Straight Talk Foundation Annual Report, 2006

Straight Talk Foundation

Plot 4 Acacia Avenue, Kololo, P.O. Box 22366 Kampala, Uganda, Tel: (256 31) 262030, 262031, Mobile: (256 71) 486258, 486259, Fax: (256 41) 534858 Email: [email protected], [email protected], website: www.straight-talk.or.ug

Design: Micheal eB. Kalanzi

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

Boys perform role play in their Straight Talk club. The real life drama is that boys have a long period of sexual acitivity between first sex at about 18 and marriage four to ten years later. Delaying sexual debut, reducing partner turn over, and consistent and correct condom use are critical behaviours for boys.

•

STRAIGHT TALK FOUNDATION...

STRAIGHT TALK FOUNDATION...

is a Ugandan NGO, formed in 1997.




is evidenced-based.

It grew out of the teen newspaper,

It addresses the HIV epidemic in

Straight Talk which started in 1993.

all its heterogeneity.

STF is based in Kampala but has




is committed to new and healthier gender relations.

youth centres in Gulu and Kitgum.

The current construction of STF has a staff of about 80,

masculinity and feminity prevents

including 18 journalists, five

defeat of poverty, HIV and other

trainers, 23 counsellors, four

tragedies.

researchers and innumerable youth workers.




promotes a scientific understanding of HIV and other social problems. It aspires to accuracy and clarity

STRAIGHT TALK FOUNDATION...

in its science reporting.


recognises the social role of sex. HIV prevention efforts fail

produced over 11 million

when sexuality is not at their

newspapers, broadcast over 3000

centre.

radio shows and worked with over 3000 teachers in 2006. STF is committed to keeping adolescents safe.

GOOD BYE TO ANNE... Anne Akia Fiedler joined Straight Talk, the newspaper, as its editor in 1994. She worked tirelessly to turn the paper into an NGO and was the cofounder of Straight Talk

Board of DIRECTORS

Foundation in 1997. For the next nine years she served as programme director with integrity and distinction. STF was heartbroken but proud when Anne left in late 2006 to become chief of party of the USAID project, AIDS Capacity Enhancement. In 2007 she received a Masters in Public Health/ International Track with Fathers can do more: only 20% of adolescent boys say that their fathers are their most important source of information on body changes, growing up and staying safe. (Population Council, 2007)

Dr Peter Cowley, Chief of Party, Business PART Project Rev G Byamugisha , Church/FBO Partnership Resource Person Dr Frank Kaharuza, Director, Research, CDC/UVRI Aggrey Kibenge Principal Assistant Secretary, Minstry of Education Charles Odere, Advocate, Lex Uganda Hon E Tumwesigye Member of Parliament, HIV/STD specialist

honours from the University

Anne Akia Fiedler, Chief of Party, ACE

of Washington.

Cathy Watson, Director, STF, Ex-oficio

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

Abbreviations ARVs

Antiretrovirals

ASRH

Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health

BCC

Behaviour Change Communication

CBO

Community Based Organization

CDC

Centers for Disease Control

CCT

Centre Coordinating Tutor

DDHS

District Director of Health Services

DEO

District Education Office

DIS

District Inspector of Schools

FAWE

Forum for African Women Educationalists

FPAU

Family Planning Association of Uganda

GYC

Gulu Youth Center

IDP

Internally Displaced People

LRA

Lords Resistance Army

PIASCY

President’s Initiative on AIDS Strategy for Communication to Youth

PMTCT

Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission

PTC

Primary Teachers College

4Rs

Runyankole/Rukiga/Rutoro/Runyoro

STDs

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

STF

Straight Talk Foundation

TASO

The AIDS Support Organization

UHSBS

Uganda HIV/AIDS Sero-Behavioural Survey

VCT

Voluntary Counselling and Testing

WFP

World Food Programme

Mothers at a health fair in Kiboga: 48% of unmarried girls say that their mothers are their most important source of information on body changes, ASRH and relationships. (Population Council, 2007)

Alone and vulnerable: girls who are orphans are 1.5 times more likely to start sex before the age of 15 than non-orphan girls. Only slightly more than half of all 10 to 14 year old girls live with both parents: 27% of girls do not live with their mothers.

STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT I1I

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

Physical distribution of newspapers: STF’s Saulo Mukuba (left) hands out papers before a health fair in Kanungu.

Table of Contents Message from the director........................3 NEWSPAPERS AND PRINT...........................4 Print at a glance Livelihood newspapers and school planting RADIO.................................................11 Radio topics in 2006 Radio at a glance Youth participation in Karamoja OUTREACH AND TRAINING.........................19 Primary school teachers Health fairs: ebimeeza Work in secondary schools Straight Talk clubs Community dialogues Networking STF bursaries

HIV prevalence in young Ugandans By age

Female

Male

Total

15-17

1.9

0.3

1.1

18-19

3.9

0.2

2.1

20-22

5.5

2.3

4.3

23-24

7.7

2.5

5.7

GULU YOUTH CENTRE..............................26 MONITORING AND EVALUATION...................28 Internal evaluations External: Population Council PARTNERSHIPS.....................................30 Mvule Trust Newspapers in Education Reaching parents in Busoga FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION..................31

Because girls marry on average four years earlier than boys, most adolescent girls who have sex are married. In contrast, most sex in adolescent boys is premarital. Female

Male

Age

Ever had sex

Married

Ever had sex

Married

15

16.5

2

23.3

0.3

16

30.1

8.4

32.2

0.6

17

45.3

18.1

41.1

2.2

18

65.5

42.3

54.7

6.1

19

80.5

56.9

65

6.6

Data from UHSBS, 2004-5, National Survey of Adolescents, 2004

I2I STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

Message from the

A

Director

nnual reports are about accountability and keeping track. What did we do in 2006?

2006 began with STF on the National HIV Prevention Task Force, helping to take apart the drivers of the epidemic. Despite the good news of ARVs, there is much to worry about: multiple partnerships are up among men, early sex is up among boys, and 50% of adults (15-49) have genital herpes which quadruples the risk of acquiring HIV. In addition, Uganda’s population growth, the third highest in the world, is playing havoc with HIV. In 2002 there were 70,000 new infections: in 2006 there were 135,000 - largely due to population increase.

now peaks in the years 30-39 for women and 35-44 for men: 66% of new infections now occur to married

The taskforce concluded that we are not likely to get

people. As this emerged as a hot issue in national

back to the days of declining HIV prevalence: even

debates, STF was pleased to be already working with

with more and better crafted efforts in prevention, HIV

teachers through sensitisation workshops and

prevalence will remain constant at 6-7% nationwide.

broadcasting Parent Talk in seven languages. We

This sobering reality galvanised us to assemble a new

cannot help adolescents without helping parents too.

communication strategy based on a deeper understanding of the epidemic as well as prevention

2006 was an extraordinarily productive year. For this,

efforts that have been shown to “work”. We re-

we extend a heartfelt thanks to our friends in

committed ourselves to addressing the social factors

government, civil society, teaching, health, media and

causing the epidemic, especially gender, and to letting

the donor community. Thanks for enabling us to be an

the audience drive the “conversation”.

unfettered voice for sexual health and adolescents. We believe that if STF did not exist, we would have to be

In print, we started our “journalist for a day”

invented. Adolescents need us: 25% of new infections

programme. Now most Straight Talks and Young Talks

are occurring in the under-25s, and events in

are co-edited by adolescents. In radio, we handed

adolescence largely determine whether young people

over the microphone increasingly to the listener, even

stay safe when they become adults.

training adolescents to be radio journalists in remote Karamoja. In our face-to-face work, we asked

Catharine Watson, Director, STF

teachers to set the agenda with their questions. These turned out to be almost exclusively about their own lives. “How can I stay with only one woman when I am greedy for others?” asked one teacher. Warren Parker’s study, HIV/AIDS Communication in In the field to stay real but Selected African Countries (2007), notes that HIV wondering all the same: are these adolescents going to campaigns have over-focused on youth. In Uganda we stay safe? are seeing the result of that woeful neglect of adult sexuality. Released in 2006, the Uganda HIV/AIDS Sero-Behavioural Survey confirmed that HIV prevalence

STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT I3I

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

Newpapers and print S

TF was born out of a newspaper, Straight Talk, in

In all STF printed 11.4 million new newspapers,

1993, and newspapers remain STF’s flagship

230,000 calendars and also reprinted 100,000 copies

productions. In 2006 the print department kept its

of the 2005 local language magazine versions of

promise to make each publication relevant, appealing,

Straight Talk in Luganda and 4Rs: Twogere Kaati and

different, educative and entertaining.

Tushesehuure.

In total STF’s four editors and three designers

When the newspapers for Kenya and Sudan are

produced nine titles: Young Talk, Straight Talk, Farm

subtracted, STF printed 11.1 million newspapers for

Talk, Tree Talk, Straight Talk Sudan, Everyday Health

Uganda’s population of 28 million. For Uganda’s 7

Matters (EHM), Kids Time, Scouts Voice and Parent

million adolescents, STF produced a

Talk. Of these 39 issues were produced: if translations

total of 7,420,000 newspapers. For Ugandan adults,

are counted as separate, 56 issues were produced.

