366, K'la for tree "green" your school. Forestry Authority Birds are spreaders of tree seed. Many seed so you can grow PRO Moses Watasa Entebbe SS has a vibrant environ- types of seeds will not germinate trees. We have seed Right: a pupil with on 077-2-976398. ment club with 160 members. They unless they have passed through the for Musizi, Lusambya, Lusambya seed in Tree Protect your meet every Wednesday. Their motto is gut of a bird. Forests are created by the Talk's Moyo nursery. Grevillea, Mahogany, Vol. 9 No.2 April 2010 watershed. "nature is gold". Climate change is interaction between birds, animals and and more. November 2010 seed. Let birds live to do their work. Vol. 10 No.2 August 2010 aggravating severe floods in Kampala. Keep trees on your watershed Special on climate change: Kampala students and teachers speak out! Even if you stay far from a river or lake, you still live in a watershed because the These hills in Bundibugyo need more trees to rain that falls on your home will find its Trees for greener Uganda remain stable, avoid landslides and keep the way to some stream, lake, swamp or watershed full of clean and plentiful water for aquifer. Try this: take an open umbrella Uganda’s forests Mayuge district has lost 100% Sector Performance Report people and animals. Photo: K Tadie. and turn it upside down in the rain. of its tree cover. All forest estimates Uganda’s timber All the rain that hits the umbrella will Let us fight climate change and woodlands are disappearing. The land is cultivated. In Bududa, needs at 750,000m3 per year gather at the bottom in the center of limate change is a Why are we Ministry of Water a family has just 0.5acres (half (a very big muvule can have the umbrella. An umbrella is like a dangerous long-term and Environment a football pitch) only 2m3 watershed, collecting all the water that worried about says trees on private to live on. So of wood). falls into it and bringing it to one place. Cchange in weather the climate? land are likely to be people have to The report patterns. Human beings Climate forms the exhausted within cut trees to dig says that A watershed has three key are causing climate change basis of human life. three to five years. on Mt Elgon. This sustainable functions: by burning carbon that is This is very bad for caused a terrible harvesting It dictates how we stored in the form of fossil humans and animals. landslide, in which of timber e all live in a watershed. 1. receive water from the live -- where we build many people died. from Central A watershed is simply atmosphere (rain); fuels -- coal, petrol, diesel-- our homes, what food Forest W The Kampala, Wakiso and land and the water that runs 2. store water in the ground so that as well as wood. we can grow and how In western Reserves Entebbe forests have been through it, ending up in a river we can get it from wells and bore much Uganda, can only replaced with houses. And, or lake. holes; fresh because city people need woodlands are provide The gases released such as 3 water we charcoal, trees are being being turned The search for firewood is 53,000m Trees are an extremely 3. move water through the soil until carbon dioxide are forming a have to cleared in nearby districts like into land for tiring for women and girls. per year for important part of watersheds. it reaches a river or lake. blanket around the world, thus Mubende, Nakasongola and subsistence We need small woodlots for the next 30 drink. Without trees, water will flow trapping the heat from the sun Masindi. agriculture. firewood around our homes. years. too quickly and not have time Healthy watersheds bring to slowly enter the ground and us clean water for drinking, and causing the world to heat In Eastern Uganda, bush has We need trees Less trees means less water fill your groundwater. Streams cooking and bathing. up. This is sometimes called Protect the world from climate change by becoming A healthy watershed is Schools and been replaced with crops. Uganda’s forests support the in form of rain, poor soils, less will run dry and water bodies Soil has pores that an activist against environmental damage. water in our wells, lakes and Once water infiltrates the soil, it moves created by trees. Protect "the greenhouse effect". livelihood of both the towns will become dirty. So let us allow it to absorb rivers, no firewood, less fish. downwards through "percolation". trees and grow new ones. Tree Talk take action and villages. Trees or forests learn more about watersheds! Percolation happens because of gravity, water. Soil that cannot "We no longer have enough This will make life for people, One of the symptoms of climate continent to the effects of wetlands and forests, growing Gayaza HS, Entebbe SS, provide clean and healthy the force which pulls all things from hold anymore water is firewood. We fetch it from far. animals and plants almost When rain comes, some falls into more trees and avoiding King's College Buddo, environmental conditions, high places to lower ones. Gravity is why "saturated". change is global warming -- the climate change. My mother says we used to impossible to live. streams and flows away. Some rain have a forest where we would helping to form rain, preventing water always flows from a high place, increase in the world's average burning bush. St Kizito SSS Bugolobi, floods, refilling underground falls on hard surfaces, such as rock like a mountain ridge, to a lower place and Makerere College collect it but it was cut. Now To have enough rain, firewood or tarmac, and washes into rivers as surface temperature. One expert described climate they are growing crops on water and providing support like a valley. have joined together to fight for wildlife which is good for and good climate, we need to "run-off". Some rain falls on the soil This is very serious for humans, change and global warming As people who live in town, that land, I am raising these plant trees and not cut natural climate change. Supported tourism. and enters or infiltrates it and becomes Groundwater also moves through the animals, plants and all living as "threat multipliers". They we especially need to separate trees for firewood." forests. "groundwater". by GTZ and Tree Talk, Owori Ernest, 13, St James soil. Some water ends up in streams, things. In Africa, global intensify already existing our garbage, recycle plastic, The Water and Environment they are writing essays, Boarding PS, Tororo while some joins underground water problems such as water compost our kitchen waste and bodies called aquifers. Water from warming is increasing the conducting debates and aquifers feeds your bore hole. number of floods, droughts and shortages and conflict. use energy-saving stoves. There planting trees at Kitezi, famines. Climate change means is a lot schools and families Kampala's landfill. One million trees in the north are just the start! dangerous weather. Together can do. "Climate change is the On 10 August, 2010, Tree Talk joyously celebrated its Africa is the most vulnerable we can fight it by protecting greatest challenge facing 1,000,000th tree under WILD, a project of Wildlife Conservation humans," says Society and USAID. Schools, communities and dignitaries Trees bring fast results Solomon flocked to the event in the newly-created district of Lamwo. Good income from Asea, Club sale of seedlings: Jobs for foresters. Tree Talk's Patron, (L) Gershom UGX 500-700 for an Immaculate Chelangat holds a Gayaza HS. Onyango, indigenous seedling, diploma from Nyabyeya Forestry "So we Director for UGX 450-550 for a College in Masindi. Environment pine seedling. Right: are finding in the Ministry a Tree Talk women's solutions." of Water and group in Adjumani. Environment, plants a "The poor are the hardest mahogany, Tree hit. We need tree number Talk to shape 1,000,000 thanks the minds helped by GTZ and forester Lucy of the youth Edea. Kampala City to respond Council for to climate R) War against Greenhouse gases include water vapour, CO , the opportunity change," says climate change: 2 to plant 550 Performance of A couple leaves with seedlings of Afezelia Money from tree seed. This young girl Healthy wetlands full methane, nitrous oxide and man-made gases such as Mwaka Emily, africana, a precious northern hardwood. Tree trees at Kitezi Otole dance at in Moyo made UGX 100,000 from selling of fish and water. halocarbons. When we burn charcoal, we release CO Entebbe SSS. the event. Otole Talk gave out 9,460 seedlings from its central 20 kg of mahogany seed to Tree Talk. 2 landfill, 27 Nov Read more inside! is a war dance. nursery at Paloga PS during the event. into the atmosphere. 2010!

The 2010 Tree Talks (left and middle) address tree-growing and protecting watersheds. At right is an A4 newsletter that Tree Talk produced for GTZ for a project on climate change with five secondary schools around Kampala. This culminated in the planting of 500 trees in the inhospitable environment of the city landfill.

16 STF 2010 Annual Report Farm Talk Over 80% of Uganda’s population depends upon farming. Since 2002 Danida has funded “Farm Talk” to inspire excitement about agriculture in schools and improve nutrition and incomes. Farm Talk consists of a newspaper, seed distribution and school visits.

In 2010, Farm Talk staff worked with 40 schools in eastern, central and western Uganda to set up ten new demonstration gardens and maintain 30 from 2009. The gardens are living labs, invaluable for teaching. Headteacher Annet Kabasinguzi of Karambi PS in Kabarole said, “absenteeism has reduced since teachers started taking pupils to the garden for lessons. Out-of-class lessons reduce the boredom that make some kids get tired of studying.” Pupils in Farm Talk The Farm Talk team produced two issues of Farm Talk gardens in three different (print run 150,000 each) -- one on farming as business, schools, and teacher Hasha the other on gender and northern Uganda. Farm Talk is Namuseregwe with the fuel- a teaching aid, simplifying science and helping children saving stove that she built after to learn by doing. Eight copies were sent to each of her Farm Talk training. 12,000 primary schools and four copies to each of 3000 secondary schools. With each issue, every school receives Organic Training Center Masaka, it conducted three a sachet of cabbage or onion seed. trainings in backyard organic farming, poultry keeping, soil, water and energy conservation, and gender. Farm Talk is avidly read. In 2010, 567 students wrote in: After the training, Pallisa Township PS teacher 56% girls, 44% boys. Farm Talk answered every letter, Adowa Hakim constructed a fuel-saving stove; Hasha sending the keenest letter writers seed, calendars, pens, Namuseregwe, chair of the Pallisa Moslem PS Young T-shirts or agriculture text books. Wrote one pupil, Farmers Club made a nursery bed and kitchen garden; and Nakalanzi Norah from Ntungamo SS, “We have learnt Iganga SDA Light PS and Victory Border Point PS (Malaba) that by growing many types of crop, balanced diet is set up poultry units. At Kitamba PS in Kalungu, two pupils achieved.” Pupil Apili Eunice from Adjumani wrote, “My grew cabbages from Farm Talk seed at their homes. mother is a single mother. She raises our school fees by selling dried potatoes and cassava in souther Sudan. With In 2011, Farm Talk hopes to continue this work with a knowledge from Farm Talk, she is now more successful”. focus on gender and post-war northern Uganda.

The 40 selected schools enjoyed strong harvests, which helped feed pupils and teachers. Pupils boiled or roasted their TALK Making agriculture rewarding and fun for pupils & teachers Vol.10 No.1 APRIL 2010 TALK Making agriculture rewarding and fun for pupils & teachers Vol.10 No.4 maize; the balance was milled into flour With this Farm Talk, we send you vegetable seeds. Learn about passion fruits on p 4. They are delicious! With this Farm Talk, we send you Onion seeds. Learn how to grow onions. for porridge. Many schools and pupils Make farming a business You love animals or plants, Farming in northern Uganda or both. And maybe you have elcome to yet another • Plant quality seeds. a small piece of land and issue of Farm Talk. Find • Always weed your garden. Weeds wondering what to do with it. Wout what Farm Talkers in compete with your crop for soil who just received the newspaper and seed Waste no time. Farm produce are northern Uganda are doing after nutritents. Weeding reduces pests a major source of food for people 20 years of war. and diseases. and raw materials for industries. • Rotate your crops and mulch to keep Besides, 80% of Ugandans carry For protection during the war, over the soil fertile. Healthy plants fight out agriculture. Farming as a two million people, including pupils, off plant disease better than weak lived in internally displaced persons business is a good source of ones. also had good yields. Wrote Isiga Safala camps. Most had no gardens. income. Maybe you are doing They depended on food from the Contact your subcounty NAADS farming as a business but you government and charities like the office to learn more about don't know. Find out. World Food Programme. farming and quality seeds.

Make a simple plan Now that peace has come, people Onions are spicy! from Pallisa Modern PS, “Our teacher told Every business needs careful are leaving the camps and going planning. List all possible enterprises back home to buld and clear land for Have you ever grown onions and choose the best. farming. Because they were raised at home or at school? In this without gardens, many young people paper, find onion seeds and Eva Nakitenge, a teacher from lack proper farming skills. follow the instructions on Kasangati Muslim PS, Wakiso, page 2. us to grow crops in our homes. I planted Teacher Akello Margaret of says after choosing what you want to Pagen PS, Kitgum, says: "Many produce, make a simple plan. “A plan are orphans who have grown up in Pupils carry their is like a road with different signposts. camps with limited education and bean harvest. It helps you to see advantages, farming skills. They need everyone's disadvantages, and how to avoid help to live a He lives with his sisters. They grow young people are like George. It is maize and beans, which I sold and bought possible dangers," she says. better life." and sell onions. “I want to become important that girls and boys work a businnessman. We have grown together. This makes work easier. A plan includes things you need and Farming for cassava and beans for our third term school fees. I also burn charcoal. Life To get a big harvest, you usually need thier costs to start production such as survival is not simple. I want to be a good to farm in a modern way. seeds, land, tools and pesticides and Ocan George,17, is farmer but I lack skills to produce • Prepare land early before rain starts. books and a geometry set because my workers. Pupils of Dabani Boys PS in Busia weed their maize garden. They plan to process the maize into enough harvest for food and sale.” • Don't use fire to clear land It kills an orphan in P7 flour and sell it to the school. at Laminolawino humus and useful organisms in the While making a plan ask are PS, Amuru. As explained by teacher Akello, many soil. yourself these questions: • Who else is producing what I have parents are poor.” chosen? How to find market • Who will buy? • Why should they buy from me and Before starting production, first find will be able to sell. You may waste markets and prices of goods.” Boys and girls support each other not from others? out if there are interested buyers. time, energy and money. “I first asked owners of nearby • What equipment will I need? Do not just produce and hope you restaurants if they were interested omen and girls make up over about what to grow, where • How many workers will I need? Prof Julius Zaake, Makerere in potatoes before I started. It has But females have little control over Farming for everyone 80% of people who work in land and power to make decisions in to sell and how to use the Atim Joyce, 13, and • Will I need transport? University, says: “Finding market been 2 years now and the business W • What price will I sell my products agriculture. They grow most of the their homes. money. Opoka David, 15, P5, is not difficult. Move from house is good. A sack fetches between food and work for more hours every Rwot Awich PS, Pader, for? Men make most decisions about what to house, local markets, schools, sh60,000–sh100,000 and a heap day than men and boys. to sell and how to use the money. Boys, let girls and womem say: “At school we grow shops and restaurant. Talk to goes for sh10,000.” Inginy Filda, They often make decisions. Respect different crops. Girls and “Whatever you choose to do, it people to find out what they want. 13, P6, VH Public School, Lira spend the their views. Girls, speak boys uproot and carry Finally, Farm Talk built the capacity of should be what you can manage. Listen to radio, read newspapers for money on out. Talk to your parents them to the main hall. Measure the costs correctly and look unproductive to give you equal chance After sun drying, we at the market prices before beginning uses such as in education and decision put the harvest in sacks the business.” Dr Florence Kabugo, alcohol. This making. and keep in school store from the National Agricultural Market is a serious where cooks pick some to Advisory Services (NAADS) problem Equal participation prepare lunch for us.” 97 teachers – 62 males and 34 females causing helps girls and boys to: Adero Mercy, 13, VH Public poverty • Benefit equally. No complaints among many • Discover their full Fred Wilobo, 15, P7, School, Lira, grows potatoes as her families. abilities. Goro PS, Amuru, enterprise. “I grow potatoes. They • Share work/get better says: “At home girls and are easier to cultivate than tomatoes You can results. boys equally participate -- to improve school gardening. With and there is ready market. I don't change this • Take on responsibilities in farming. This makes need pesticides or watering. I get culture. and do same work work easy and increases free planting materials. I sell a basin Women without gender bias. cooperation among family for sh5000.” and girls • Develop confidence. members. I advise boys make good • Learn to respect one and girls to work together Kyembogo and Iki Iki DATICS and St Jude Shop decisions another. and avoid complaining." Restuarant Adero Mercy

FarmTalk-1 .indd 1 7/30/2010 3:38:23 PM FarmTalk March 2010.indd 1 2010-04-09 16:31 Tree/Farm STF 2010 Annual Report 17 RADIO

Wilberforce Musimama, in charge of STF’s youth show in Lusamia, interviews a young man in a fishing village. Communities on the shores and islands of Lake Victoria have HIV prevalences up to seven times higher than the national prevalence of 6%. Some islands have no female inhabitants; young men say they masturbate. Other islands have very few women, who are often shared. Condoms tend to be in short supply.

Since joining STF in January 2008, Wilberforce has built up a dedicated listenership: 2744 young people wrote to him in 2010. He has also become one of two STF studio technicians, mixing 48 radio shows a week for other language streams.

18 STF 2010 Annual Report TF’s work in radio reaches more centres and sources of other help like PEP and Speople than any other STF channel, family planning -- the antithesis of a one-way spot. probably about seven million 10-24 year olds and three million adults every STF also seeks to constantly measure listenership. month. This is based on the knowledge In its surveys in 2010, STF found that in most that 34% of the population is aged communities over 70% of adolescents listen to the 10-24, of whom 85% have access to a local language STF youth show. Among parents, Straight Talk radio show in their mother “ever listened” to Parent Talk is also high: 79.6% tongue, of whom 70% listen regularly. in Apac, 62.2% in Soroti and 60.5% in Busia. The calculation for parents is that they Because STF uses letters for instant feedback, constitute 27% of the population (people if the population were to start ignoring an STF aged 24-64), of which 65% have access radio show, STF would quickly know and rectify to a Parent Talk show in their mother the problem. STF also traces letters according to tongue of whom 60% listen regularly. which station the listener heard the show on, so These calculations are conservative. Patron of if a station looses popularity or often goes off air, STF can discern it. Ngenge ST club, STF’s first radio show -- its English Kween district, displays a youth show -- was launched in 1999. In radio from ST Kupsabiny The radio department has 26 radio journalists, 2010 STF produced 26 different pre- journalist Charity each of whom are in charge of young people or recorded radio shows a week, in nine Cheptoris. “This club has parents in their respective language area. Nine languages for parents and 17 languages many young positives linguistic areas receive both a Straight Talk and a for adolescents. Each show lasts 30 with babies and a lot Parent show in their language. The department minutes. They are talky, multi-faceted, of FGM,” says Charity. also has two managers, a studio technician and and full of stories and different voices. “They thought family a letter manager. Straight Talk youth shows planning destroys their They are two way communication -- not received 38,519 letters and Parent Talk shows cells. We shared correct one way messages beamed out in spots. information with them.” Language Launch B/casts In 2010 Straight Talk radio shows for Radio shows for adolescents/youth youth were produced in the following English Straight Talk 1999 15 languages: Madi, Lufumbira , Lugbara, Lebthur, Pokot, Ngakarimojong, Luganda, Lusoga, Runyoro/Rutooro, Lwo: Lok atyer kamaleng 2000 6 Runyankole/ Rukiga, Kupsabiny, Lwo, Ateso, English, Runyankore/Rukiga: Tusheeshuure 2001 5 Lukhonzo, Lumasaba and Lusamia. Parent Talk radio shows Ateso: Einer Eitena 2002 3 were produced in Lwo, Luganda, Ateso, Lukhonzo, Lusamia, Lugbara: Eyo eceza tra ri 2003 3 Lumasaba, Runyakitara (4Rs), Nga’karimojong, and Lugbara, Lusamia: Embaha Ngololofu 2003 2 Lumasaba: Khukanikha Lubuula 2004 2 2010 was the first year since 1999 when STF did not add on Luganda: Twogere Kaati 2004 5 a new language or new radio show. Funding permitting, it would like to start broadcasting in the few remaining Lukonzo: Erikania Okwenene 2004 2 languages that cover several million people still unreached Lusoga: Twogere Lwattu 2005 4 by communication for better sexual health through Kupsabiny: Ngalatep Maanta 2005 4 radio. These are particularly the Japadhola, Kakwa, and Karimojong: Erwor Ngolo Ediiriana 2006 4 Alur populations. Not doing radio is not an option. In Lufumbira: Tuvuge Rwatu 2007 2 a country with poor roads and a population that is 87% Runyoro/Rutooro: Baza Busimba 2008 4 rural, living not in villages in the European sense but Madi: Ta’joka gbo 2009 1 dispersed on landholdings, radio is the essential medium of communication. According to the Demographic and Health Lebthur: Twak natir both lwak 2009 1 Survey of 2006, just 14% of young people aged 10-24 had Pokot: Ngal cho momi kewiny 2009 2 watched TV or read a newspaper during the previous week. Sub-total/wk 17 shows 66/wk In contrast, 75% of females and 85% of males had listened to Radio shows for parents the radio at least once. Uganda now has almost 200 radio 4Rs: Eriaka Ryomuzaire 2005 5 stations, up from three when Straight Talk started in 1993. Lugbara: Nzeta Tipikaniri 2005 3 Lukonzo: Omukania owa’ babuthi 2005 3 Unlike young people in a discussion group, radio listeners Lusamia: Embaha ya bebusi 2005 2 cannot be physically counted. This can worry funders keen to know exactly how many people their resources have made Lumasaba: Inganikha iyi basaali 2006 2 it possible to reach. For some donors and national bodies, Luganda: Eddobozi lya muzadde 2006 2 work in radio has also been discredited by radio spots, which Lwo: Lok pa Lanyodo 2006 4 have the potential to be powerful, but are often poorly Ateso: Einer Aurian 2007 2 crafted one-way messages that populations quickly ignore. Karimojong: Erwor Angi Kaureak 2008 4 STF is aware of these reservations and distinguishes itself Sub-total/wk 9 shows 27 by producing interactive radio shows that humanise the HIV TOTAL 26 shows 93/wk epidemic, stimulate social dialogue, and highlight treatment Radio STF 2010 Annual Report 19 Listenership 2005-2010 5453 letters in 2010, an increase of 1108 letters over the

Social group Ever listened 42,864 received in 2009. Thus, a total of 43,572 letters had to be answered and sent out with calendars, tree or vegetable Population Council data 2005-6 n=2013 seed, “talking points”, and Straight Talks or Young Talks. Adolescent males n=1070 60%

Adolescent females n=1067 50% STF utilizes a communication for social change approach In-school adolescents n=1700 57% -- which means that much of the content of shows is Out-of-school adolescents n=279 52% determined upcountry. Instead of STF journalists imposing Primary pupils n=1350 51% their views, local people explain how they understand an Secondary students n=348 82% issue, such as rape. They provide real stories of what they Parents (listening to youth show) 40% have seen and suggest remedies and responses. The main Population Council data 2005-6 by district role of the journalist is to solicit for this knowledge and insert information and ideas that the community may not Adolescents Apac n=367 64.5% have -- for example, that post-exposure prophylaxis can Adolescents Arua n=351 84.3% prevent HIV infection after rape and that rape can occur Adolescents Kamuli (English show) n=351 13% in marriage. STF radio guidelines require that each show Adolescents Kisoro (English show) n=366 13% mention five health units by name, contain 20 dedications Adolescents Ntungamo n=351 75.1% and answer three listeners’ questions. Adolescents Soroti n=351 80% Karamoja data 2009 The five-day trips to collect interviews are intensely Adolescents to ST show Moroto/Nak n=309 72.3% interactive. Each journalist makes four a year, carefully mapped to reach schools, clubs and villages that were not Parents to PT show Moroto/Nak n=120 80% visited on earlier recent trips. The journalist is accompanied Kisoro data 2009 by two counsellor/field workers. Between the three of them, Adolescents 10-14 n=144 86% they counsel and create dialogue with hundreds of people Adolescents 15-19 n=123 87% per trip. Thus there is a powerful face-to-face element to Youth (20-24) n=108 93% radio work. Every contact is recorded in log books that are In-school n=181 90% treasure troves of information about what worries ordinary Out-of-school n=162 88% people. One morning on Male n=167 87% a trip to Buhweju district in 2010, Parent Talk 4Rs Female n=176 90% journalist Catherine Parents listening to Parent Talk 2009 Abeneitwe (left) noted Kumi n=51 94% in her logbook the age Masaka n=51 51% and sex of 26 parents Gulu n=51 51% and their questions, Mbale/Siroko n=176 71% which included: how can positive parents have Arua n=118 79.5% a negative child? Why Ntungamo n=115 70.6% don’t I get an erection Apac n=126 88.3% anymore? What kind “Ever listened” (10-24) to ST youth radio show 2010 of family planning is Busia n= 231 81.2% suitable for me? My Soroti n=235 70.2% husband beats me all Kamuli n=241 70.5% the time - what can I Apac n=235 80.4% do? And, if one uses a Koboko n=xxx (no local language show) 32.7% particular sex style, can one avoid HIV? Madi and Adjumani n=200 73.3% Nebbi n=xxxx (age?) (no local language show) 9% On his trip to Pallisa, Phil Kabarole n= 221 52-72% Orinyo, STF youth journalist for Teso, logged questions, such Arua n=245 60-78% as, from a girl, 18, “Twice he attempted to rape me. Should I Kapchorwa n=332 65-82% end the relationship?” And, from a girl, 14, “Boys disturb me Parents “ever listened” to Parent Talk 2010 on my way home from school. Who should I tell?” Apac 79.6% Soroti 62.2% In 2010 youth radio journalists and their field assistants Busia 60.5% visited 224 secondary schools, 68 primary schools and 112 Kamuli n= 121 (listen to English ST youth show) 45.8% out-of-school groups, many of them Straight Talk listener clubs. They held over 700 condom demonstrations.

Radio staff also distributed STF newspapers and “talking points”. In total, the youth radio journalists distributed

20 STF 2010 Annual Report 70,000 Straight Talks and Young Talks and met 25,025 people face-to-face. Parent Talk journalists saw a further 2725.

In 2010 the 48 radio stations aired the STF shows. Most are local FM stations with dedicated listeners and a signal that cannot go much beyond 90 km. Thus, to cover a large linguistic region like the Lwo area, in 2010 STF broadcast its Lwo youth show on six stations and its Lwo parent show on four. Due to these multiple broadcasts, STF aired 93 shows a week for a total of 4836 radio shows in 2010, less than its 5096 shows in 2009. Fifteen radio stations gave STF free air time.