STF printed 3.7 million newspapers.

Newspaper/print material

Issues

Print run

Copies/2006

Calendar

1

230,000

230,000

Straight Talk

10

260,000

2,600,000

Young Talk

10

336,000

3,360,000

Farm Talk

3

260,000

780,000

Tree Talk

2

300,000

600,000

Straight Talk Sudan

2

50,000

100,000

EHM English, Luganda, 4Rs

2

365,205: 342,950: 430,842

2,283,994

Parent Talk English+4 local lang

3

100,000:50,000x4

900,000

Kids Time English, Luganda

2

150,000:100,000

500,000

Scouts Voice (Kenya)

2

110,000

220,000

Scouts Voice (Uganda)

2

40,000

80,000

10 newspaper titles

39

11,423,994

Journalists for a day: secondary school students in Fort Portal work on an issue of Straight Talk. Many adolescents find it strange to be asked to contribute an opinion and think there is always a right or wrong answer.

I4I STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

Exposure and use: the youth newspapers

English or their local language. It is not easy to

Working with such vast quantities, the question

rural. However, this disappointing result probably

immediately becomes: are these newspapers being

mainly reflects low literacy. The 2002 census states

read? The answer is yes.

that 68% of adults are literate, but this includes

distribute a paper to parents in a society that is 87%

everyone over age 10. A better proxy for literacy is the In 2005-6 Population Council conducted a community

per cent of adults who have completed primary school.

survey of the reach and impact of STF’s mass media

Taking women aged 30-34 as an example, only 25%

efforts, interviewing 2040 unmarried 10 to 19 year

have completed primary school (UHSBS, 2004-5). Real

olds in six districts. It found extensive reach: 49% of

adult literacy is therefore closer to 30%. In 2006 STF

these adolescents had ever read Young Talk and 39%

concluded that print is not yet a good buy for

had ever read Straight Talk.

communication programs for ordinary adults, although it may be for decisionmakers.

However, most 10 to 14 year olds surveyed had not yet reached upper primary where Young Talk is

Working with readers

distributed and almost none had reached secondary

STF has always been audience-driven, with letters from

school where Straight Talk is distributed. “Ever read”

readers an extremely important way of gauging if its

was therefore far higher among:

newspapers are “working”. As in every year since

• older adolescents: 63.5% of males aged 15-19 had

Straight Talk newspaper first appeared in 1993, letters

read Young Talk and 56% had read Straight Talk.

from readers poured in -- from 37 districts for Straight

• secondary school students: 85% had read Young Talk

Talk and 47 districts for Young Talk.

and 90% Straight Talk. •urban adolescents: 68% had read Young Talk and 60% Straight Talk.

Girls in primary school respond well to newspapers, sending in 58% of letters received. Over 60% of children who wrote to Young Talk sought advice:

Population Council also established that the

questions on body changes and sex predominated.

newspapers are used and valued. Among secondary

More boys (55%) wrote to Straight Talk than girls in

school students in the survey, Straight Talk was the

2006, reflecting higher male enrolment in secondary.

most important source of information on body changes, adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) and

STF volunteers answered every letter; and every reader

relationships. It was mentioned by 37% of secondary

received at least a sticker. Volunteers also log every

students, surpassing “radio” at 33% and “person” at

letter. The editors then use them to inform future

28%.

issues. A letter from Mary Akello, 14, described how she resisted her grandfather’s plans to forcefully marry

Most exposed adolescents had read the newspapers at

her off. This became the lead story for the October

school, seeing 4-5 issues a year. Further analysis by

2006 Young Talk.

Population Council and Family Health International found that STF spent just 0.25 US cents per year to reach an adolescent with an STF newspaper. Clearly, print is a good strategy to reach older adolescents: it may become increasingly so as young people become more educated (30% of girls aged 15 now have some exposure to secondary school up from 10% twenty years ago).

Newspapers for adults In 2006, however, STF did not have a good experience with newspapers for adults. Despite very large print runs and high quality journalism, STF found that only 12% of parents had read the newspaper Parent Talk in

STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT I5I

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION In a country where few parents read newspapers (less than 10% of women and 25% of men see one weekly), asking adolescents to think about headlines and front page stories was a tall order. But by workshopping intensively with small groups, STF soon had young reporters scouring their area, interviewing school and village mates, answering the page 4 “agony aunty” questions and providing insights into their views on family planning, adolescent love, and much more. The process is far more costly and involved than an adult-edited newspaper. It is also humbling as STF is brought face to face with poorly educated adolescents upcountry. But editing with adolescents gives them A secondary student in Tororo designs page one. The topic is friends. Most young peoples’ articles begin with a definition as though it is an exam. The Ugandan education system is largely rote-based and exam-driven.

genuine power and new knowledge and skills. For its part, STF gains flashes of insight into their world.

Distribution Over the years STF has invested heavily in distribution. This has yielded one of the largest and most complete mailing lists in Uganda. About one fifth of the cost of each youth newspaper is bundling and postage. In 2006 distribution was, as always, a challenge. To make matters worse, Uganda’s 56 districts fissured into 80. Schools fell into new districts without post offices, and the distribution team had to scramble to update its lists, conducting laborious mapping down to subcounty level in Mbarara, Kabale, Lira, Amolatar and Apac districts. In addition, in Soroti the team visited 30 health centres, 14 subcounties, 4 NGOs; in Kumi, 19 health centres and 12 subcounties; in Katakwi, 12 health centres, 10

A boy, 13, from Manafwa in eastern Uganda, writes a story for Young Talk as a journalist for a day. Like most rural pupils, his English and writing are poor. Only 25% of pupils in upper primary in rural schools passed the National English Tests in 2003.

subcounties; in Kibale, 20 health centres, 11 sub counties; and in Hoima, 15 health centres, 10 subcounties. These trips were used to deliver Ener Eitena (Straight Talk in Ateso) and Baza Busimba (Straight Talk Runyoro/Rutoro), Tusheeshuure (Straight Talk in Runyakore/Rukiga), and Lok Atyer Kamaleng

Vivid and useful as letters are, in 2006 STF was keen

(Straight Talk in Lwo).

to find new ways to get closer to the hearts and minds of adolescents. Inspired by the World Association of

Finally, workshops to improve distribution and increase

Newspapers Young Readers conference in Buenos

use of the newspapers, especially Young Talk, were

Aires in September 2005, STF developed the

held for district officials and head teachers in Rakai,

“journalist for a day” programme, travelling to five

Masaka and Nakasongola.

districts (Tororo, Mbale, Sironko, Kasese and Kabarole) to co-edit Young Talk and Straight Talk with its readers

There are no short cuts to getting print materials to

or potential readers.

potential readers.

I6I STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

DISTRIBUTION LIST 2006 NUMBER. ON LIST

CATEGORY

Most STF newspapers are inserted into the daily The New Vision as well as sent out through the post office from where they make their way to schools, either directly or through the district education office (DEO). Young Talk is sent to all primary schools and Straight Talk to all secondary schools. Both are sent to thousands of NGOs, CBOs, religious organizations, health centres and district officials. Members of parliament, prisons and police posts also get copies.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

PRIMARY SCHOOLS SECONDARY SCHOOLS HEALTH CENTERS CBOs PRISONS POLICE CHURCH OF UGANDA CATHOLICS BAPTISTS STRAIGHT TALK CLUBS INDIVIDUALS ISLAMIC (MOSQUES) INTERNATIONALS NGOs YOUNG TALK CLUBS NAADS EARLY CHILDHOOD DEV’T MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT CCTS/CORE PTCs TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS DEOs DISs DDHS GULU YOUTH CENTER FARM TALK INSTITUTIONS NURSERY SCHOOLS SENTINEL PRIMARY SCHOOLS SENTINEL SEC.SCHOOLS

13,437 3,304 1,602 1,529 55 120 792 114 68 645 332 63 305 462 112 32 74 304 390 460 80 80 80 1 180 2,080 8 10

TOTAL

26,719

Midwife Tabitha (left) with Lumasaba radio journalist Irene Kityui in Kimaluli Butta, Manafwa. About 400 NGOs, hospitals, radio stations and clinics display “Straight Talk Available Here” signs.

STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT I7I

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

Print at a glance in ‘06

•Talk now • Talk often • Talk again

Vol. 3 No.1 June 2006

Empower

Take action

www.straight-talk.or.ug

the girl child

Words of Wisdom

Hello, cute baby!

.....he must be able to manage his own family well and make his children obey him with all respect. For if a man does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of the church of God I Timothy 3:4-5

Make every baby you have a planned and wanted baby. When you marry, delay your first pregnancy by one year. Then space each birth at least three years apart. Postpone getting pregnant until you are over 20. This is a message for boys as well as girls!

Vol. 13 No.

4 April 2006

Family planning fights poverty In Uganda, the population is growing so fast that the country cannot build enough schools or provide enough basic services.

It's safe

For every classroom that is built, another one is needed. Classrooms are filled up as fast as they are built. Where are we heading with such fast population growth?

It's healthy

It reduces deaths of mothers and babies.