A study by Family Health International in 2007 found that STF spends about 10US cents to reach an adolescent with radio shows for a year. Doreen Muhumure, STF’s Runyankole-Rukiga youth journalist interviews a young mother. STF radio shows address the drivers of HIV and reinforce protective behaviors, such as positive gender norms, delayed sexual debut, and disclosure of HIV status to partners. Radio stations in 2010

No Radio Station Show Broadcast Day & Time No Radio Station Show Broadcast Day & Time Luo ST Sat: 7:30pm 27 Radio Wa Luo PT Sun: 6:30pm 1 Apac Fm Luo PT Sun: 7:30pm Runyankole-Rukiga ST Sun: 2:30pm 2 Beat Fm Luganda ST Sun: 7:30pm 28 Radio West 4Rs PT Sat: 7:30pm Bunyoro 3 Broadcasting Runyoro – Rutooro ST Fri: 6:30pm English ST (Free) Sat: 8:30pm Services 29 Radio Rukungiri Runyankole-Rukiga ST (Free) Sun: 8:30pm Luganda ST Sun: 2:30 Pm 4Rs PT Fri: 7:30pm 4 Buddu Luganda PT Sat: 1:00pm English ST Sun: 7:30pm Runyankole-Rukiga ST Sun: 2:00pm 30 Rhino Fm Luo ST Sat: 7:30pm 5 Bushenyi Fm 4Rs PT Sat: 3:30pm Luo PT Fri: 7:30pm 6 Capital Fm English Sun: 8:00pm 31 Smart Fm English ST Free Fri: 7:30pm

7 Akaboozi Luganda ST Sun: 11:30am Lugbara ST Sun: 4:30pm Luganda PT Fri: 3:30 Pm 32 Spirit Fm Lugbara PT Sun: 8:00pm Ateso ST Sun: 6:00pm 33 Sun Fm Luganda ST Sat: 6:30pm 8 Continental Fm Ateso PT Fri: 6:30pm Nga’karimojong ST Sun: 5:30pm 9 Eye Fm Lusoga ST Sun: 7:30pm 34 Step Fm Nga’karimojong PT Sat: 8:30am 10 Kamwenge Fm Runyankole-Rukiga ST Sat: 4:30pm Kupsabiny ST Sat 4:30pm Nga’karimojong ST Sat: 6:30pm English ST Sat: 6:30pm 11 Karamoja Fm Nga’karimojong PT Sun: 10:30am 35 Trans-Nile Fm Lugbara ST Fri: 4:30pm Madi ST Sat: 4:30pm 12 KBS Lusoga ST Sun: 6:30pm Lumasaba PT Sat: 6:30am English ST (Free) Kupsabiny ST Sun: 3:30pm 13 Kiboga Fm Luganda ST Sun: 6:30pm Lumasaba ST Sun: 8:30pm Luganda PT Sat: 6:30pm 36 UBC Nga’karimojong ST Sun: 5:30pm Nga’karimojong PT Sat: 4:30pm 14 Kanungu Bs Runyankole Rukiga ST Sun: 6:30pm Rufumbira ST Wed: 4:30pm Kapchorwa 15 Trinity Radio Kupsabiny ST Sat: 6:30pm English ST Fri: 7:30pm 37 Voice of Teso Ateso ST Sat: 7:30pm 16 Liberty Fm Runyoro- Rutooro ST Sat: 6:30pm Ateso PT Sun: 1:15pm Luo Fm Luo ST Sun: 5:30pm 17 Lebthur ST Sat: 6:00pm Runyoro-Rutooro ST Sun: 8:30pm 4Rs PT Fri: 3:30pm 18 Mega Fm Luo ST Sun: 3:30pm 38 Voice of Tooro English ST Sun: 11:30am Lukhonzo ST Fri: 7:30pm English (Free) Sat: 6:15pm 19 Messiah Fm Lukhonzo ST Sun: 6:15pm English ST Free Sat: 5:30pm Lukhonzo PT Sun: 3:30pm 39 Voice of Kigezi Runyankole-Rukiga ST Sun: 12:30pm 4Rs PT Sun: 4:15pm 20 Muhabura Fm Rufumbira ST Sun: 6:30pm Nabeta Kupsabiny ST Sat: 5:30pm 21 Broadcsting Lusoga ST Sat: 6:30pm 40 Veritas Fm Nga’karimojong ST Sun: 6:30pm Services Nga’karimojong PT Sat: 1:30pm

22 Nile Fm English ST (Free) Sun: 6:30pm Lusoga ST Sun: 6:30pm Lugbara ST Sat: 7:30pm Lusamia ST Sat: 6:00pm 41 Eastern Voice Lusamia PT Sun: 6:00pm English ST (Free) Fri: 8:30pm English ST Free Sun: 5:30pm Ateso ST Sun: 6:30pm 23 Open Gate Lumasaba ST Sat: 7:30pm 42 Victoria Fm Lusamia PT Fri: 7:30pm Lumasaba PT Sun: 7:00pm 43 Better Fm Lukhonzo PT Sun: 6:30pm Lusamia ST Sun: 5:30pm Lusoga ST 24 Paidha Fm Luo StT Fri: 7:30pm 44 Voice of Busoga English ST (Free) Sun: 6:30pm Luo ST Sat: 6:30pm 45 King Fm Luo PT Sat: 7:30pm 25 Polo Fm Luo PtT Fri: 7:30pm 46 Bugwere Fm Pokot ST Sat: 6:00pm English (Free) Fri: 7:30pm 47 Pacis Radio Lugbara PT Sun: 6:30pm 26 Radio Hoima Runyoro-Rutooro ST Sun: 7:30pm 4Rs PT Sat: 4:25pm 48 Etop Radio Ateso PT Sun: 7:30pm Radio STF 2010 Annual Report 21 A Straight Talk radio trip: hectic and people-rich

hil Orinyo, 24, runs STF’s Ateso youth show. Trained Pas an environmental health officer, he joined STF in December 2009. Since then he has been mentored in journalism and trained in positive dignity, health and prevention; STIs; rethinking masculinity; and family planning.

In his first year at STF, he put the voices of 182 young people and 15 health workers on air, distributed Young Talks and Straight Talks, held group talks reaching 3568 young people, and conducted 20 condom demonstrations: 3759 adolescents wrote to him. In Soroti over 70% of in a sideroom as outside Deborah notes down young people aged 10-24 listen to his show. Saul counsels students’ questions. Below: Phil interviews a pupil for his show. These photos from August 2010 show the people-richness of STF’s approach. Phil is accompanied by two young counselors, Deborah Mbulanyina and Saul Walugembe, who between then conduct dozens more one-to-one counselling sessions and small group dialogues.

Above: Phil takes questions from pupils and hands papers and a prize to teachers; Deborah talks with students. R: Phil demonstrates condom use and fields queries. Above R: the headmistress of Pallisa Girls PS with her prize, a school radio.

22 STF 2010 Annual Report Straight Talk radio brings changes

Pokot journalist Alex Limale interviewing a youth in Amudat, near the Kenya border. Inset: Mark Lonyangiro, 21, a devoted listener to Alex’s show.

n a Saturday evening, Mark Lonyangiro, 21, is Saturday from his home to Amudat trading centre to Oimpatient to listen to the Straight Talk show in listen. “In my village, almost no one owns a radio set. We Pokot on 97.2 Bugwere FM. “Since I started listening in are very poor.” December 2009, my life has changed. It has become our voice for development because since independence, uma Otwani, 18, in S4 at Bukooli College in Bugiri, no government has ever empowered the Pokot with Jlistens to Straight Talk’s English show on 91.3 Capital information like this.” FM every Saturday at 6:30pm. “I was a reckless youth having pre-marital sex. But the moment I heard Tendo Lonyangiro says one day he was looking after his cattle (the presenter) telling us that sex greatly increases when he heard someone in his language discussing AIDS your risk of HIV and making someone pregnant, I chose on the radio. “The voice said the disease is killing many abstinence, although at first it was hard to stick to.” people and it is hard to know who is infected until they Otwani has also joined a Straight Talk Club at school and, test. He told us this disease is caused by unprotected sex. when they meet, he gets hope to abstain for another I did not know much about HIV/AIDS and was worried year. because I had had unprotected sex. I went to a relative, who is educated, who advised me to go for testing.” n the dusty plains of Moroto in Karamoja, Cecilia Itai, O55, says people did not value education. “We knew Lonyangiro tested HIV negative as did his girl. “The that when one had cows, there was nothing to worry health workers advised us to stop sex or use a condom. about. But over the years, our cattle died of drought and Many Pokot people think condoms are for diseases or were raided.” immoral people. But I use them without any problem.” In 2008, STF donated a windup radio to her village. Itai was elected to keep it and allow The show has taught Lonyangiro to people to listen in turns. “I heard Straight communicate with his girlfriend. “When we Talk shows encouraging us to take children to have a problem, we listen to each other,” school. They said we can earn income to buy says Lonyangiro, who has no education at all books and uniforms since the government and whose father wanted him to spend his will pay fees.” Itai started breaking stones; life as a cattlekeeper. It has also encouraged she makes UGX3000 daily and saves half. him and 50 other Pokot youth to form a “This money accumulated, and I took my savings scheme to which each member three children to school. One of my girls is in contributes UGX5000 a month. He has been boarding school. I believe in STF radio shows able to buy school materials for his brother. because I am growing wiser. We still have the radio, and many people have changed.” Lonyangiro is such a fan of Straight Talk’s Pokot show that he travels 10 km every By Fred Womakuyu Radio STF 2010 Annual Report 23 Parent Talk: testimony to parliament on HIV Bill

Women in Busia: “They were welcoming Straight Talk with a song, and I recorded it,” says Parent Talk Lusamia journalist Resty Nabwire. “This Parent Talk club at Nagubimbi does farming.”

TF started broadcasting for adults in 2004. Now Resty: This baby you have, did you marry again? in nine languages, Parent Talk is Uganda’s most S Mary: When my husband died in 2004, we did the funeral innovative effort to address adult sexuality, an urgent ceremonies. My culture practises wife inheritance. My matter in a country where 75% of new infections are brother-in -law inherited me and insisted on marrying occurring in the over 25s. Although the shows provide a me. I explained to him that I had HIV but he said he was lot of the “nuts and bolts” of HIV education, the greatest HIV positive too. I asked him if he is willing to always lesson that parents cite from the show is the need to talk use condoms. He said yes. So I told him he needed to about sex with their partner or partners. get tested. He went and tested negative. But he insisted on marrying me. We used not to have sex often, so the STF submitted the following recording to Parliament condoms had expired. So when we used the condom on in 2010 when MPs were considering criminalizing HIV that fateful day, it burst. That is when I got pregnant. transmission. In the recording a widow describes how she was inherited and despite explaining repeatedly to her Resty: So how many children do you plan to have with new husband that she was living with HIV, he insisted on him? sex which was not always protected. The recording was Only this one and I am going to do my best to collected by Resty Nabwire, the senior STF journalist who Mary: ensure that she is HIV negative. I need to take care of runs the Lusamia Parent Talk show. It provided powerful myself so I can raise my children. evidence to Parliament on the injustice of criminalising HIV. Clearly, if transmission were criminalised, this What if the man who inherited you needs an heir? mother of nine would be liable for arrest. Resty: Mary: Pregnancy will make my health poor. I have nine The interview was also the basis for a compelling children. I cannot have more. radio show about the risks of wife inheritance and the importance of couple communication.

Mary: I have nine children. Their father died, so I work hard to make sure that I raise them. We farm food to eat and also some surplus we sell.

Resty: Have you ever tested for HIV? Mary: When my husband became bedridden, I told him that we needed to test. He refused and accused me of bringing HIV. I pleaded with him because the radio was encouraging us to test. I went alone and was told that I have HIV. I joined TASO and started getting treatment. I Zaitun Nabateregga, senior STF journalist in charge of the told my children that I have HIV but that it does not mean Luganda Parent Talk show, interviews a young adult. Zai has tried to that I am going to die soon. I am getting stronger. address sexual satisfaction in her radio shows as her ethnic group has a long tradition of sexual coaching by aunts or sengas.

24 STF 2010 Annual Report Parent Talk: creating clubs, saving marriages

Felistus Lunyolo, 35, who believes that the Lumasaba Parent Talk radio show healed the rift with her hsuband.

he hills of Magale in Manafwa district are normally The Makutano Parent Talk Club was formed in 2005 after Tquiet but not today. Makutano Parent Talk club is Straight Talk started broadcasting Parent Talk in the local meeting. It is one of 36 Parent Talk clubs and 20 Straight language, Lumasaba. It meets every Sunday and has 150 Talk clubs in Manafwa district. The meeting is about what members, each of whom contributes UGX10,000 a month time their daughters should be inside at night. “There towards a savings scheme which helps them in bad times. is rape. Our daughters must not stay out late,” says a The club grows vegetables and keeps livestock. member. Then club member Alice Nabulobi, 31, accuses Chairperson Grace Nandudu believes that defilement her husband of assaulting her. The club sends for him so and domestic violence have reduced because the that they can listen to both sides of the story. Michael “perpetrators have been sensitized and also fear to Wanzala, 35, admits that he came home at midnight appear before the club to answer”. and, when Nabulobi complained that he had stayed out late without informing her, he beat her. Wanzala says Another club member, Felistus Lunyolo, says the that as a man, he thought a woman is not supposed to Lumasaba Parent Talk show healed her marriage. Her ask where he went. But members of the club advise him husband had become intolerant and often slept away strongly. “You are supposed to be each other’s keeper. from home. “I travel for my business. When I came Suppose you get a problem, how will your wife know? It home, my husband would go somewhere else to sleep. I is also good manners to respect each other,” says Abunel suspected he was having an affair.” Wangina. Lunyolo asked her parents to advise him but they failed. “One day I was listening to the Parent Talk show. It was encouraging couples to have dialogue. I thought this was the solution. I assumed that my husband knew that I was tired because of my job. While I was thinking that he was cheating on me, he also thought I was cheating on him!” After discussing their troubles, the two are living happily and listen to Parent Talk together.

bim district does not have a Parent Talk show. But Aparents listen to the Straight Talk show in the local language. Franco Ogwang, 45, says the Lebthur Straight Talk radio show on Luo FM has helped him and his wife to “listen to each other when one of us is not ready for Makutano sex.” Before, when one partner said no, they suspected Parent Talk each other of infidelity. Now they know that a person can club has cabbage decline sex for physical and psychological reasons. His patches and wife, Jane Ogwang, says, “My husband maybe sick or I cattle. maybe in my periods or one of us may not be in the mood. I have also learnt that good sex needs closeness and preparation.” By Fred Womakuyu Parent Talk STF 2010 Annual Report 25 Letters to Straight Talk shows in 2010

Chart Title f the radio shows that STF broadcast in 17 languages for young people, the English Straight Talk Oyouth show brought in the most letters (4022). It was broadcast on2% 15 stations (seven paid for, eight for free). For letters, it was closely followed by the shows for14% Ateso and Lwo-speaking youth, which received 3759 and 3654 letters respectively. In terms of response per capita, the best performing shows were the smaller languages-- Lukhonzo, Lumasaba and Lusamia. In 2010, almost equal numbers 6% of girls and boys wrote in, and letter writers were overwhelmingly secondary school students. Chart TitleTertiary Secondary 2% Gender of letter writers Educational status of letter writers Primary Year Male Female Year Ter- 2ndary Primary Out-of- 14% Out of School 2004 82% 18% tiary school 2005 79% 21% 2006 5% 44% 10% 41% 6% 78% 2006 79% 21% 2007 5.3% 51% 8.8% 35% Tertiary Secondary 2007 70% 30% 2008 4.6% 67% 6.5% 22% Primary 2008 61% 39% 2009 2.3% 75.3% 6.3% 16.1% Out of School 2009 52% 48% 2010 2% 78% 6% 14% 2010 54% 46% 78% Letters to Parent Talk radio shows in 2010

Letters to Parent Talk shows by language Letters to Parent Talk shows by gender

dults are less literate, self-absorbed and time-rich than adolescents. So it is not surprising that they write less to A“their” radio shows than youth. Nevertheless, letters to Parent Talk increased from 1113 in 2008 to 3884 in 2009 to 5453 in 2010. Men sent in 63% of letters. In Uganda they have higher literacy rates, greater mobility and more wealth than females. However, letters do not precisely reflect listenership. STF’s research teams found that men and women listen in about equal proportions: 80% of men and 77% of women had ever listened to their Parent Talk show in Apac, for example.

26 STF 2010 Annual Report The 17 linguistic areas covered by Straight Talk youth radio shows 2010

In every district, STF radio shows -- both for young people and parents ganda has many languages: -- are always cited by listeners as the leading and often only radio source of Uthe Constitution recognises information on HIV and sexual health. 56, and the National Curriculum Development Centre recognises 23 as having an orthography and The nine linguistic areas covered by STF dictionary. English seems to be spoken by about 25% of young Parent Talk radio shows 2010 people across the country - those who have completed some secondary education.

ost of Uganda’s indigenous Mlanguages fall into one of three groups: Bantu, Sudanic, Nilotic and Nilotic-Hamitic. Within these groups, populations can often understand each other, although they would still want their own radio shows. Across these groups, however, the languages are often not mutually understood and have few shared words.

Thus broadcasting in “local languages” is essential. By thinking of the country linguistically, STF is also reminded to think of people culturally. Parent Talk STF 2010 Annual Report 27 Radio partnerships 2010

HIPS - Training private sector peer educators on ma- laria, HIV/AIDS; recording programs UNFPA - Training community groups on SRH Media Focus Africa - Radio spots on democracy Uganda Watch - scripts/spots for elections IPA - Radio club research Malaria Consortium - Spots

Parent Talk shows in 2010

arent Talk was funded 21. Breast feeding and sex Pin 2010 from four 22. Polygamy and HIV sources: Civil Society 23. Managing STD’s Fund, PACE, UNITY and 24. Financial management Joy Namukuve, 22, is STF’s radio journalist for Busoga, a region of dense Unicef. The following is a for men poverty east of the Nile. STF journalists’ role is as much about interpersonal composite list of topics. 25. Financial management communication as it is about mass media. Like many STF staff, Joys attends for women evening classes, studying for a Ba in development. She is almost a peer to high 1. Decisions around 26. Styling up in marriage school students, being just two or three years older than most of them. parenthood when you for women are HIV positive 27. Medical male 2. Gonorrhea circumcision 3. Diabetes 28. Malaria treatment for 4. HIV positive parents: children under five years Topics of Straight Talk youth how many children? 29. Malaria treatment for radio shows in 2010 5. Parent-teacher pregnant mothers communication 30. Child abuse ike all STF 15. Parent child 6. Syphilis 31. ARVs Linterventions, Straight communication 7. Sexual trust 32. Discordance Talk youth radio shows 16. Marriage and HIV 8. Multiple concurrent 33. Handling defilement 17. Early marriage carry out highly-active partners 34. Parental role 18. Family planning and combination HIV 9. Family planning 35. Parents and visiting 29. My first Boyfriend prevention. They address 20. My first girlfriend 10. Miscarriages-causes and children at school a mix of biomedical, social, 21. Many boyfriends how to avoid them 36. Parents and career rights and justice, and care 22. Deciding sex in 11. Domestic violence guidance and treatment themes. relationship 12. Couple HIV testing 37. Pregnancy and HIV Themes for 27 shows are 23. Showing love 13. Infertility 38. Quiz review-How do you pre-selected in Kampala; 13 24. Handling 14. Single parenting for men discuss sex with your arise from listeners; 12 are misunderstanding 15. Couple communication partner doctor shows. Below is a 25. Parent to child on sex 39. Parent –child sex talk composite list. communication 16. How to manage sexual 40. Fears and secrets in 26. VCT and relationships feelings marriage 27. Seducing words 1. Stigma towards VCT 17. Raising girl children 41. Sex during Christmas 2. Stigma towards 28. Meeting places 18. Pregnancy and sex season disclosure 29. Fears and secrets in a 19. Showing love for men 42.-52. Doctor shows 3. Stigma towards ARVs relationship and adherence 30. Dealing with crush 20. Showing love for women 4. Stigma by community 31. World AIDS Day 5. Stigma among health 32. Christmas high lights workers 33. New Years’ resolution 6. Stigma among HIV 34. Income generating positives activities-girls 7. Reading of letters 35. Income generating 8. Alcohol activities-boys 9. Day scholar life 36. Cross generational sex 10. Alcohol and decision 37. Dropping partners after making sex 11. Candida 38. Offers and sex 12. Syphilis 39. Doctor shows 13. Gonorrhea 14. Bride price Biira Gedi, veteran Lukhonzo STF journalist, in a Parent Talk conversation with a young mother.

28 STF 2010 Annual Report A man listens intently at a community fair in Bududa. High risk behaviours among adults, especially the common male norm of multiple concurrent partnerships, are driving Uganda’s HIV/AIDS epidemic.: 75% of new infections are in the over-25s.

Ugandan women have slightly more than two life-time partners, while men have about ten, similar to the FACE-TO number for men in rich countries like the US and UK. However, many Ugandan men are faithful. (UHSBS, 2004-5) -fACE Outreach and training

Above: Drawing the body: Manila paper hangs on a wall on an STF visit to a school in Amuru. The words show students’ concerns, youth centres, STF spent UGX242,654,665 ($112,862) such as wet dreams and other body changes. Right: a peer educator displays her skills to her age mates. on its outreach and training in 2010. This averages out at UGX35,975 or $10 per person. Contact time ranges between three days for peer education training, to two TF’s outreach and training interventions follow its days for teacher training, to a day for a teachers’ fair, Secological model, which means that they address to half a day for a parents’ dialogue or “on call” school adolescents in their totality and also address parents visit. Size of group worked with ranges from hundreds and teachers. STF is acutely aware that the environment of adults (teachers’ fair) to about 60 for teacher or peer in families, communities and schools largely determines educator trainings. adolescents’ ability to stay in school, protect themselves from unwanted consequences of sex, and manage social Teacher sensitisations expectations around gender and early marriage. STF started intensive work with teachers in 1998. Since then its teacher workshops have promoted positive “Face to face” work or interpersonal communication is dialogue on adult and adolescent sexuality, including STF’s third channel, complimenting print and radio. In gender roles, domestic violence, love, marriage, 2010, STF’s outreach team reached 6745 people directly maintaining satisfying sexual relationships within through parent dialogues, community dialogues, on call marriage, reducing or avoiding multiple concurrent visits, teacher sensitizations, peer education training and partnerships, helping adolescents manage body changes teachers’ fairs. STF’s outreach approach is interactive; and sexual feelings, and helping young people avoid it engages adolescents, parents and teachers through bad touches. The first day of the two-day workshop is talk. It also strives to be sex positive and gender devoted to teachers’ own sexuality issues, the second transformative. day to helping teachers better understand and support adolescents. One aim is to increase retention of learners Outreach was and reduce drop-out due to pregnancy and early marriage. conducted particularly The workshops support the Ministry of Education’s HIV intensively in three and sex education programme (PIASCY) and always districts - Adjumani, conclude with teachers developing school-specific Moyo and Bududa. action plans to improve adolescent well-being. Teachers Fairs and parent usually say that they will form Young Talk/peer educator dialogues were clubs, conduct health and life skills talks in class and at held in Bukedea, assemblies, distribute and encourage reading of Young Amuru and Budada Talk, and encourage the writing of Young Talk letters. districts. STF also Many teachers who attend the workshops say that this ran four youth is the first such sensitization that they have received centres. in their professional lives. In 2010 STF sensitised 217 Excluding the primary teachers: 78 teachers from 20 primary schools in Adjumani, 81 teachers from 20 primary schools in Moyo, All eyes glued - STF knows that its staff and 60 teachers from 15 primary schools in Bududa. STF facilitate meaningful conversations when it finds also worked with 143 teachers from 34 secondary schools photos like this in their cameras. The pupils in this in the same districts. classroom are listening with rapt attention.

30 STF 2010 Annual Report STF teacher sensitisations have the same dual aim of addressing both adult and adolescent sexuality, explains STF’s Jerolam Omach. “We open up talk about sex, gender and marriage to help teachers have satisfying marriages and sexual relationships. Due to culture, few men talk about such issues with their wives.”

The teachers separate into groups of men and women. “We pose questions. What is satisfying sex? How can a husband and wife have a good sexual relationship? As facilitators, our role is not to judge, but to try to harmonize differences,” Omach says. Teachers then discuss qualities that make a good marriage, such as openness. Omach says that unfortunately when women want to talk, men usually say they are in a hurry.

Teachers are hungry for the chance to talk about Sarah Kundu, HCT Counsellor , Bududa Hospital , Bunakhayoti Church of Uganda at a dialogue with parents in Bududa. themselves. Jackson Mbabazi of Mutunda SSS in Dima says STF builds family values because the teachers learn to communicate to their partners. Omach agrees. “Teachers request us to hold workshops several times a at their homes during odd hours.” A third girl, 19, said, year to save their marriages.” “I had sex through peer influence. It happened when I visited my friend. He gave me some alcohol. It was very On day two, STF addresses adolescence. “The teachers painful because he was 24 and I was 14. My advice is to may tell learners that body changes are normal. Fine – avoid drinking alcohol.” they are normal but they present challenges,” explains Omach. “Menstruation is normal but a girl needs to know Because girls are disproportionately affected by HIV and how to use pads so as to attend class. Erections are other SRH crises, STF trained more girl than boy peer normal but boys may think that they mean that they need educators: 240 girls versus 110 boys in primary schools and sex.” 162 girls versus 122 boys in secondary schools.

“We train teachers so that they can help young people,” Community fairs concludes Omach. In 2010 STF conducted ten community fairs for adults. These were attended by over 1200 people of whom 721 Peer educators underwent HCT. In Bududa only one adult out of 248 STF’s work with peer educators aims to strengthen and tested positive, 0.4%. In Moyo, five out of 465 were encourage learner-driven life skills and ASRH efforts in reactive (1%). These events also made condoms, pill plans, primary and secondary schools, including the formation of injectables and implants available. Men were particularly Young Talk and Straight Talk clubs. The overall objective interested in condoms. Parents were interested in family is to increase pupils’ access to ASRH knowledge and planning, although many said that they first needed to services, build their confidence, efficacy and life skills, discuss it with their partners. and help them establish and maintain safer behaviours. In primary schools, STF peer-educators lead music, dance Parent dialogues and drama. They also help organize debates and group Working closely with district leaders, village health teams readings and discussions of Young Talk newspapers. and CBOs, in 2010 STF held 13 community dialogues for parents at sub counties in Bududa (Nabweya and Bukigai), In 2010 STF trained 330 peer educators from primary Adjumani (Ciforo, Ofua, Adropi and Dzaipi), and Moyo schools in Bududa, Moyo and Adjumani. The three-day (Lefori, Metu, Moyo and Moyo Town Council). Attended trainings covered, among other areas, growing up, the by a total of 1503 adults, these were conducted around challenges of being a girl/boy, HIV/AIDS and life skills. the schools that in which STF had trained peer educators Peer educators were coached to counsel and refer peers. and teachers.