Poverty Today large families are part of the poverty picture. Having many children almost always makes families poorer. In Uganda poor families have on average 8.5 children. The most prosperous families have on average four children.

It reduces quarrels over land, family violence and misery over school fees.

When children are many, poverty is passed down to the next generation. Poverty becomes a way of life and not a temporary problem.

Missing our targets Just like a person has plans, Uganda as a country has plans. But population growth is disrupting them and making us miss our targets. Family planning is the personal

It's our future!

responsibility of all of us. In 2006 the Ministry of Health is relaunching family planning. The Ministry wants: Fewer girls to give birth while they are under the

age of 20. More adolescents to postpone sex until marriage. All sexually-active adolescents to increase use of contraception. Read this Straight Talk to learn more.

Write the story of your life

Straight Talk started in October 1993; for adolescents aged 15-

Do you blame other people for yuor life? Listen how you talk. count how many times you use blaming phrases such as: "it's because mypeers make me do it..." or "It's the governement's fault..." Stop worrying about and blaming things you have no control over or cannot change. These include your gender (sex), your tribe, home area, the weather, or the economic status of your parents. consentrate on things you can control, such as your actions and attitude. Focus your energy on things you can do something about. Take personal responsibility for your life. You can turn setbacks into triumphs! Be highly-effective young person. Miss Uganda visited Straight Talk in March. We felt blessed by her beaty and intelligence.

19 in secondary school. Funded by Dfid and DANIDA in 2006.

Despite efforts to give girls and boys an equal chance to education, boys still outnumber girls in schools. Countrywide, boys also perform far better than girls in all national exams. This difference can be referred to as the “gender gap” in education. We all have a duty to work to close this gap. We need to ensure that girls do not drop out of school and do well in examinations. What causes the gender gap in education?

What can you do as a parent to boost your daughter’s education? Now that she is in school, what can you do to make sure she stays there and completes? And how can you make sure she learns and performs to the best of her ability? • Give your daughter the opportunity to develop her full potential. • Help her to get skills which will enable her to earn a living. • Promote an educated and informed family and society. “As a child in the 1960s, I dreamt of reaching the moon. My father encouraged me to work hard. He assured me that I can achieve my dream. He gave me all the support a girl needs from a father”. Dr Mutonyi D’ Ujanga has a PHD in physics. She is the head of physics department at Makerere University. See page 4 for her full story.

Studies and statistics from the Ministry of Education and Sports show that the gender gap starts in our homes and schools. Here are some of the causes. • Many people think that girls are not as intelligent as boys and belittle them with negative remarks. • Many families think that the girl will be able to depend on a husband. They do not encourage her to struggle to do well at school. So they easily drop off. • Girls need underpants and materials to manage menstruation. Some families do not provide them.This makes them miss classes, resulting in poor perfomance. • Girls are sexually harassed on the way to school, by fellow pupils and even by teachers. • Female teachers are few so girls lack role models and counselors at school.

Equally clever: support boys and girls equally as they strive to perform well and stay in school.

Dr Mutonyi D’Ujanga, the first woman to head a department in the Faculty of Science, Makerere University.

The Ministry of Education and Sports constantly monitors enrolment. Here is a graph which shows the gap in enrolment for girls and boys from 1997 to 2003.

At P1 and P2 girls and boys are enrolled in almost equal numbers. There are just 2% more boys than girls. But then girls start dropping out in larger numbers than boys. By P7 there are 10% more boys than girls enrolled. This means that in a P7 class of 100, there will be 55 boys but only 45 girls. This is the gender gap. Boys also perform far better on the PLE than girls. In 2005, there were 30,000 more boys than girls in Division 1 and 2. This is also gender gap.

February: Living with HIV March: Spend time gainfully

Parent Talk started June 2004; for adults across Uganda. Funded by BEPS/USAID in 2006. April: Develop your child’s literacy. June: Empower the girl child.

April: Family planning fights

This newspaper was produced by two Straight Talk clubs in Sironko:

Muyembe Health Centre IV Straight Talk club and Nabbongo SS Youth Straight Talk Club. Their members were “journalists for a day”. They wrote their stories and did peer interviews. They also asked questions. Can you answer them? See page 4

Want to be a Journalist for a Day? This is a project of Newspapers in Education. Write to Straight Talk, PO Box 22366, Kampala. Fred Simitit, chair of the Nabbongo SS Youth ST Club, collects letters for Khukanika Lubuula, Straight Talk's radio show in Lumasaba, on Open Gate at 730 pm every Saturday. ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Equal opportunity for boys and girls

Praise Akankwasa is studying mass communications at Makerere.

poverty May: You can get pregnant

anytime you have sex

This newspaper is for teachers of nursery schools, P1 and P2; parents and workers in early child centres

Kids Time started in 2002; for Early childhood - the years between birth and 8 are years of greatest brain growth and development

Vol. 2 o.4 May 2006

Early childhood assessment is a good start of raising successful children

Assess children's abilities Assessment in early childhood aims at finding out how children are progressing in growth and development. It is important to continuously study children's physical well-being, social and mental development. You also watch out for their language development and understanding ability?

June: Life is good

aged 0-8. Funded by BEPS/

Are your children developing normally and learning well? Where do they need help and support?

July: I want to be like you: role models August: Is your relationahip healthy? September: We can end this suffering: HIV/AIDS October: Genital herpes: a serious STD with no cure

USAID in 2006 in Luganda and

Continuous assessing is key to ensuring successful early learners. It helps you identify children with learning difficulties and special needs. This enables you to provide extra support early enough to help them achieve their full potential. Proscovia, a caregiver at Mothercare Day Care Nursery School, Jinja, says: I study the children continuously and closely to see their development. For example, 3-year-old Alice can now play freely and share play materials with other children. She can respond to instructions given by the teachers. Alice can also tell stories of what she did at home. This is great development that I look out for in every child. Then I provide support to enhance their development and learning.

Does your child need help? Fouryear-old Aisha Nakagalo, Nalinya Masiluta Nkinzi Nursery, Wakiso, shows her best colour to teacher Sarah Nagawa

teachers of P1-2 and nursery school and carers of children

Children need familiar environment to show best their abilities. Paper-and-pencil tasks may make it hard for them to show what they know. Three year old Alice Yosabira, Mother Care, Jinja, singing.

• Identify children’s strong and weak points and how to help them improve.

• Provide practice to apply knowledge and skills. • Review your teaching methods.

• Identify their differences, abilities, likes and dislikes.

• Identify instructional needs.

• Guide children on what you want them to do.

• Give encouragement and motivation to the child.

• Give confidence to the child in relation to what they have learnt.

• Prepare appropriate remedial work.

Assessment helps you to successfully support the child’s learning and development needs.

English. Feb: Preparing your child for pre-school. May: Assess children’s abilities.

Nov/Dec: Safety during holidays. Straight Talk Sudan started in Young Talk started in February

2004 for adolescents in

1998; for adolescents in primary

southern Sudan. Funded by

school in classes P4-7 (age 10-

American Refugee Committee in

14). Funded by DANIDA, Dfid

2006. March: Resettling home.

and BEPS/USAID in 2006.

August: Staying safe in a

February: Making friends

peaceful Sudan.

March: Put your time to good use April: Family size May: Life is more valuable than money Vol. 2 No. 1, March 2006

Scouts Voice started in 2005

June: Making smart decisions about sex July: Keep clean, look great August: Are your brothers and sisters good role models? September: HIV is still with us

Scouts Voice journalists pose for a picture at Kaazi Scouts national training and camping site, Kampala

FREE, not for sale

Scouting for Solutions

......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Welcome!

As we scout for solutions we bring you the second edition of Scouts Voice. Like the first edition, this edition has scouted for solutions to problems affecting us. Read about the power of values in

helping you overcome life challenges. Yes! Your values may be protective and help you make healthy life choices. Imagine what a wonderful world we live would be if we upheld our values: honesty, openness, respectful, kindness,... the list is endless.

Wouldn’t the world be a better place? Enjoy reading. You may discuss the issues in this edition with a friend, parent/ guardian and Scout leader. Please share with us your opinions. Mark Anderson

In the next issue we shall talk about making healthy friendships and respecting our values to avoid exposure to risky behaviour. We will also introduce the new HIV and AIDS badge and how to earn it.

Values to help you lthy make hea amidst choices ges challen of life

............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... .........................................................................

Stand up for your values

V

alue! This may mean how much something is worth in terms of money. But in this issue values mean something you believe in and consider important in life. Values are acceptable principles of behaviour.

Values are ways of behaviour you:

- Have chosen on your own, without force. - Stand for and are ready to talk about proudly in public. Your values may be influenced by your family, friends, culture, school, media and religion.

Values include honesty, openness, kindness, faithfulness and forgiveness. These are just a few examples but you have many values.

Think about a difficult situation you met or a time when friends encouraged you to do something wrong.

Know your values

Did you ever remember to stick to your values?

Knowing and respecting your values helps you remain true to yourself when faced with a challenge.

Your decisions, choices and actions may be guided by these values.

Message from DirectorSfS

Values can help you make healthy decisions and avoid risky behaviour.