STF also trained 284 secondary school peer educators The dialogues generated talk on parent-child from eight schools in Bududa, 12 schools in Adjumani and communication, how to improve husband and wife 14 schools in Moyo. In the trainings, many of the girls relationships in marriage, overcoming fear of HIV recounted harrowing stories of sexual coercion. One counseling and testing (HCT), combatting HIV/AIDS girl trainee said, “I had sex through rape when coming stigma, preventing early marriage and pregnancy, back from a disco, so I felt very bad. I advise my fellow dispelling myths and misconceptions about condoms, students to avoid moving at night.” Another girl peer and modifying or doing away with the practice of wife educator, 18, said, “My boy friend invited me to his home. inheritance. One of the aims was to increase parents’ We enjoyed a little. He later demanded for sex. I gave in access to reproductive health information and services but I felt guilty afterwards. My advice is never to visit boys such as contraception and HCT. STF supported counselors Outreach STF 2010 Annual Report 31 STF supports parents in these six critical roles/tasks. It helps them articulate and find solutions to the adult sexuality, marriage, HIV, poverty and parenting challenges they face.

and health workers from local health centres to provide while they generate activity around ASRH in schools HCT: 1271 parents underwent testing, of whom 18 tested and the community. The initiative, by and large, worked positive, 1.4%. well. STF oriented 46 CBO staff to reporting formats and approaches to working with adolescents. The CBOs, in Collaboration with CBOS turn, conducted monthly visits to schools, held monthly Besides sending newspapers to about 1400 CBOs, STF meetings with STF peer educators, and distributed has MOUs with selected CBO/NGOs, which receive a its newspapers. STF provided each CBO with about larger quantity of papers and have a “Straight Talk UGX400,000 a quarter. Available Here” sign at their premises. In 2010 STF worked particularly closely with CBOs in Bugiri (YEFAAP), Moyo On call visits (AIDS Heroes Association), Adjumani (Youth Anti-AIDS In 2010 STF responded to numerous invitations from Services), Kaberamaido (Save the Needy KOSAN), Arua schools, reaching 2323 young people. The visits were (Kuluva HIV/AIDS Programme), Rakai (God Cares), Bududa informative yet fun: the students watched educative (Bukigai Child Development Centre) and Kotido (Warrior films and engaged in group talk. A young person living Squad). positively was usually part of the STF team. There was always time for one-on-one counseling. Because STF cannot be everywhere on the ground in Uganda, these like-minded and credible CBOs act as STF In 2011 STF will generate “talking points” for both parents “franchises” at the grassroots. STF builds their capacity and teachers and document each of its face-to-face approaches.

Above: Letters to Young Talk from girls aged 12 and 13. Even very Laying the ground: STF’s Jerolam Omach (in blue striped top- young adolescencts have lives which are often far more complex and back to camera) meets with local officials and lets them take the lead in sexual than might be expected. planning a teachers’ fair.

32 STF 2010 Annual Report STF teachers’ package: Teacher Talk, fairs, sensitisations

Left top: Pastor Mwenge talks about sex in marriage as STF’s Ruth Achope translates at the Bukedea fair: the theme was “managing sexuality for positive change”. Left bottom: a girl with special needs demonstrates how she writes with her foot; teachers cheered in awe. Above: a teacher living with HIV testifies about his sexual choices.

ames Okotal, 38, vividly recalls the day he went for the Uganda’s largest group of civil servants, most working JTeacher Talk fair in Bukedea. He expected little; instead under hardship conditions. So the fairs are celebratory it saved his marriage. “I was a wounded man,” says the events that honour teachers. There are games, like tug father of four, a teacher at Kanyimu Comprehensive SSS. of war, bike races and music. NGOs and schools exhibit He had heard that his wife was seeing another man, and their materials or work under tents. Teachers are deeply he had revenged by having an affair. Later he learnt that appreciative of this refreshing break from the isolation of his wife was not being unfaithful but had been visiting her the classroom. “I enjoyed myself,” said Ajilong Jane from uncle. “Unfortunately, by this time, she had learnt I was Kakere PS. “I wish you could hold such a fair every term. I having an affair. We fought and she refused to share the learnt from the exhibitions of other schools how they are bed with me,” says Okotal. His wife threatened to divorce implementing PIASCY and the thematic curriculum.” him and fled with her belongings and the children to her parents’ home. Okotal tried everything possible to save “The fair made me relax, and I used it think about my his marriage - all in vain. But at the fair Pastor Mwenge family and own health,” said Eurien Margaret from talked about sexuality. “He told us that families fall apart Kachumbala PS. “I tested for HIV. The result was good. I because of loss of communication between partners. He am going to tell my husband so that we remain healthy. encouraged wives and husbands to know each others’ But the counselor said that my negative result may not likes and dislikes.” be true of my husband. I liked the testimonies from pupils and colleagues with HIV. It made me felt bad that some The reverend also encouraged the teachers to initiate teachers stigmatise colleagues who are living positively.” good sex based on love and tolerance. When Okotal went Otingole Cuthbert from Malera PS said, “Today was home, he sent a message to his wife through the elders. so wonderful in a teacher’s life. I feel encouraged to “Within a week, she was back. Our marriage is now strong talk about my HIV status in case I am positive. The fair and stable because we listen to each other and share our respected those living with HIV/AIDS. I saw them talking concerns.” about their lives and community discrimination. By the way, we teachers appear friendly here, but some Teachers’ fairs headteachers are part of the discrimination. I hope Funded by UNITY/USAID, STF held three fairs for teachers that today’s fair has marked the end of that. Thanks for of P5-7 in Bukedea, Amuru and Bududa, reaching a total bringing free HCT and reminding us about PIASCY. It has of 992 primary teachers from 306 schools. Only 30% of been long since we saw support to PIASCY. Now we have the teachers were female: many schools have no female got new energy. I wish STF could produce Teacher Talk teachers. About 1450 community members also attended. every month like Young Talk.” Fairs allow teachers to share testimonies and experiences through group learning. The fairs usually provide A total of 595 teachers underwent HCT, of whom 222 were opportunity for one-to-one counseling and HCT. Their female. Five (one female and four males) were reactive – questions show that teachers, like many adults, suffer 0.8%. Over 300 people were counseled on family planning. large information gaps on sexuality and HIV. Teachers are By Fred Womakuyu Outreach STF 2010 Annual Report 33 Straight Talk working with partner CBOs

Grace Mwesigwa, Coordinator of Peer Education, and a colleague at the YEFAAP offices.

n a fresh morning in Bugiri town, Grace Mwesigwa, interact with them and learn their challenges.” It follows OCoordinator of YEFAAP’s Peer Education Programme, up peer educators, collects monthly reports and forwards goes through a tray entitled “Straight Talk Foundation”. STF them to the STF headquarters in Kampala. The CBO also calendars and logos are pinned on the wall. stages drama, music and dance shows four times a month in the communities on early marriage, HIV, relationships, sex, A young girl, aged about 13, rushes in with a letter. With condoms and abstinence. STF pays them a stipend for the a smile, he assures her it will be delivered to STF and job. encourages her to write again. The letter is from a Young Talk club. Mwesigwa says youth come to their office for condoms and want to know their HIV status. “We receive about seven a He then dashes to the post office to collect the latest STF week who want to test. We refer them to testing centres newspapers and delivers them to the district education and and counsel and guide them through the testing. Some health offices. It takes him ten minutes. Then he is back in youth have formed Straight Talk clubs and meet about office to telephone teachers from some schools to pick up health and adolescent issues.” copies. He will deliver the rest to other schools physically. He says the biggest challenge in working with STF is lack of The district education officer of nearby Namayingo district transport and having to deliver newspapers to schools along comes in. Mwesigwa called him yesterday to pick up his often impassable roads. Also, each day, they receive new copies. Mwesigwa is a busy man. schools wishing to join STF, yet copies of the newspaper are few. Bugiri and Namayengo districts have over 50 STF Because of the huge burden of adolescent needs, STF clubs in schools and the community. Ismail Malinga, 17, a S4 cannot do everything by itself. “In 2009-10, STF partnered student at Bukooli College, Bugiri, belongs to two. He says with CBOs with a similar agenda,” says STF outreach worker the purpose is to keep him busy. “I want to have sex when I Jerolam Omach. “We built am married. We discuss it during their capacity and trained peer our weekly meetings.” educators to conduct one-to-one or group talks.” YEFAAP Director Innocent Matyoli says STF has YEFAAP is one of the best strengthened them by giving performing, helping STF to them funds for activities and distribute Straight Talk, Young training in how to manage them. Talk, Teacher Talk, Tree Talk and “It has also helped us lobby for Farm Talk and collect feedback more financial assistance since from young people. our accounts are somehow facilitated by STF. We are also Mwesigwa says they work with 20 popular and respected by primary and 15 secondary schools society.” in Namayengo and Bugiri. “We STF peer educators supervised by KOSAN, STF’s visit each school twice a term, partner CBO in Kabermaido. By Fred Womakuyu

34 STF 2010 Annual Report Youth Centres

The entrance to Gulu Youth Centre with inspiring health messages. Right: Faith Falal Rubanga, GYC manager, at a youth centre soccer game

TF has four youth centers in northern Uganda in of HIV prevention, care and treatment. The centres often SAmuru (Nwoya/Lamwo), Gulu, Kitgum and Adjumani conduct “community camping”, staying overnight in districts. Safe havens for young people, the youth centres villages, which allows much time for talk, including “Boy adhere to STF core values and beliefs. Talk” and “Girl Talk” sessions.

Gulu and Kitgum Youth Centres (GYC and KYC) provide In 2010 the four centres reached an estimated 80,000 clinical services; Amuru and Adjumani Youth Centres are young people on outreaches to the community. GYC mini centres with just three staff each. They focus on alone made 41,477 contacts (19,128 male; 22,348 female) talk and referral. The centers employ a total of 37 staff, on trips to the community. In the community, the youth including a clinical officer in Gulu, and nurses and lab centers work with STF- trained peer educators, who technicians in Gulu and Kitgum. They are overseen by mobilise fellow young people to seek the youth centre STF’s Director for Northern Uganda and STF head office, services. which supports them in financial management and monitoring and Thus, in total -- combining visitors to evaluation centres and people reached in the community -- the youth centres had The centres hold dialogues in 122,000 contacts with young people and schools and communities and reach adults. adolescents (in and out of school) and adults. The youth centres have In 2010 the youth centers operated in writers groups, young positive clubs the following sub counties: in Kitgum - and savings groups for young mothers. Lokung, Mucwini, Kitgum Town Council They engage young people in sports, and Orom; in Amuru - Purongo, Anaka games, educative videos and drama. and Koch Goma; in Adjumani, Adjumani Town Council, Ciforo, Dzaipi, Adropi, KYC receives 40-60 young clients a Pakele and Ofua; and in Gulu - Gulu day, GYC 50-70, Amuru 40-50 and Municipality, Palaro, Bungatira, Lalogi, Adjumani 30-40. Thus in 2010 the static Patiko, Bobi, Amuru-Atiak and Nwoya- sites received about 42,524 visits from Alero young people: many are repeat or regular visitors. The youth centres are open six days a week. In 2010 the centers also conducted hundreds of outreaches to the In 2010, the youth centers gave out community to provide SRH services, 22,350 condoms up from about 8500 in such as HCT, family planning, STI 2009. There are frequent stock outs of treatment, and PEP after sexual A young mother holds her baby and a condoms in many districts. However, assault; to sensitise adults on gender- copy of Straight Talk. She met GYC staff on a in 2010 GYC was able to obtain a based violence; and to raise knowledge community outreach. considerable quantity from the UPDF. Youth Centres STF 2010 Annual Report 35 Youth centre achievements Kitgum Amuru Gulu Adjumani Total Clinical services Number of HCT tests conducted (or number of referrals) 5894 (351 referrals) 5056 (182 referrals) 10,950

Individuals diagnosed and treated for STI 4062 --0 793 0 4855

Individuals treated for ailments 3879 1793 0 5672

Individuals who received contraception 751 376 0 1127

Individuals who were referred for and received PEP 14 -5?? 12 0 31

Non-clinical services -

Individuals counselled 8672 3020 3406 254 15,352

Individuals (out-of-school) reached with community dialogues 9715 1440 7750 1784 20,689

Individuals reached through school visits 1080 6284 4299 6813 18,476

Individuals reached through group talks 3750 3436 8704 8865 24,755

Individuals reached with video, sports, games 2028 31453 3500 1497 38,478

Individuals who took part in a Boy or Girl Talk 1304 2157 2839 2750 9,050

Young mothers who regularly attended youth centre meetings 738 1569 1165 125 3,597

Young positives who regularly attended youth centre meetings 18 5 34 736 35 41 128

Individuals with disabilities reached 948 5 268 105 1326

Other outputs

Radio shows 6 6

BCC materials (e.g., ST/YT) given out 68,553 118,861 13,057 200,471

A total of 10,829 HIV tests were conducted by GYC (5056 people were treated for STIs and over 1000 young tests) and KYC (4062 tests). This was less than half females received family planning at KYC and GYC. Amuru the number conducted in 2009, when GYC executed Youth Centre began referring boys for safe male medical 13,906 and KYC 9804. This decline was caused by circumcision. delayed disbursement of funds and a shortage of test kits. The centre managers estimate that about 30% are In 2010 Civil Society Fund provided core funding of repeat tests. A further 351 young people were known UGX309,266,840 for the youth centres. NUMAT, Save to have tested at Anaka hospital following referral by the Children and UNFPA/PACE provided a further UGX Amuru Youth Centre referred. An estimated 182 tested 446,714,705. at Adjumani Hospital after referral by Adjumani Youth Centre.

Worryingly, HIV prevalence may be rising, at least among females in Gulu. Out of the 2530 tests conducted on females in 2010 in Gulu, 6.1% were reactive up from 5.1% in 2009. The GYC manager believes this may be caused by girls going to Sudan for stints of sex work and then returning to Gulu. Of the 2526 tests conducted on males by GYC in 2010, 3.8% were reactive compared to 2.8% in 2009. At KYC, there was little change: 2.67% of the females and 1.8% of the males tested HIV positive in 2010, compared to 2.8% and 1.6 % in 2009.

GYC supported 12 young people to access PEP; KYC supported 14 and Amuru five. Disappointingly, this was fewer than the 48 the youth centres assisted in 2009. Almost 5000 young HIV counselling and testing on an outreach.

36 STF 2010 Annual Report AmuruYouth Youth Centres Centre: sex-positive, talk-rich and safe

Wilfred Oyenga of Amuru Youth Centre (main photo) counsels a girl at school. Left: youth gather on the centre’s steps. Centre: Stephen Okello, who manages the centre, at a training.

t Amuru Youth Centre (AYC) in Nwoya, northern explains. It also does HIV outreaches, camping in AUganda, youth come with a challenge and leave communities for three days, counselling and referring to with a smile. The counselors address each case. AYC is a Anaka hospital. beehive of activity and a trusted “friend” of youth, who often prefer talking to AYC counselors than their often “There is a lot of sexual violence because of the war,” harsh parents. Charles says. “Each month we refer about 30 cases for HIV testing. We also work with the police to arrest culprits.” Bobby, 17, was having sex with a woman, 38, who Since AYC opened in August 2009, ten rapists have been promised to pay his tuition. They had been using arrested and five prosecuted. condoms, but then one burst. “I feared HIV. I came to get counselling.” He had heard about AYC on the radio. “I AYC uses “talk” to reinforce STF newspapers and radio had heard them advising youth to know their HIV status shows. Its two counselors, one peer educator and two so that they can get treatment if positive or prevent HIV volunteers group youth into boy and girl talk clubs. Young if negative,” says Bobby. He tested HIV negative and was mothers have a “Bolicup” savings and loan group. Bolicup supported to get post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to means “just drop it” in Lwo. minimise chances of infection. He is now abstaining and a frequent AYC visitor. “I act in the drama club and learn Jackie, 17, left school in P6 due to pregnancy; later her life skills with other youth. There is no time for me get boy friend abandoned her. “I felt betrayed and wanted to involved in sex.” abort. But a friend told me about AYC. It received me with both arms. I tested HIV negative. I have enrolled in the When Jane lost her parents, her uncle took her in. “He drama group and Bolicup.” Arach saves UGX5000 a week demanded for sex and when I refused, he beat me and from selling maize. threatened to stop paying my fees. He raped me and told me never to tell anybody.” But she told a friend, who told Jennifer, 17, is the family bread winner. Her parents are her about AYC. AYC called her uncle. When he declined to sick. “These responsibilities are a burden and at times come in, the police arrested him. AYC’s Charles Ochanga I feel like suicide,” she says. “I heard about AYC on the says they helped her to re-locate to other relatives and radio and when I went there, they counselled me.” AYC are supporting her at school. She tested HIV negative. helped her to get ARVs for her parents at Lacor hospital and taught her how to care for them.

Through Anaka Hospital, AYC provides HIV testing once a month. “AYC has no lab. We only counsel,” Charles By Fred Womakuyu Youth Centres STF 2010 Annual Report 37

Staring at the camera with steady dignity, these brothers in Minakulu, northern Uganda, have had a lot to bear. Aged 14, the boy on the left in blue has a learning disability. The boy in the wheelchair, aged 15, suffered polio during the war. The LRA rebels killed their parents. “They were butchered with pangas,” says Gulu Youth Centre’s Jackie Akong, who visits the boys, who now live with an uncle who feeds them. They only sporadically attend school.

Jackie is trying to organise a new wheelchair for the older brother and help them both re- engage in school. They are in P3 and P4, third and fourth grade, respectively.

SpECIAL NEEDs & BATWA 38 STF 2010 Annual Report SPECIAL NEEDS and the HIGHLY VULNERABLE BATWA n 2010 STF’s special needs programme matured and Igathered expertise. Started in 2009 with funding from the Dutch NGO Cordaid, it reached not only young people with disabilities (PWDs) but also the Batwa. Formerly known as “pygmies”, the Batwa were once forest people but now live on the margins of society in south west Uganda. This incongruous pairing works well; the STF team visits both special needs schools and Batwa communities three times a year on visits to Kisoro.

Quinta Apiyo, a teacher with a degree in special needs education, runs the programme. A motherly figure, in 2010 she reached an estimated 560 people -- parents, teachers, children and teenagers -- around the issue of special needs as well as 240 Batwa. Her two assistants in the north reached another 1216. Thus in total in 2010 this programme for the extremely vulnerable reached about 1940 people.

People with disabilities Although there is no data on HIV prevalence among PWDs, In Bobi, a community just south of Gulu town, Jackie Akong sits with a girl they are known to be often sexually exploited, particularly child, who suffers from epilepsy and is also deaf and mute. “We were conducting the females. UNFPA’s guidance note on SRH for PWDs HCT and I decided to walk around and look for young people with disabilities. states that “considered in society as less eligible marriage That’s when I found her.” partners, females with disabilities are more likely to live in a series of unstable relationships”. PWDs are also likely to be poorer and less literate than the general population. grandmother brought her to KYC after hearing about it They may not be able to reach school or health units on the STF youth radio show, Lok Atyer Kamaleng. In the and often suffer discrimination if they do. Females north, Quinta reached 20 parents of PWDs in Gulu and with disabilities are made to feel grateful that anyone 45 in Kitgum through community dialogues. “They want might desire or love them and are particularly likely to walking aids for the lame and treatment for epilepsy for experience harassment, rape, and abusive relationships. their children,” she says. “They are also concerned about sexual abuse of their girls. Parents have to go away Uganda’s National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan 2007-12 from home looking for food, and boys take advantage notes that “while disability increases vulnerability to of the girls. They want family planning for the girls so HIV infection, HIV infection can also cause various kinds that even if they are abused, they will not get pregnant. of disability”. Jacki Akong from Gulu Youth Centre and Also, the mentally handicapped cannot read STF papers, Beatrice Munduru from Kitgum Youth Centre support and parents want to know what STF can do for them.” In Quinta to reach PWDs in the north. Jackie reached an a moment of drama, which drove home the difficulties estimated 268 people, of whom 38 were pupils who that families face, one of the adolescents collapsed in an were sight impaired and another 38 who were hearing epileptic fit at the community dialogue in Kitgum. impaired. Of these young people, 214 were out of school. Additionally, Quinta met with special needs teachers In Kitgum, Beatrice Munduru -- eight in Gulu and 14 in Kitgum. “We conducted health dialogues in special discussed sexual health and how to needs schools and with out-of-school support HIV positive learners with youth with disabilities. She reached disabilities,” says Quinta. In northern 237 PWDs every quarter in schools in Uganda, STF worked in Gulu Primary Lamwo, Mucwini, Ngomoromo and Annex for the Blind, Laroo Adra Unit for Kitgum town and an additional 689 the Deaf, Glory Special Needs PS, Kitgum out-of-school youth over the year. Girls Annex for the Blind and Kitgum PS. She gave particular support to three “The blind schools want more copies of young PWDs. She helped a boy, 19, our Braille newspapers,” says Quinta. In who had suffered polio, to raise school all STF worked in 11 special needs schools fees by planting cabbages. Thomas, in 2010. Besides those in the north, 7, is being taught sign language. And around Kampala, these were Wakiso a girl, 20, with mental challenges was SS for the Deaf, Namirembe Vocational helped to take her drugs for pelvic School for the Deaf, and Immanuel Bible inflammatory disease after sexual Quinta talks to children in a School, Mulago and Ntinda PS for the abuse by neighbouring boys. Her special needs school in Kampala. Deaf. At Mulago PS for the Deaf, Quinta Special needs STF 2010 Annual Report 39 (third grade). Lack of food is a major obstacle to schooling even with universal primary and secondary education. One young Mutwa told STF, “We leave home in the morning with our parents. As we head for school, they go to people’s homes to beg for food or ask for a job. When we come home for lunch, there is nothing to eat because our mother didn’t succeed in finding any money or food or because they found a party and didn’t care about coming back. How can we go back to school with all that hunger?” The Batwa marry early and are often discriminated against by the majority Bafumbira who are reluctant to associate with them.

Quinta and local health workers conducted SRH dialogues in four Batwa communities, addressing such standard fare as HIV/STDs and family planning. Few Batwa knew their HIV status and most of the women had not heard of PMTCT: 240 Batwa attended. These dialogues needed careful handling. The Batwa reacted negatively to open talk about sex and had had little previous exposure to talk Quinta tackling the emotional and physical changes of adolescence with a group of hearing impaired children. about HIV. One Mutwa said, “If any of us is positive, we shall kill them.” They argue that all Batwa live according to their tradition of faithfulness in marriage. Health talked about the disadvantages of early sex. “Some of workers offered HCT, and 41 Batwa tested, of whom one the children said they are forced to have sex by people female, 24, tested positive. “The counselors were very who give them gifts which they cannot refuse because conscious when giving her the results,” recalls Quinta. they are desperate. But others say that there is peer-to- “But it seemed she already knew her status. She had lived peer sex. Their peers influence them to have boyfriends away and returned to the community. The counselors and girlfriends.” In the southwest, STF worked in Kisoro helped her to go to the Health Centre IV.” Demonstration School and held a well-attended workshop on special needs for 40 district leaders. In 2010 STF met There was a furore when condom use was quarterly with the 60 peer educators demonstrated, with Batwa showing from the NGO Deaf Link that it had disgust. A Batwa leader said, “How can trained in 2009. Each of these young I use a condom when I see beautiful hearing-impaired people reach girls who dress smartly and put on dozens of other deaf youth with cosmetics which smell nice. They are very conversations on ASRH, including tempting. Condoms make me sick!’’ One personal hygiene, sanitation, abortion, woman shouted, “If I find condoms in management of sexual feelings, HIV/ my husband’s pocket, I will cut him into STDs and skills for self reliance. pieces. Condom use is for prostitutes, and pocketing it means he is having sex with Quinta trained all the staff of GYC them. So before he infects me, he will be (20) and KYC (15) in provision of SRH the first to die”. services to young PWDs. Both youth centres provided adolescents with “They were spitting saliva, and we felt we special needs with HCT, contraception, were offending them, so we stopped,” treatment for minor ailments and says Quinta. Later she spoke with young opportunistic infections. They also Batwa, who explained that condom use referred PWDs for specialised services was strange to them and that it was sinful such as palliative care. Life is tough for to expose sex organs or talk about sex in young PWDs in Uganda. “Generally, public. “Their culture is very strong,” says their parents do not care about them Quinta. “I asked them if they would like us but see them as wasted children who to train them as peer educators, and they will not help them in future,” observes said yes.” Quinta matter-of-factly.

Working with the Batwa STF supported the youth to form a Straight Talk club. With 20 members, they are In 2010 STF worked with Batwa in growing crops on an acre rented by STF Kisoro. Former hunter gatherers who for UGX200,000 a year. The youth hope do not own land, they are almost Batwa women examine a condom. They for three harvests a year. In 2011 STF will entirely illiterate and destitute. No find condoms obscene and ridiculous. a sensitively feel its way forward with the Mutwa that STF met in the course of Top: Mutwa woman with her children. Batwa. its work in 2010 had gone beyond P3

40 STF 2010 Annual Report National interns and volunteers

n 2010, STF hosted 14 young Ugandans as interns and Saul Walugembe, 22, a development student at Kyambogo Ivolunteers, six in Kampala,two in Kitgum and six in Gulu. University, talks with pupils of Pallisa Primary School. Saul had attended The interns in Gulu came from three different universities many sexual health and peer education trainings before interning at STF. and Nsamizi, a respected social work institute. A total orphan, he supports himself and pays his own university fees.

Kampala volunteer Doreen Ninsiima, 23, was a Straight Talk club member at Immaculate Heart Girls’ School but Irene is acquiring a diploma in guidance and counseling. was unable to go on to university. In 2010 she joined STF Alex has a Ba in counseling. Jobs are scarce for university first in outreach, then in the research and evaluation leavers in Uganda. STF interns earn UGX 10,000 a day, are department, where she logs data. Irene Musiime, 21, and constantly mentored, and have opportunities to travel Alex Mwine, 30, worked in the print department in 2010, upcountry and attend conferences in Kampala. answering letters.

International colleagues Julie TF is a Ugandan NGO but it has important international links. Julie Wiltshire, Wiltshire was STF’s executive director from July 2009 through S STF’s executive September 2010. An Australian nurse with long-term ties to Uganda and director for most a passion for family planning and safe motherhood, she left at the end of of 2010. September to honour family commitments.

Stuart Campo worked at STF, first as a Princeton fellow and then as Director for Special Projects. Among other projects, he developed a large mobile phone-based health information collaboration with Google and Grameen. He left STF in August 2010 to work in Madagascar with Unicef. Sara Benipoor Sara Benipoor joined STF in September 2009 as a Swedish bilateral expert at a Straight supported by Sida. With a masters from London School of Hygiene and Talk training Tropical Medicine, she provides technical assistance on sexuality and in northern gender. Uganda.