October: When to say No to an adult

For example, if you value a healthy body, you will be determined to avoid behaviour that expose you to ill health.

Talk about your values As you read this issue, ask yourself: What are my values?

Nov/Dec: Use your holiday time well.

Do my friends share my values? Talk about your values. You may share with each other, values that have helped you overcome challenges and stay safe.

Values can make a difference in your life

A very warm welcome to the second edition of the Scouts Voice. Your values as a scout are important. They define who you are and determine how you relate to your family and friends and the choices you make in life. Right choices will help you stay safe and healthy. You should choose friends who have similar values to yours. Remember wrong choices could affect your education, career and even increase your risk of HIV infection. Please share the Scouts Voice with your family and friends.

for scouts. Funded by PathKenya-USAID. Editions produced for Ugandan and Kenyan scout troops. March: Be true to your values. July: Choosing good friends.

and the life of others. SCOUT VALUES AND LAWS KEEP US SAFE: Annie Thairu Esther, Prossy, Becky and Joyce say scouting is good for every young person ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................1

Farm Talk started August 2002; for all primary schools and many CBOs. Funded by the Agricultural Sector Programme Support/DANIDA. April: Managing

Teacher Talk started in 2002. Did not appear in 2006.

drought. July: Grow, glow and go foods. Sept: School gardens are living labs.

Everyday Health Matters started in 2006; for adults acrosss Uganda. Funded by AFFORD/USAID. Developed

Tree Talk started in March 2002; for all educational

in conjunction with Ministry of Health and other

institutions and many CBOs. Funded by World Food

partners. August in English, 4Rs, Luganda: How many

Programme in 2006. Feb: Plant fast-growing trees.

children should we have? November in English, 4Rs,

June: Tree seed is life.

Luganda and Lwo: Malaria costs more than treated nets.

I8I STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

Livelihood newspapers and school planting In 2002, STF turned its skills in communication to address the environment and agriculture, launching two newspapers that promote school projects: a school woodlot in the case of Tree Talk and

The work of these new staff was to set up one acre woodlots in 230 schools with a total of 175,000 trees. The intent is that these trees will eventually provide firewood for school midday meals. Lack of firewood is a major contributor to children not eating school meals, and rural pupils perform far worse than urban children, largely because temporary hunger at school diminishes their ability to learn.

school gardens with Farm Talk. Both newspapers are sent to all primary schools in Uganda with sachets of seed. Tree Talk is also sent to all secondary schools and tertiary institutions as well as CBOs, prisons and religious groups.

Tree Talk Supported by World Food Programme (WFP), Tree Talk had a year of explosive growth in 2006, carrying on with its nationwide newspaper, but also hiring seven young people to work on the ground in eight districts: Gulu, Lira/Apac, Pader, Kitgum, Kotido/Kaabong, Moroto/ Nakapiripirit and Kumi. With the exception of Kumi, all these districts have suffered years of conflict and displacement of people.

An external evaluation in January 2007 showed that Tree Talk far surpassed its targets, planting 244,000 trees on 320 acres in 227 schools. Nine months after planting, 60% of trees were still thriving, a respectable survival rate. In addition to fuelwood species such as Senna and Neem, STF also planted thousands of seedlings of the endangered tropical hardwood, Mvule (Iroko). As in the previous four years, two issues (600,000 copies) of Tree Talk were produced and distributed with seeds of Lusambya, Senna, Podo and Mvule. To give vigour to the woodlot programme, live talk shows were also aired on five FM stations in northern and eastern Uganda. In November 2006, the NGO Environment Alert voted Tree Talk the best initiative for

A Lusambya woodlot in Pader: the parent in charge of the trees greets STF forester Simon Peter Amunau.

STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT I9I

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION promoting environmental communication and

pupils. These model gardens contrast sharply with the

preservation in Uganda. That same month Tree Talk’s

standard school garden which tends to be a dreary

Simon Peter Amunau presented Tree Talk at a Green

place for learning about farming: hot, extensive, and

Belt Movement meeting in Kenya. Tree Talk was voted

usually containing only one crop such as sweet potatoes

one of the best environment projects in the Great

for teachers’ meals.

Lakes region and Southern Africa at the November 2006 UNFCC COP-12 conference in Nairobi.

In 2006 Farm Talk staff trained 188 primary school teachers at three district centres (DATICS) in Tororo,

Farm Talk

Kabarole, Masaka and at the two agricultural colleges

In 2006, with support from ASPS-DANIDA,

in Soroti and Lira. In addition to sharing

three issues of Farm Talk were produced

concepts such as composting, plant tea and

and distributed with seed for cabbage,

kitchen gardening, the trainings in 2006 also

“sukuma wiki” and eggplant to all primary

included simple poultry management.

schools countrywide.

Many trainees become model agricultural teachers in their areas.

A further 120 schools were given materials to help them to establish “model school

It is mark of the high esteem in which the

gardens”. The materials included two rolls

Ministry of Education holds Farm Talk that for

of barbed wire, vegetable seeds, cereal

a second year in a row a minister closed the

seeds and agro forestry tree seeds.

final training. At Kamenyamiggo DATIC in Masaka, minister of state for primary education, Hon

Farm Talk aims to generate excitement about

Peter Lokeris hailed Farm and Tree Talk.

agriculture by helping schools to create small (one acre) but inspiring gardens. The hope is that these will

Much needs to be done to reverse the common

be intensively and progressively managed, grow a

perception among school children that farming is for

variety of plants, and serve as learning laboratories for

“failures”.

Pupils and teachers with their Farm Talk cabbages in a school in Kabale district. The seeds provided by Farm Talk cost just 30 US cents a school but seem to catalyse more hands on teaching in the school garden.

I10I STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

Radio S

TF began working in radio in 1999. The aim was to reach the out-of-school youth who cannot access

printed STF material and to reinforce the STF conversation for those who were able to see the newspapers. The first Straight Talk radio show was in English, followed by Lwo a year later. STF’s strategic plan is to be broadcasting in 15 languages by 2008. By the end of 2006 STF had youth radio shows in 12 languages up from 11 in 2005. The newest was Nga’karimojong, the language of northeastern Karamoja, an arid and neglected area where the people are pastoralists with strong reluctance to send their children to school. This multiplicity of languages means that 85% of young Ugandans can potentially listen to a Straight Talk radio show in a language that they can understand. Also new in 2006 were Parent Talk shows in Lumasaba, Luganda and Lwo. This brought the total number of shows being produced each week to 19: each was a half-hour long, prerecorded and based on interviews conducted deep in the villages upcountry. Aired on 33 radio stations, some of them several times a week, the shows amounted to 64 broadcasts a week

Listening but at risk: by the age of 18-19, girls are 18 times more likely to have HIV, eight times more likely to be married, and one-fourth as likely to be in school as boys the same age.

and over 1500 hours of airtime a year. As with print, the question here is: is anyone listening? Again the

Straight Talk radio is received, just 13% of adolescents

answer is yes.

said they had ever heard it. This is no surprise: English is only well understood by youth with several years of

Exposure

secondary education. Just 16% of secondary school-

Population Council’s study of STF reveals that radio is a

aged children are currently enrolled in secondary

best buy in communication, bringing about tremendous

school, according to the 2006 Demographic and Health

exposure, especially in areas where the show is in the

Survey.

local language, at very low cost. By age 10, 22% of the 2040 unmarried adolescents surveyed by Population

The Straight Talk radio show is valued by youth: in

Council had listened to a Straight Talk radio show. By

districts where there is a local language show, 37% of

age 14, 64% had.

adolescents cite radio as the most important source of information on body changes, ASRH and relationships,

In districts with Straight Talk radio shows in the local

ahead of “person” at 34% and “newspaper” at 22%.

language, 76% of adolescents surveyed said they had ever listened to a Straight Talk show, 65% of whom

Radio is extraordinarily cost efficient: analysis by

were dedicated listeners, listening three to four times a

Population Council, Family Health International and STF

month. In Arua district 84.3% and in Soroti 80.2% of all

found that it cost just 11 US cents to reach an

adolescents had ever listened to the show. In contrast

adolescent a year by radio. This estimate is

in the two districts surveyed where only the English

conservative, says the study, as “it ignores the intensity

STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT I11I

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION of reach (a person reached once is counted the same

print run of 900,000 and the offer of valuable prizes.

as a person who is reached multiple times)”.

In contrast the radio shows had by the end of 2006 received hundreds of letters.

Feedback In total the Straight Talk youth radio shows received

Parent Talk radio shows promote positive living and a

21,425 letters in 2006, of which 41% were from out-

“Basic Care” package that CDC has demonstrated cuts

of-school listeners, 44% from secondary school

morbidity and mortality: bed nets, Septrin, TB

listeners, 10% from primary school listeners and 5%

treatment and a water purifier/vessel. Though scripted

from listeners in tertiary institutions.

for people living with HIV and their families, the shows address general adult issues, including parenting.

With its heavy population in western Uganda, the 4Rs Straight Talk radio show brought in 20% of all letters

Most noteworthy was the response to the Parent Talk

received, followed by the English show (17%), Lwo

radio show in Lukonzo, the language spoken by the

(15%) and Ateso (10%).

people who live in the Ruwenzori region along the

Per capita, small language groups responded more strongly than large language groups. Especially popular were the Lukonzo and Lusamia shows. A large population group that responded poorly was the Baganda, due to competing shows as well as cultural reasons. There are more behaviour change challenges in Buganda than any other part of Uganda. Radio attracts far more letters than print. In 2006 the most stark example of this was Parent Talk. The newspaper received less than ten letters, despite a

STF Luganda journalist Zaitun Natabaregga interviews a parent. Says Radio manager Annette Kyosiimire about the Parent Talk shows: “We did not expect that parents would ask us such questions about their health and sexuality. Because all along we had been banking on parents knowing things. But really, in many ways, they were as raw as adolescents.”

I12I STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION Congo border, an area with some of the worst

to encourage education and increase HIV awareness

education indices in Uganda. In 2006, it received 498

among the Karimojong, Unicef was also concerned that

letters, including 162 from women, and parents were

as a people the Karimojong were failing to articulate

forming Parent Talk clubs.

what they wanted for their society: any talk that STF could generate would be good.

Gender and radio Radio is a boy-biased medium with 60% of boys and

“It is a hard area,” says Annette Kyosiimire, head of

50% of girls having ever listened to the Straight Talk

radio for STF, who travelled to Karamoja with her three

radio show, according to Population Council. Boys

month old baby. “The audience is shy and had never

appear to prefer to get their ASRH information from

seen microphones. And the UN had only one bullet

radio while girls prefer “person”. In general, Population

proof vest. Also, people were not willing to come to

Council found, boys are 50% more likely to listen to

Kampala to host the show. With Carol, the young

radio daily while girls are three times more likely to

woman we found to be presenter, I had to plead with

report that they do not listen to radio at all.

her like she was my own child.”

But if listenership is slightly more among boys,

Training adolescents to do their own radio reporting

response to the Straight Talk radio shows is

makes the show more sensitive to this deeply

enormously higher in males. In 2006 only 21% of letter

traditional society. But it does not remove all dilemmas.

writers to the shows were female. This figure has

How openly, for example, should the show condemn

remained the same for several year though it varies

cattleraiding?

markedly by region due to local culture -- 36% of letters to the Lusoga show are from girls compared to just 13% to the Lugbara show. Girls may write less to the shows because they have less time, less money for postage and less freedom to move to town. Radio content also matters: over 60% of girls are married by the end of adolescence, so radio shows that address them as though they are single are less relevant and interesting for them than shows that deal with marriage, managing husbands and other relationship issues. Whatever the reasons for the low participation of girls, they need to participate and not just passively listen: in 2007 STF will make greater efforts to draw girls in by broadcasting on girl “conversations”.

Reaching Karamoja The launch of the Nga’karimojong radio show in October was a high point in 2006, fulfilling STF’s strategic plan of reaching the poorest and remotest communities. Karamoja is a region in crisis with ever more violent cattle raids. The show was the culmination of intense work on the ground, as STF sought to understand what the young people in Karamoja wanted and needed. In getting to grips with Karamoja, STF was greatly assisted by its partnership with Unicef. Besides wanting

Radio keeps the out-of-school connected: the Population Council survey found that 52% of out-ofschool adolescents (unmarried, 10-19) had ever listened to the Straight Talk radio show. Of these, 74% listened three to four shows a month compared to 64% of in-school youth.

STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT I13I

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION Topics on the 52 Straight Talk radio shows 2006 New Year’s resolutions

Septrin

Family planning

Doctor Show

Handling relationships

HIV disclosure

Doctor show

Something for something

HIV infection rates

Doctor show

Condoms

Doctor show

Poverty

Pregnancy

Life style

Condoms

Menstruation

Young positives

Genital herpes

Virginity

Personal hygiene

Doctor show

Doctor show

Early pregnancy

Doctor show

Candida

Men and antenatal care

Doctor show

Body changes

Domestic violence

Role models

HIV disclosure

Life after VCT

Culture

Poverty

Syphilis

Showing love

Abortion

Xmas highlights

VCT

Doctor show

Doctor show

Doctor show

ARVs

Money

Religion

PMTCT

Gonorrhoea

Smoking

Malaria

Culture

Unassisted births

love

Topics on the 26 Parent Talk radio shows in 2006: each show is aired for two weekends PMTCT

Septrin

Family planning

Disclosure

Family hygiene

ARVs

STI prevention

Home-based VCT

Prevent school drop out

Girls to school after pregnancy

Opportunistic

Hygiene

VCT

Hunger/nutrition

infections

Safe water

Couple testing

TB

Prevention with

Condom

Partner testing and disclosure

Doctor Show

positives

Psychological

HIV disclosure

Malaria

PMTCT

support

Safe water vessel

Diarrhoea

Disclosure

Taking drugs

School requirements

Basic care

Adhering to

Basic Care pacakge

TB treatment

Life after VCT

ARVs

Couple testing

Susan Babirye, STF’s Lusoga radio journalist (left), interviews a young woman. Thousands of people told the stories of their lives on STF radio shows in 2006. One young girl poignantly described how her parents tell her that they “want to eat out of her before they die”. Many parents pressure their daughters into early marriage so that they can receive brideprice.

I14I STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

Radio at a glance 2006 Radio shows for adolescents and youth (Ireland Aid, Danida, Dfid, Sida) Language

Launch date

Broadcasts/wk

English Straight Talk

1999

13

Lwo: Lok atyer kamaleng

2000

5

4Rs: Tusheeshuure

2001

6

Ateso: Ener Eitena

2002

3

Lugbara: Eýo eceza tra ri

2003

1

Lusamia: Embaha Ngololofu

2003

2

Lumasaba: Khukanikha Lubuula

2004

2

Luganda: Twogere Kaati

2004

5

Lukonzo: Erikania Okwenene

2004

2

Nga’karimojong: Erwor Ngolo Ediiriana Sub-total

2006 October (Unicef) 10 shows

3 42 broadcasts/wk

Radio shows for the engaged and newly married (Min of Gender/Core/Pepfar) Lusoga: Twogere Lwattu

2005

3

Kupsabiny: Ngalatep Maante

2005

3

Sub-total

2 shows

6 broadcasts/wk

Radio shows for parents 4Rs: Eraiko Ryomuzaire

October 2005

2

Lugbara: Nzeta Tipikani

October 2005

2

Lukonzo: Omukania wábabuthi

October 2005

2

Lusamia: Embaha ya bebusi

October 2005

1

Lumasaba: Inganikha iy’ Basaali

February 2006

2

Luganda: Eddolobozi iyo muzadde

February 2006

2

Lwo: Lok pa Lanyodo

November 2006 (Unicef)

4

Sub-total

7 shows

15 broadcasts/week

TOTAL

19 shows

64 broadcasts/week

Consultancies/partnerships Bird flu:

8 spots in 9 languages on 18 stations for Poultry Association of Uganda and ASPS/DANIDA. 21 spots a week. Three month campaign.

Basic Care Package

8 spots in 8 languages on 32 stations, promoting positive living (Septrin, Water Guard, bed nets, disclosure) for Population Services International and Centers for Disease Control. 12 spots a week. 12 month campaign.

Rock Point 256

Post production of soap opera in two languages. 104 half hour episodes.

STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT I15I

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

Luganda Lwo Ateso 4Rs Lugbara Lukonzo Kupsabiny Lusamia Lumasaba Lusoga Nga’karimojong English but no local language

STF broadcasts for adolescents in 12 languages. The entire country receives the English Straight Talk show. Eleven ethnic groups receive broadcasts in their languages. The above map shows the linguistic areas from Nga’karimojong in the east (STF’s newest language) to Lukonzo in the west.

As of 2006 the Alur, Madi and Kakwa in the northwest, Japadhola in the east, and Bafumbira in the southwest have no youth reproductive health show in their local language. STF intends to add three more languages by the end of 2008. The red circles show the 33 radio stations STF uses to broadcast its shows.

The small ethnic groups take part more in the show. There is little radio programming in their languages, so the show is a novelty and a source of information and ideas from the outside world. One in every 62 Bakonzo youth wrote into the Straight Talk show in 2006.

I16I STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

Youth participation in Karamoja Roger Hart’s Ladder of Participation (1992) describes partnerships between adults and youth. The bottom three rungs of the ladder are manipulation, decoration and tokenism. The eighth and highest rung is “youth initiated, shared decisions with adults”. STF’s work in Karamoja hit a high and proud note of rung 6 on the ladder: “adult initiated, shared decisions with youth”. STF recruited 24 year old Carol Napeyok to produce the show and had sixty young adolescents to identify the subjects they wanted the show to address and trained them to be reporters.

STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT I17I

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

They interviewed my voice with a microphone -

“I was waiting for my results after finishing my primary teachers course, when my neighbour Joseph of Tree Talk asked me to help STF. So I moved with them in the villages. I asked people questions and wrote the answers in English. After those days, Annette, the radio coordinator, asked me if I would like to work with STF. She interviewed my voice with a microphone. Then she asked me to come to Kampala with her. I told her I had to ask my aunts first. My aunties said: “Yes, you can work in radio, though you trained as a teacher.” My first impression of Kampala was that it was a good place. But I also thought: “Where will people build since the houses are so squeezed?” I took a week to learn the computer. Zaitun trained me to write scripts and use the minidisc. At first I did not know how to use the buttons. One month later I went back to Moroto to collect more interviews. The challenge at first was that people did not want to be interviewed. They wanted money or something to eat. Usually we give them a T-shirt. To get them to tell the truth, you ask them questions, and you get another question out of what they have told you. You ask them: has this ever happened to you? Now my aunts listen to me on the radio and like it. People in Karamoja appreciate what I talk. Even the elders call me. They say when you mentioned such and such a thing, it touched me. Like about polygamy. They said the show was OK because these days AIDS is too much so people should stop what is called polygamy. The children we trained have benefited. We move with them to the villages. While I am interviewing, they sit under the trees and talk to the young people. Sometimes they do the interviews themselves. They say Straight Talk has taught them more about AIDS. And they say they are now more relaxed with other people and can talk more.” Carol Napeyok, STF Nga’karimojong radio journalist

I18I STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

Outreach and Training S

ince its first school visits in 1996 STF has had a

has been to invite three teachers, including the head

physical presence on the ground with face-to-face

teacher, from every primary school in a district, to a

work reinforcing its mass media efforts.

workshop that covers ASRH, how to use Young Talk and making an action plan for ASRH in schools. In total

In 2006, STF’s six trainers and community mobilisers

STF has worked with almost 14,000 primary school

worked in 25 of Uganda’s 76 districts:

teachers from about 5500 schools. This constitutes

• with primary teachers in Mbale, Lira, Kabarole,

over one-tenth of Uganda’s primary teachers from one

Mukono, Kiboga, Gulu, Apac, Kumi, Kanungu.

third of its primary schools.

• with secondary school ST clubs in Tororo, Mukono, Gulu, Hoima, Kabarole, Kampala and Pader. • with girls from secondary schools in Katakwi, Amuria, Bundibugyo, Kabermaido, Soroti and Kumi. • with newly engaged and married people in Mayuge, Kamuli, Bugiri, Jinja, Iganga, Kaliro, Kapchorwa and

In 2006, rather than move to new districts, STF opted to “consolidate” districts in which it had worked in 2003-5. “Our assumption was that teachers would do much better if we followed them up,” said STF trainer Peter Mubala.

Bukwo. • with communities through health fairs in Kumi, Kiboga, Lira and Kanungu.

STF therefore returned to Mbale, Lira, Kabarole, Mukono, Kiboga and Apac to meet with 3814 primary teachers it had trained before from 1907 schools as

Community conversations characterized the year: STF’s

well as 201 parent representatives and 72 health

face-to-face interventions are shifting from

workers.

sensitization/trainings to dialogues. Agenda were determined by the community and target audience.

“These workshops involved less information-giving and more two-way talk,” says lead trainer Beatrice

Primary school teachers

Bainomugisha. “We wanted to know: had teachers

STF has been conducting two day workshops for

implemented the ASRH action plans they had drawn

primary school teachers on adolescent sexual and

up?”

reproductive health (ASRH) since 2001. STF’s approach

STF trainer Peter Mubala (right) with primary school teachers. The Population Council survey found that teachers who had attended STF workshops were more comfortable talking about sex and reproductive health than those trained by other implementers.

STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT I19I

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION Teachers valued the return visit. “This is good follow-

now more friendly. Recently I had a problem and the

up,” said one teacher in Mbale. “By sharing

teacher helped me without getting annoyed,” said a

experiences, we learn new activities like composing

boy in P5.

songs with sex education messages.” Nevertheless, by late 2006, teachers seemed bored by Overall in Uganda teachers are striving to improve

the standard HIV discourse and were exuding an air of

ASRH. Population Council found that over 80% of

palpable fatigue. Clearly they were also struggling to

primary schools said they were using Young Talk,

stay safe. In a simple workshop poll, STF found that

about 75% reported guidance and counselling and

only 30% knew the HIV status of the last person they

about 40% reported giving ASRH messages at weekly

had had sex with. Second generation HIV concepts like

assemblies. Clearly, the efforts of STF, PIASCY (the

discordance were strange to them.

Ministry of Education’s HIV/sex education programme) Their own sexual health was their prime concern. “How

and other implementers have made a difference.

can I know if my co-wives are infected with HIV?” asked “I can now explain and not merely display the PIASCY

one teacher. A key task of 2007 will be to find new

messages in the school compound,” said one teacher.

ways to work with teachers that directly but sensitively

Even pupils seem more satisfied: “Our teachers are

address gender and the social role of sex.

Primary School teacher sensititsations 2001-2006 Year 2001-3

Primary teachers 6971

2004

2840

2005

4144

Parents/health workers 186/73 (2003)

Number of schools 2588

Districts Lira, Arua, Nebbi, Pallisa, Gulu, Rukungiri, Kamuli, Kalangala, Apac.

201/72

920

Hoima, Luwero, Masaka, Mukono. Soroti.

2000

Hoima, Soroti, Kabarole, Mbale, Kumi, Apac, Mukono and Kiboga.

2006

3814

201/72

1907

Hoima, Soroti, Kabarole, Mbale, Kumi, Apac, Mukono and Kiboga.

Questions teachers ask About HIV and their own sexuality • How can I prevent premature ejaculation? • If your periods have passed by 2-3 days and you have sex, will you get pregnant? • What can I do if my wife has no sexual interest? • How can we as ladies satisfy the sexual desires of our husbands? • Why, for couples when tested, one is found positive while the other one is negative? About adolescents • Should big girls sit together with boys or should we separate them? • How can the girl child be convinced to stay in school while in periods because most tend to shy away? • How can we as teachers find out pupils living with HIV so as to help them in a special way? • How can we really make the community come nearer?

I20I STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

Health fairs: ebimeeza

and Bukomero; Lira district 23-25 June in Aloi and

In 2006 STF held 12 health fairs (ebimeeza), reaching

Ogur IDP camps and Amach sub-county; Kumi district

thousands of out-of-school youth. Health fairs help up-

14-16 July in Kolir, Ongino and Kapir; and Kanungu

country areas to realise the resources they already

district 6-8 October in Rutenga, Kihiihi and Kayonza.

have to address ASRH. STF acts as a catalyst to mobilise local health centres, CBOs and the population.

The fairs included games, stalls, marching bands,

Before each health fair, STF convenes a district meeting

exhibitions, testimonies from people with HIV, drama

so that officials can reflect on ASRH crises such as early

performances by ST clubs and blood donation.

pregnancy. Health workers fielded hundreds of questions. Over After a process of mapping so that the districts could

70,000 local language Straight Talks and 40,000 local

select the less served subcounties, the fairs took place

language Parent Talks were carried by youth leaders to

in: Kiboga district 21-23 April in Nsambya, Butemba

all corners of their districts.

Chief guest at the Kiboga health fairs, Rhoda Kalema, hands out the Luganda Straight Talk magazine. Out-ofschool youth are not easy to reach with printed material: health fairs draw them together and introduce them to services such as VCT and family planning. In 2006 a total of 2219 young people were counseled and tested for HIV at health fairs, double the number that tested at fairs in 2005: 7% (103 females, 53 males) were found to have the virus. Testing took place in tents or classrooms. STF supported local health workers with per diems and test kits. STF works hard to link up with local health services so that those who test positive for HIV can be supported after STF has left the district. Family planning was also provided at health fairs.

STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT I21I

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

Work in secondary schools

Edinburgh and Birmingham. Led by STF staff, they

In 2006 STF’s counsellors, trainers and volunteers

organised drama, singing and counselling and painted

spent face-to-face time with over 3000 secondary

classrooms and Straight Talk logos at 39 schools in five

school students from 116 schools.

districts. The teams also donated books, science equipment and sports material worth three million

About 600 of these young people were in schools in

UGX.

Kampala and Mukono that summoned the STF team to make “on-call” visits, improvised and spontaneous

Schools visited by the volunteers

events where STF staff answer students’ questions. The

Tororo: Kisoko High, Mugulu High, Rock High, St

schools were: Mpoma Girls, Citizen HS, Nakinyuguzi

Peters College, Molo SS, Atiri SS, St Benedict, Tororo

Parents Kampala SS, Uphill College, and Mandela SS.

High, Tororo Progressive Academy Mukono: Kojja SS, Mpoma Girls, Kisowera SS, Lugazi

STF also worked face-to-face with 230 scholarship

Progressive, Seeta High, Mukono Bishop, St Michael,

girls funded by Mvule Trust through the Forum for

Mukono High School, and Mukono Town Academy.

African Women Educationalists (FAWE) and World Vision

Kampala: Luzira SS, Uphill College, Pimbas SS, Emma

in Bundibugyo, Katakwi, Kabermaido and Amuria

High, Manchester High School, Worlds Worth SS, Bukoto

districts. These intensive four day life skills and sexual

High School.

health camps involved talking until late in the night with

Hoima: Kitara SS, Buhimba SS, St. Thomas More,

girls who were often deeply distressed.