International volunteers also spent time at STF in 2010. Elena Coleman from Mt Holyoke College worked at Gulu Youth Centre with young people living positively; Susanna Julian from Melbourne University gave support Stuart Campo focused on Tree on gender. Talk, projects with pastoralists in There were also volunteers in the Gulu and Amuru youth centres from Karamoja, and Sweden, Germany and the USA. Phil, Hans and Anna from Germany were recovery after young DED volunteers who, among other things, designed question boxes war in northern for youth centre clients. Uganda. Volunteers STF 2010 Annual Report 41 Research and Evaluation

The Research and Evaluation team from L to R: Evelyn Namubiru, Florence Kyokusima, Emily Awour and Isaac Kato.

TF is committed to being evidence-informed. Thus surveyed thought that girls who carried condoms Sin 2010 it conducted intensive research into its were “loose”. This had fallen to 44% in 2010. Also, the programmes, especially “core” activities funded through proportion of young people believing that buying a the Civil Society Fund (CSF). condom is the responsibility of boys alone fell from 53% in 2005 to 35% in 2010. Mass media: listenership, readership and impact In a similar exercise STF’s R&E team assessed STF’s Research by Population Council, conducted in 2005-6 mass media work in Kapchorwa, Kabarole and Arua, and published in 2007, found a positive association in interviewing 850 adolescents. In Kapchorwa, 65-82% of adolescents (10-19) between exposure to STF newspapers young people had ever listened to the Kupsabiny ST youth and radio shows and greater ASRH knowledge. In 2010, radio show, depending on the sub-county. In Kabarole, STF surveyed 900 young people (10-24) to see if exposure the figure was 52-72%. In Arua, it was 60-78%. remained similarly impactful. In 2009 with funds from PEPFAR, STF started The research was conducted in Kamuli, Apac, Soroti broadcasting for adolescents in the Madi language, and Busia: 70% of young people interviewed identified which is spoken in Moyo and Adjumani districts. Follow- Straight Talk and Young Talk as their most important print up interviews with 200 Madi-speaking youth aged 10-24 source of ASRH knowledge: 80.1% of primary pupils had found that 73.3% had ever listened to the show. This was ever read Young Talk, of whom 77.8% had read it in the a considerable increase from the 2009 baseline prior preceding 12 months. Among 15-24 year olds, 88% had to the show’s introduction, where STF found that only ever read Straight Talk, 86% of whom had read it in the 45% of 10-24 year olds had ever listened to any STF radio previous year. In all four districts, STF shows were the show (at that time their options were the English, Lwo or only radio shows that specifically addressed adolescents: Lugbara show). With 136,477 youth aged 10-24 in the two in Kamuli 70% of 10-24 year districts, STF is reaching olds mentioned an STF show over 99,000 young people (English or Lusoga youth show with its Madi show. or Parent Talk) as their most important radio source of ASRH A separate piece of information. In Busia, Soroti research with PEPFAR funds and Apac, the figures were 90%, found that 80% of youth 77.8% and 85.2% respectively. who had attended Kitgum Youth Centre had listened In Kamuli listenership to STF to the STF youth radio show youth radio shows jumped from in Lwo. 13% in 2005 -- when the district had only the English show -- In 2010 STF evaluated its to 70% in 2010, by which year CSF-funded Parent Talk the district had had a Lusoga radio shows, interviewing STF youth show for four years. STF’s Achope listens to adults in a trading centre prior to 515 parents in Apac, Soroti Increased exposure seems, conducting interviews. She spent over two hours with them, answering and Busia. In Apac 76.9% again, to be associated with questions and conveying Parent Talk talking points. For some in the of parents (80% of fathers, more positive attitudes. In 2005, group, this may have been a turning point in their lives. It is not simple, 76.7% of mothers) had for example, 74% of adolescents however, for STF determine what happened after it left. ever listened. In Soroti

42 STF 2010 Annual Report and Busia, the figures were 62.2% (64% of fathers, 61.5% Nebbi, Arua, Koboko, Moyo and Adjumani. It found that of mothers) and 60.5% (62% of fathers, 59.2% of mothers) 84% of schools sampled (52/62) received papers in 2010, respectively. although all complained of delays. About 67% of the schools that received papers collected them from the Knowledge was significantly higher among those who post office, and 29% from the district education office. had listened to the Parent Talk show. Parents who At 60% of schools, head teachers take sole responsibility listened regularly were significantly more likely to talk for collecting the papers; at 21%, deputy heads take that to their children about sexual and reproductive health role. These encouraging figures contrast with less-than- than those who do not listen -- 79% versus 64%. Parents systematic use of the papers within schools, just 38% of who listened were also significantly more likely to agree which have a specific person in charge of STF materials. with the statement that condoms can be effective in Schools mainly gave the papers to individual pupils (92.2%) protecting against HIV transmission if used correctly than or individual teachers (32.3%); 23.5% placed copies in the non-listeners -- 88% versus 72%. Those who tuned in to the library. STF will encourage schools to use papers more Parent Talk show were significantly more likely to agree systematically. Ideally, whole classes and clubs should that a person who looks healthy can be infected with HIV read and discuss the content as a group. than non-listeners -- 90% versus 74%. Parents who listened to the show were also significantly more likely to know Face-to-face than non-listeners that HIV can be passed from a pregnant In March 2010 STF held FGDs with 78 parents to assess the mother, if she has HIV, to her unborn baby -- 81.2% versus “parent dialogues” it had held in late 2009 in Moyo and 69.2%. Adjumani. The most significant change appears to have been heightened parental involvement. One parent said: Overall, 80% of parents disagreed with sex before “When Straight Talk came, we discussed the problems marriage for both male and female children. Less of our youth. I saw that we parents do not play our role positively, only 43% disagreed with the statement that well. We think teachers will do everything. Since then, I go women should tolerate abuse from husbands to keep the to the school to help the teachers help our children and family together (ie., 57% agreed with abuse). make sure that they do not get pregnant.”

STF youth radio shows in Ugandan languages cover about 80-85% of the country linguistically. Local language Committed to counting broadcasting is critical as far less than half of adolescents every person we reach face-to-face comfortably comprehend shows in English: the figure is probably 15-30%. Also, radio is the most important mass media source of information in Uganda. STF is, therefore, interested to know how young people fare in areas with no local language STF radio show. In 2010 its researchers travelled to Nebbi and Koboko. The population in Nebbi speaks Alur, a form of Lwo. In Koboko, the population speaks Kakwa, a Sudanic language not related to any in which STF currently broadcasts. Researchers interviewed 330 young people aged 10-24, finding clear gaps in exposure. In Koboko, only 9.1% of 10-24 year olds Jan - Dec 2010 interviewed had heard a Straight Talk radio show in any RADIO Staff member name:______language. In Nebbi, listening was higher than in Koboko Department/youth centre:______but still lower than in areas with a local language show: Telephone:______32.7% of 10-24 year olds interviewed had heard an STF LOG BOOK youth show in English, Lwo or Lugbara. (The latter two Radio Logbook.indd 1 2010-02-23 14:31 languages seep into Koboko and are understood by some The log book into which the radio journalists document every encounter with multi-lingual young people.) young people. On the cover is Radio Director Annette Kyosimiire with students at St John High School in Isingiro. STF aims to work with groups of 30 or less, but this is Furthermore, of young people in school, only 20.6% often impossible in schools. Head teachers say, “Talk with the whole student body”. in Nebbi and 14.3% in Koboko had ever listened to the There are about 80 students in this picture. English youth Straight Talk show. This lack of exposure to STF radio shows seems to account for knowledge deficits. More than half of young people aged 10-24 surveyed In June-July 2010 STF looked at the two-day teacher (66.1% in Nebbi and 54.8% in Koboko) did not know or sensitisations that it had conducted in 33 schools in Moyo were not sure if a girl can get pregnant the first time she and Adjumani in 2009. It interviewed one teacher per has sex or having sex while standing up. In a district like school. The key finding was that teacher sensitisations Apac, where a STF local language radio show has been “ignite” schools’ commitment to address SRH. A teacher airing for almost a decade, the proportion is considerably in Moyo told the researchers, “We have improved our lower at 41.7%. STF would like to scale up to these creativity in reaching the youth. They have drama, songs, districts: of young people aged 10-24 interviewed, 52.1% in poems and sensitisation during sports. Often we are told Nebbi and 40.4% in Koboko had had sex. to do something for children but we are not told what to do. From the training, we picked out ideas we can use. Mass media: distribution of newspapers Children have benefitted.” In-school adolescents are unlikely to read STF newspapers unless their schools receive them, and STF invests STF also assessed the peer education training it had considerable resources in distribution. In August 2010, conducted in the same schools. The key finding is that therefore, STF investigated distribution in 65 schools in peer educators ease teachers’ burdens. One teacher said, M&E STF 2010 Annual Report 43 “After the training, teachers sat together and agreed on participatory and qualitative approach, STF researchers weekly assemblies where the pupils take lead in talking met with over 120 adolescents, a quarter of whom were to the rest. It helps us because we are few, and the pupils from the most-at-risk groups of young positives, young like it when fellow pupils talk to them.” mothers, youth with special needs and young people in conflict with the law. Said one youth, “GYC has done Youth centres much to talk to the community on HIV and STDs at the Youth centres are a key STF strategy. In 2010 it conducted same time giving free family planning.” three studies into its youth centre work. In 2009 PEPFAR granted STF UGX 697,198,427 to start mini youth centres In 2010 STF implemented a project with UNFPA and PACE in Moyo, Adjumani and Amuru and to boost its already in Amuru and Kitgum to reduce young peoples’ risks existing youth centres in Gulu and Kitgum. Records and vulnerability to SRH problems. About 80% of project show that, by the end of this one year project, STF youth targets were achieved. As follow-up, STF researchers centres had reached more than 100,000 youth with interviewed 120 youth aged 15-24. Young people were services and/or outreach. pleased with the youth centre. A girl, 19, in Anaka said “For me the main place for help is the Straight Talk Using FGDs, centre records and interviews with 300 centre, because no one barks at you or blames you for adolescents, the STF R&E team looked at benefits to your poor conduct. Instead they advise you. I think I will youth, challenges to utilization and youth-friendliness. always go there.” Adolescents described STF youth centres as more youth friendly than other providers: they were noteworthy Capacity building for being free and providing edutainment. One older Throughout 2010 STF R&E team strengthened the capacity adolescent male said, “The youth centre is contributing of STF staff to monitor and document their work. Data a lot. We get better services such as entertainment. Staff on “people reached” and “with what” is now up-loaded gives you time to relax. They tell you someone will attend directly online for CSF. R&E staff conducted three support to you. The nurses are good mannered, loyal and talk with supervision trips to the youth centres in northern Uganda. us with good tone as if they are talking to their brothers. CSF also helped STF to think critically about how to They talk to us for 15 minutes and then start serving validate its data. us.” There is intense unmet need for clinical services in Adjumani and Amuru. The location of youth centres, their The Population Council study of STF is on the Population Council website. limited operating times and low staff-client ratio remain STF’s mid-term evaluation of its 2006-10 Strategic Plan -- It works! challenges. Communication for HIV prevention and social change in adolescents -- is available on Scribd at: http://www.scribd.com/Straighttalkfoundation. STF’s 2009 study of its intervention in Kisoro district is available on Scribd In December 2010, STF also assessed the non-clinical at: http://www.scribd.com/Straighttalkfoundation. services offered by Gulu Youth Centre. Using a

his rainbow shows STF’s conceptual model. STF the next layer, STF addresses parents and teachers, the Taddresses individuals in their environment most important adults in the lives of adolescents. with interventions at all the layers of For them STF produces Parent Talk radio influence around the individual. The shows and Teacher Talk newspapers adolescent is at the core of the and conducts face to face work model, under the first arch of in schools and communities, the rainbow, benefitting like parent dialogues. from STF newspapers, Finally, STF reaches radio shows, youth out to thousands of centres and face- CBOS, health units to-face work. At and faith groups as well as MPs.

44 STF 2010 Annual Report Finance and Administration

The finance and administration team from L to R: Patricia Amito, Christine Abbo, Patrick Lubowa, Robert Tumwijukye, Nicodemus Ogwech and Stella Olaboro . Accounts assistant Dorcas Arayo and cashier Cecilia Kandeke were not present when the photo was taken.