Kigorobya SS, Bwikya Moslem, Mandela SS. Gulu: Gulu Youth Centre, Awer SSS, Kock Goma SSS,

A final 2000 or so students were reached by teams of

Gulu High School, Gulu Central and Bishop Negri SSS in

British students from the UK universities of Oxford ,

Awere and Alero camps.

Oxford students act a role play in a secondary school in Hoima. Many overseas volunteers are initially baffled by the culture of Ugandan adolescence. But they soon stabilise, igniting constructive and exciting discussions. As in previous years, schools appreciated the teams. Said the headteacher of Kojja SSS, Mukono: “Your coming was more ripe than this time. We have been missing opportunities of saving our young ones from death.”

I22I STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

Straight Talk clubs

In addition 184 males and 315 females from 65

STF currently posts 20 copies of Straight Talk a month

schools in Mukono, Kabarole, Bundibugyo, Soroti,

to 947 Straight Talk clubs in secondary schools. These

Katakwi, Kaberamaido, Kumi, Amuria, Gulu, Pader and

clubs registered with STF over the last eight years. Do

Kitgum were trained in club formation and

they all still exist? It is impossible to know. What is

management. STF also worked in the conflict-affected

certain is that 121 active secondary school Straight

district of Pader, training secondary students to be

Talk clubs in 35 districts wrote to STF in 2006.

peer educators and club leaders on behalf of International Rescue Committee.

“Really we are happy to receive the information you sent,” wrote a 40 member ST club from Ibanda Technical School. “We are struggling to catch up with the world.” “We have introduced counseling groups, planted trees and have a plan for a cabbage garden,” wrote the 20 member ST club at Nkutu Memorial SS in Iganga. STF may have more clubs than it knows. Population Council interviewed 406 students in secondary schools in Kamuli, Kisoro, Arua and Soroti districts: 63% said their school has Straight Talk club. Extrapolated to Uganda’s 3000 or so secondary schools, this would make over 1800 Straight Talk clubs across the country. In addition, 22% of primary pupils interviewed by Population Council said their school had a Young Talk club. Straight Talk clubs are interesting because they are self-forming, and, although a supportive school administration helps, most appear only to need STF newspapers to sustain themselves. In Ugandan schools there are many other AIDS-related clubs, such as those linked to the NGOs TASO and Youth Alive: 90% of the members of these other clubs told the Population Council researchers that Straight Talk and Young Talk were the main materials they used in their meetings. Membership of any AIDS club seems to be helpful to young people. Surveying members of school AIDS clubs regardless of affiliation, Population Council found that 90% of members said they benefited from belonging: 56% said that the clubs provided a safe peer group; 24% that clubs availed information, 15% that the clubs provided a safe environment, and 6% that the clubs had “fun activities”. STF is never able to visit or work with more than a fraction of its clubs in any one year. However, in 2006, STF was able to train 96 teachers (59 male, 37 female)

Creating safer places: students painted this

from Kabarole and Mukono schools to be club patrons.

club sign at their Kampala school.

STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT I23I

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

Community dialogues

many, especially when they put up a Straight Talk sign,”

Under the auspices of CORE/Ministry of Gender and in

says Pauline Ajello, STF community mobiliser. “We try to

2006 STF worked face-to-face with Sabiny

tell them to organise a room where youth can read as a

communities on Mt Elgon and communities in Busoga.

group. But actually this is a hard complaint for us

These focused on the sexual health of engaged and

because our print runs cannot keep growing.”

newly married people, though many older people attended.

In 2006, STF responded to 31 invitations from NGOs/ CBOs. It took part in the World AIDS Day celebrations;

An additional 36 dialogues were conducted under

had stalls during the orientation weeks at Makerere

Centers for Disease Control/Institute of Public Health in

University and Uganda Christian University Mukono; and

Busoga, reaching 1800 adults, of whom 48% sought

worked with the Positive Men’s Union, Kamwokya

individual counselling and 72% were women. These

Caring Community, Family Planning Association of

dialogues aimed to help communities discuss both the

Uganda, and the Paediatric Infectious Diseases Clinic at

parenting of adolescents as well as the parents’ own

Mulago Hospital.

sexual health. Finally, STF took part in trainings at Marie Stopes (youth

Networking

friendly services), PATH trainings of scouts, and Power

STF is an intense networker, supplying almost 2000

of Hope workshops.

NGOs and CBOs with over 100,000 newspapers a month. Through its radio shows, it also makes

STF bursaries

thousands of referrals a year to big NGOs like Marie

Since 2002 STF has been able to assist a number of

Stopes, health facilities like Arua Hospital, and smaller

needy adolescents with schoolfees thanks to the

youth-serving CBOs such as Awareness Youth

generosity of students at Sudbury High School in

Organisation in Mbale.

Massachusetts and universities in Scotland. In 2006, with a grant from sister NGO Mvule Trust, STF

It is vital, therefore, that STF meet its partners. In

expanded its scholarships, taking on 36 young people

2006, with funding from SIDA, STF held three one-day

in war-affected Gulu district and 29 others

networking meetings.

countrywide.

•In Mbale on 23 March with 21 NGOs, 16 CBOs, and 11 senior officials, including the district director of

STF radio journalist Irene Kityui met Sam Namasake in

health services: 38 memos of understanding were

the hills of Mbale. He had passed his primary leaving

signed (MOU) and 27 “Straight Talk available here” signs given out. •In Lira on 11 May with 25 NGOs, 10 CBOs and seven senior district officials, including the district education officer: 27 MOUs signed; 20 signs given out. •In Ntungamo on 3 August: with 17 NGOs, 12 CBOs, and 12 senior officials, including the district inspector of schools: 38 MOUs signed. With funds from the CDC/IPH project, a fourth and final networking meeting was held in Jinja on 8 June with 35 district departments (police, education, health), NGOs, CBOs and FBOs in Busoga. Parents and traditional leaders also came. At all networking meetings, the main concern is insufficient supply of STF newspapers. “Our partners always complain that the newspapers we send them are too few, yet the youth that come for them are

I24I STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT

STF counsellor Beatrice Bainomugisha listens to a Mvule Trust beneficiary in Bundibugyo district.

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION exam with flying colours twice but did not have money

Says Lamwaka: “I discuss with them how they can

for secondary school. Rather than drop out, he was

achieve education by obeying school authorities and

about to sit through Primary 7 (seventh grade) for a

living well with other students and parents while at

third year in a row. STF paid for him to join a local high

home. The good thing in 2006 was that we had no

school. In 2006 he placed first in his class of 80.

pregnancies or criminal offences.”

Annette Amony is from Gulu. Both her parents are dead. Despite a high pass at the end of primary, she

Below: Bright faces, hard stories: secondary school

could not afford secondary school and spent chaotic

students in Nebbi.

years caring for her younger sisters while hiding from rebels. At 14, she got a baby, a fact she concealed

The girls are among the lucky 5% of 13-18 year old

from STF/Mvule for most of 2006 for fear of losing her

girls who are in secondary school in West Nile. Most of

bursary. She began by studying bricklaying at a

their age mates are married.

vocational school but performed so well she will return to study for O levels in 2007.

Countrywide by age 18, 41% of girls are married.

STF is humbled by managing these adolescents. They

About 17% of West Nile boys aged 13-18 are in

need much more than schoolfees. In the north, where

secondary school, similar to the national average. In

several are former rebel abductees and all are war-

contrast to girls, only 6% of 18 year old boys are

affected, all received monthly visits from Gulu Youth

married. Nevertheless, they face the daunting chal-

Centre worker, Christine Lamwaka.

lenge of generating a livelihood.

West Nile has the second lowest prevalence of HIV in the country at 2.7%. This is related to a lower rate of partner turnover among males.

STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT I25I

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

Gulu Youth Centre I

n 2006 peace appeared to be returning to

Saturdays for the in school. On Wednesdays and

northern Uganda. But the situation for adolescents

Fridays its team visits an IDP camp to meet with youth,

and youth remained dramatic. The Uganda HIV/AIDS

especially the camp-based peer educators, and to

Sero-behavioural Survey (UHSBS, 2004-5) showed that,

carry out VCT.

compared to the national figures, girls in the north had one third the level of condom use and twice the level of

On non-testing days at the centre in town, the

alcohol use. Northern Uganda has the highest HIV

counsellors and junior counsellors meet with youth, do

incidence and the third highest HIV prevalence in the

outreach to town schools or out of school clubs. A

country (8.3% of 15-49 year olds infected).

health worker is always at the site to treat STDs, minor ailments and supply family planning. In 2006 GYC

Set up in September 2003, in 2006 Gulu

interacted with about 30,000 youth, roughly

Youth Centre (GYC) was in its third year of

one-fifth of the youth population in Gulu.

operations. Funded by UPHOLD/USAID and

About 90 people visit the centre daily, six

Unicef, it was a one-stop youth centre,

days a week in term time and five days a

providing counselling, games, family planning,

week in school holidays. This totals to 26,600

STD treatment and family planning and

visitors. But since many are repeat visitors,

serving youth in Gulu town and five IDP camps:

the number of unique visitors is lower,

Palenga, Bobi, Pabbo, Awere and Alero.

probably around 15,000-20,000. In addition, GYC reached thousands more young

GYC is a project of STF with 23 staff, including

people around the town and in the camps.

a manager, clinical officer, nurse, two lab

School and peer education “caught” 4000

technicians, five counsellors and six full

or so youth outside the static centre.

time youth workers (outstanding peer educators that have received substantial

VCT was one of the GYC’s biggest

additional training, including as VCT

activities. In 2006 it carried out 7631

counsellors). A radio journalist at GYC runs a live

tests on youth, 5285 at the static site and 2346 in

weekly radio and also meets weekly with out-of-school

camps. At the static centre, slightly more males, 2737,

clubs. At its static site in Gulu town, GYC offers VCT on

tested than females, 2548. More females than males

Tuesdays and Thursdays for the out-of-school and on

test in the 15-19 year old age group, and more males

“Lurem” (friends or clients) waiting for VCT, health talks and general counselling at GYC.