Finance UGX 23,239,194 from GTZ for advocacy on climate change. In 2010, STF had a total income of UGX 7,595,244,288, STF received funding for small, mostly communication, slightly more than its income of UGX 7,465,284,500 in projects, from War Child Holland (research into 2009. However, the shilling weakened against the dollar, adolescent sex workers), Uganda Watch and Media Focus standing at an average of UGX 2215 to the dollar for most (civic education), IPA (financial literacy for youth) and of the year. Almost 60% of STF’s income -- about UGX4.53 Nurep (to produce a book on its work in northern and billion -- came through the Civil Society Fund, which eastern Uganda). manages funds from a basket of European donors as well as PEPFAR. CSF itself is funded by USAID, and its financial The Google SMS health tips texting project continued arm administered by Deloitte. with funding of UGX63, 719,100. STF began a five year collaboration with Malaria Consortium worth UGX The CSF grant funded most of STF’s “core” work -- 12 108,970,000 in its first year, 2010. radio shows for youth, two for parents, Straight Talk and Young Talk newspapers to schools and communities, Gulu Numat, Save the Children and UNFPA/PACE gave funding and Kitgum Youth Centres and the mini-youth centers. It that totalled UGX 446,714,705 for youth centre activities also supported a considerable portion of STF overheads in the north and Karamoja. It was the last year of and some research and evaluation. With funding of UGX collaboration with PACE and Path to produce Parent Talk 175,125,500, Unicef supported three Straight Talk radio radio shows and newspapers for scouts and guides in shows for youth -- in Lepthur, Nga’karimojong and Pokot Uganda and Kenya respectively. -- and the Nga’karimojong Parent Talk show as well as face-to-face activities in Karamoja. Cordaid, the Dutch With respect to expenditure, as in previous years, the NGO, supported the Lufumbira youth radio show and biggest share of the spend for activities went to radio profoundly impactful outreach with adolescents with (22%), followed by print (14%), followed by 11.5% on face- special needs. to-face activities, including special needs. The bulk (64%) of the UGX738, 099,874 spent on face-to-face activities STF received slightly less funding from USAID went to support the youth centers. compared to 2009: UGX1, 036,449,360, lower than UGX 1,057,301,729 in the previous year. Within this was a sum STF’s research and evaluation budget in 2010 was of UGX333, 782,129 from the UNITY project. This was modest at just UGX93,619,302. Staff costs consumed deeply appreciated by STF as it was used for its work about 22% of the total budget; STF’s work is very human- with teachers (Teacher Talk and teacher fairs) as well as resource intensive. Capacity building expenditure was funding for the Parent Talk radio shows in Ateso, Lwo a meager UGX18,111,285 in 2010. Administration and the and Lumasaba languages. The other USAID funds went to acquisition of capital equipments (mostly the purchase of produce behaviour change and information materials for a pickup for Tree Talk) constituted about 15.6%. In 2010, the HIPS, AFFORD and SPRING projects. STF completed a successful audit of its 2009 finances and management. It continued to engage in improved Separate to this was the USAID funding for the WILD financial and procurement procedures, which saw the project which supported Tree Talk. The WILD funding, to introduction of Navision in the Gulu and Kitgum youth the tune of UGX303, 386,275, combined with a grant from centres for faster accounting reporting. Danida worth UGX517, 135,035, to give the Tree Talk effort a total of UGX820, 421,310. This gave Tree Talk the honour Administration but also responsibility-laden position of being one of the STF presently has a staff of 125, including 74 in Kampala, best-funded tree projects in Uganda. It received a further 14 in Gulu, 18 in Kitgum, three at each mini youth centre, Fin/Admin STF 2010 Annual Report 45 four in Karamoja, and 11 with Tree Talk. All human data entry, allowing for faster and more efficient data resource and administration functions are centralized capture and analysis. in Kampala. There were altogether 29 departures and 12 recruitments in 2010. The Moyo youth centre was closed, The staff had continuous learning and sharing and GYC underwent a restructuring that reduced staff programmes where leaders in fields such as STDs, sex from 24 to 14. STF continued to give its staff medical and sexuality, family planning, and gender-sensitive insurance and workman’s compensation. programming were invited to discuss with the staff. There were also specific staff trainings on topics such as In 2009, STF decided to redo its ICT system at the head working with young positives; young people and how office and, subsequent to this, improve the use of they handle sex and sexuality; management; writing and programmes to capture data in the field. This required communication skills; and gender violence and its relation STF to rewire its Kampala building for telephone and to HIV infection. These capacity building exercises were electricity. The system is much improved and has allowed funded by donors. However, many partners and helpful for introduction of Navision in the Gulu and Kitgum individuals volunteered their time for no charge; for this, centres for faster accounting reporting. The staff, both at STF is very grateful. the centres and head office, have been trained on online In 2011 STF will have more trainings with emphasis on areas that STF wants to grow its work in -- such as Expenditure by activity or working with young people with special needs and young positives. STF also hopes to have more regular learning department of funds received and sharing programmes as these allow staff to update by STF in 2010 themselves. Knowledge management is a daily challenge.

Particulars Amount

Print 1,026,879,645 Pie chart of STF Expenditure 2010

Radio 1,656,879,645

Outreach department 242,645,665

GYC 258,057,868

KYC 220,163,341

Mini Youth Centers 120,366,652

Natural Resources 495,910,574

Disability Activities 17,233,000

Research and evaluation 93,619,302

Partnerships 437,450,835

Personnel 1,574,508,011

capacity Building 18,111,285

Capital equipment 181,854,726

Administration 985,195,181

Loan repayment 146,540,152

Total 7,475,415,882

Straight Talk Foundation staff in Kampala at the end of 2010. At far left is board chair Aggrey Kibenge, under-secretary in the Ministry of Education and Sports. Next to him is board member headmistress Olivia Muhumuza.

46 STF 2010 Annual Report STF Annual report finance table YEAR 2007 2008 2009 2010 KEY DONORS UGX UGX UGX CIVIL SOCIETY FUND 867,500,000 4,094,761,318 4,143,668,915 4,330,288,840 CSF-PEPFAR - - 402,234,214 200,129,607 UNICEF - KARAMOJA 259,288,093 522,068,345 616,558,934 175,125,200 CORDAID 76,515,000 82,950,000 181,660,000 137,500,000 DCI 84,315,000 - - - DFIDD 582,914,388 - - - SIDA 594,208,000 391,857,157 166,320,000 Sub Total 2,464,740,481 5,091,636,820 5,510,442,063 4,843,043,647 USAID - - - - UPHOLD 185,000,000 81,697,875 - - CORE 62,010,450 - - - UNITY 93,831,050 173,758,565 189,938,869 333,782,129 HIPS - 154,125,000 241,164,975 57,967,800 SPRING - 163,288,354 192,290,495 287,968,144 AFFORD 216,245,490 - 102,564,403 - WILD - 436,574,400 480,090,500 303,286,275 NUMAT - 40,652,700 19,339,000 53,445,012 YEAH 206,297,165 149,653,105 - Sub Total 763,384,155 1,199,749,999 1,225,388,242 1,036,449,360 OTHERS MVULE -TRUST 210,234,000 29,000,000 5,804,385 30,300,000 SAVE THE CHILDREN – GYC - 49,611,811 105,926,494 242,472,013 SCIUG-Karamoja - - 44,800,000 GRAMEEN/GOOGLE - - 29,014,200 63,719,100 DANIDA – FARM TALK 95,296,880 100,827,038 - 110,412,750 TREE TALK DANIDA - - - 517,135,035 UNFPA /FAO 69,400,000 17,350,000 45,636,808 105,997,680 WORLD LEARNING – KYC - 53,156,300 32,418,970 23,591,023 MAIA – PEP/SGBV - - 41,500,000 - PSI (PACE) 168,000,000 462,547,778 453,810,,515 201,549,565 SFS-PATH 142,856,050 - - 66,416,082 ENGENDER HEALTH 35,741,991 - - - ARC 17,718,750 - - - HCP in 2007/FHI in 2009 63,256,922 - - - PARTNERSHIPS - - - 297,167,783 MLK - SCHOLARSHIPS 5,083,000 - - - WFP-Tree Talk 74,975,000 86,672,667 144,072,562 12,190,250 DANIDA – MDG 3 - 580,000,000 - - DFID – MONEY WORLD 782,686,455 - - - HEWLETT/TIDES – S’SHIPS/TREE 65,949,420 - - - BOTTLE TOP - SCHOLARSHIPS 16,483,688 - - - Sub Total 1,747,682,156 1,460,863,469 858,183,934 1,715,751,281 Total Funds Received 4,975,806,792 7,670,552,413 7,594,014,239 7,595,244,288

DANIDA

Department for International Development Fin/Admin STF 2010 Annual Report 47 STF committed to comprehensive sex education

Comprehensive sex education (CSE) is the provision of accurate, factual and developmentally appropriate information on a broad set of topics related to sexuality, including relationships, abstinence, contraception and disease prevention. It helps young people develop skills. It understands sexuality as a positive part of life and teaches behaviour that is respectful. CSE begins with parents as the primary sexuality educators of their children. For parents, STF provides Parent Talk shows in nine languages and parent dialogues.

STF produces CSE materials for young people of all ages and social situations. Young Talk is for children in upper primary school -- aged 10-14 in theory but often as old as 17. For young people (15-24) who are not in school or not comfortable with English, STF produces radio shows in 16 Ugandan languages.

For adolescents fortunate enough to complete primary school and go on to secondary school, STF produces Straight Talk: they can also listen to the English language youth show as well as the local language shows. For older adolescents no longer in school and possibly not able to read English, STF produces Straight Talk in several local languages.

The school environment is improved for young people by Teacher Talk, which helps teachers be more HIV- competent, more at ease in addressing ASRH, more self- aware, and more committed to retaining adolescents in school and helpig them avoiding early sex and marriage. STF also holds teacher trainings and fairs.

48 STF 2010 Annual Report In 2010 STF sadly said farewell to Charlotte Kanstrup when she returned to Copenhagen. Seen above with clients at Gulu Youth Centre, Charlotte was Counsellor of Development at Danida in Kampala from 2005 to 2010. She was an ardent supporter of STF’s model, and STF is immensely grateful for the guidance she provided. abbreviations Straight Talk radio shows capture deeply private moments. STF Board of Directors AMYC Amuru Youth center Interviews are conducted in huts, AJYC Ajumani Youth Center classsrooms, clinics and small ARVs Anti Retrovirals living rooms and under trees. BCC Behaviour Change Communication They are assembled into shows CCTs Centre Coordinating Tutors in STF’s Kampala studio. CSF Civil Society Fund DATIC District Agricultural Training and Information Center DEOs District Education Officers Straight Talk Foundation (STF) is a Ugandan NGO, DHOs District Health Officers set up in 1997. It grew out of a teen newspaper, Chair: Aggrey Charles Odere, Rev Gideon GYC Gulu Youth Center Straight Talk, started in 1993. Today it practises Kibenge, Under Advocate, Lex Uganda Byamugisha, FGD Focus Group Discussion Communication for Social change. Secretary, MoES Christian Aid HCT HIV Counseling and Testing IPPF International Planned Parenthood Federation Its main focus is preventing HIV in KYC Kitgum Youth Center ADOLescents. MoES Ministry of Education and Sports MOU Memorandum of Understanding STF also supports Parents and TEachers NUREP Northern Uganda Rehabilitation Program to have safer and healthier sexual lives and to help PACE Programs for Accessible Health , Communication and Education PIASCY Presidential Initiative on AIDS Strategy for Communication to Youth adolescent have safer transitions to adulthood. STF PPET Post-primary education and training adheres to a Know your epidemic- know Mondo Kyateka, Anne Akia Feidler, Catharine Watson, PS Primary School your response approach and follows a Sexual Assistant Chief of Party, USAID President, STF PWDs Persons With Disabilities Commissioner for Communications health promotion model. Youth, MoGLSD Support for Health, R&E Research and Evaluation Zambia SGBV Sexual and Gender Based Violence SRH Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health In 2010 STF worked in 17 languages. STF STI Sexually Transmitted Infection communicates through and SS Secondary School Radio, print face- STF Straight Talk Foundation to-face. STF is concerned for the well-being of all UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization adolescents and their families. However, it is particularly UNFPA United Nations Fund for Population Activities concerned about the most-at-risk, especially Girls, Oliva Muhumuza, Headteacher, Railway UNICEF United Nations Fund for Children Children’s PS UNITY Ugandan Initiative for TDMS and PIASCY Orphans, adolescents living with HIV or with WILD Wildlife Landscapes and Development for Communication special needs, and adolescents in complex Dr Frank Kaharuza, Justina Kihika, Susan Ajok, Olivia represented the board at Tree Talk’s Director, Research, Freelance Executive Director, one millionth tree event in August 2010. She 4RS Runyankore/Rukiga/Runyoro/Rutooro environments such as fishing communities. CDC/UVRI Consultant STF is seen here with a Muvle seedling. STF sends its materials to 17,000 schools, 1870 health centres, 1040 churches and mosques, 1530 CBOs and 500 NGOs. STF creates “conversations” to address the drivers of HIV epidemic and bring about social change.

In 2010 Straight Talk Foundation (STF) produced over Paulo Freire is the founder of 12.6 million newspapers and 4836 half-hour radio communication for social change. The shows for adolescents and adults. famous Brazilian educationalist wrote It trained 614 peer educators and 217 teachers and Pedagogy of the Oppressed in 1970. provided clinical sexual and reproductive health services to about 10,000 youth. Even if many of the young people It further reached 126,345 young people, parents and who work for STF have not read this teachers directly through its face-to-face work. classic, Freire’s ideas permeate the Through its radio shows and newspapers it reached NGO. Freire argued passionately about ten million youth and adults every month. for dialogue and education based STF’s materials are the main and often only source on problemsolving. He called for of a rming, values-based and scientically-accurate educators to be humble and truly knowledge on HIV, sexuality and growing up in most committed to liberation. Ugandan communities.

Plot 4 Acacia Avenue, Kololo, PO Box 22366 Kampala, Uganda Tel: (256 31) 262030, 262031 Fax: (256 41) 534858, Email: [email protected] Website: www.straighttalkfoundation.org http://www.scribd.com/Straighttalkfoundation

Design: M. Kalanzi (MeBK) and G. Turibamwe