I26I STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION test than females in the 20-24 age group. Of the

to anyone who came to the centre as “friends” (lurem in

females, 5.8% were infected with HIV. For the males,

Lwo). And finally, all staff began to wear aprons for

the figure was 2.7%. These figures are in line with the

easy identification; this had the immediate beneficial

UHSBS. Positive youth were referred to TASO.

effect of increasing the counselling interactions. Explains GYC manager Denis Kibwola: “Before if you

Despite this useful work, towards the end of 2006, STF

entered the gate, you would not know who was a youth

began to feel that VCT was increasingly like the tail that

and who was a counsellor or peer educator. But the

wagged the dog -- coming to dominate GYC to the

aprons made it clear, and now the youth counsellors

detriment of its other activities. This was doubly

are being approached all over the compound.”

worrying because the relationship between VCT and staying safe is a tenuous one. Research from many

In 2006 GYC also took steps to address gender.

parts of the world including Rakai, in southern Uganda,

Though girls are twice as infected as boys, much less

has found that HIV negative people who know their HIV

likely to be in school and much more likely to be

status are no more likely to remain negative than those

married young, GYC was testing more boys than girls,

who do not know their status: possibly their behaviour Hungry for knowledge, out-of-school youth is disinhibited by the that they didStraight not have devour theknowledge new magazine-format the virus. Talk at a health fair in Kumi.

and the centre had become a place where boys “chilled”. Girls would enter tentatively. GYC was also struggling to retain female peer educators. They were dropping out at a far higher rate than the males: some

While maintaining its targets for testing in 2006, GYC

recently trained female peer educators were forbidden

began to think about how to make it a more behaviour

by parents and husbands to work at all.

changing experience, especially for the majority who test negative. GYC made an enormous effort to reduce

By introducing “girl talks” once a week, more girl-

repeat testing, which is not only often a waste of

oriented conversations on the live radio show and by

resources but also used by some youth as a proxy for

generally becoming aware that gender is an issue, GYC

behaviour change.

was able to turn the situation around in a matter of months. By early 2007, 55% of those testing at the

GYC strived to offer more follow-up, more couple

centre were girls, and girls were also slightly more in

testing, more general counselling and to link up VCT

number than boys at health talks. Decongestion of the

more with family planning and STD treatment. It

IDP camps and the return of peace will bring new

stopped calling youth “clients” -- the usual term for

challenges, but GYC is well positioned to respond to

people who test for HIV -- and instead began to refer

the needs of the youth in the district.

A GYC counsellor helps a male larem with condom use. Only 17% of unmarried girls in northern Uganda reported condom use at last sex compared to 53% nationwide. In 2006 several Gulu secondary schools experienced a wave of pregnancies among their students, some of which ended in abortion, several of which ended in death.

STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT I27I

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

Monitoring

and evaluation assess listenership to the radio show: 61.8% had listened (females 62.8%; males 60.5%). Popular topics were HIV transmission, VCT and STDs: 87.3% of those who had listened reported they had learnt something useful. For the Lusoga show, STF interviewed 124 respondents in Bugiri, Jinja and Mayuge: 77.4% of boys and 59.7% of girls had listened. Of these, 63.7% reported that they had learnt something new. Popular topics were reducing sexual partners and faithfulness. • Kids Time STF visited 199 schools, interviewing 193 administrators and 191 teachers: 33% of

S

administrators and 28% of teachers had read the

TF is an evidenced-based organisation, basing its

newspaper.

work on national data and using internally collected

data to understand how, why or why not its efforts might be effective. In 2006 the four STF researchers carried out numerous mini-evaluations, follow-ups and investigations. 2006 was also a year in which more data came in from the large Population Council impact survey.

Internal evaluations • Parent Talk newspaper

• Distribution survey STF evaluated the distribution of STF newspapers in Apac, Lira, Masaka, Rakai, Tororo and Mbale. The researchers recommended that one person in the district education office be responsible for the newspapers. They also noted that in rural areas overaged children are the norm with 14 year olds in P4. Young Talk may not provide them with the information they need.

STF investigated the reach and readership of the Luganda and English Parent Talk. In Luwero and Mukono, STF interviewed 300 parents. About 12% had seen the newspaper. Those who had found it useful. The low reach confirmed STF’s decision to switch Parent Talk onto radio.

• Assessment of youth friendliness at Gulu Youth Centre (GYC) STF conducted 301 exit interviews with 176 males and 125 females aged 16-18. Over a third had heard about the centre from a friend, and another third from the radio. Respondents were positive about the

• Health fairs and local language newspapers

location of the center, hours of operation, services

In Kumi, Ntungamo and Kanungu, STF held 13 focus

provided, the staff, peer education, counseling,

group discussions with out-of-school youth aged 1019 to assess their awareness of STF health fairs and local language newspapers. The findings vindicated STF’s decision in 2006 to shift from large health fairs at

privacy, confidentiality, time spent while waiting to be served, and the availability of Young Talk and Straight Talk. STF concluded that the GYC meets most characteristics of a youth-friendly center.

the district headquarters to mini sub-county fairs. Young people had heard about the fairs from radio and posters. Those who had attended a health fair said they went mainly to get HIV/AIDS information, condoms and VCT. Most of the young people knew of the Straight Talk local language newspaper.

External: Population Council In 2005-6, Population Council began STF’s first external evaluation, seeking to answer the questions: “Do adolescents exposed to STF materials have higher knowledge and more positive attitudes towards safer behaviours than those who are not exposed? Do

• Kupsabiny and Lusoga radio shows (CORE) In Kapchorwa, STF interviewed 123 respondents to

I28I STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT

adolescents who are exposed to STF materials practice

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION more safe behaviours than those who are not

to have tested for HIV than unexposed parents, though

exposed?”

these findings have yet to be subjected to multivariate analysis. The school survey found that STF’s teacher

There were three major parts to this study:

training is significantly associated with teachers feeling

• a community survey, house to house, in six districts

more confident to talk with students about sexuality

in which 2040 unmarried adolescents were

and that Straight Talk newspaper is the leading

interviewed along with 736 parents.

material used by all secondary school health and AIDS

• a school survey to evaluate the impact of STF’s teacher sensitisations (560 teachers interviewed). • an analysis of the relative costs of reaching adolescents through print, radio and interpersonal

clubs in Uganda. However, given its costs of $2.74 per person reached in school and $3.63 per person reached per health fair, STF’s outreach programme may need re-working to achieve more impact.

means (conducted with Family Health International). With communication channels, the Population Council The community survey found high exposure rates to

study found interesting synergies. Where there is a

STF media products, especially local language radio. It

Straight Talk radio programme in the local language,

further found that exposure to STF materials is

readership of the English STF papers is almost doubled

significantly statistically associated, after multivariate

and schools are three times more likely to have a

analysis, with numerous positive outcomes. These

Straight Talk club. Finally, the study noted in its

include:

conclusions that STF has been particularly successful at

• in males and females, greater knowledge about HIV

conveying messages to adolescents about delaying

and ASRH and greatly increased HIV testing. • in males, secondary abstinence and greater seriousness about current sexual relationship. • in females, greater self-confidence and more equitable gender attitudes.

sexual debut, secondary abstinence, faithfulness and STIs. However, it also noted that “results for messages about gender attitudes, pregnancy, condoms and nuances of HIV transmission are mixed, and indicate a need to refine, reinforce and repeat information on these topics”. 2007 will see STF striving to understand

The parent survey found that 60% of parents had been

these results and continually improve its approaches.

exposed to STF materials: 41% had seen an STF newspaper and 55% had listened to the radio show. Exposed parents were more knowledgeable about HIV and reproductive health and several times more likely

Conducting research on Mount Moroto in Karamoja: asking questions and listening.

STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT I29I

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

Partnerships

STF deputy director and editor Teopista Agutu with students in Monrovia.

TF has a myriad of partnerships. Many have been

S

Trust for five years in return for a $150,000 grant to

mentioned on earlier pages or previous annual

renovate STF’s new building. Both NGOs have enjoyed

reports. In 2006 particularly rewarding partnerships

the synergy. In its first year Mvule Trust granted funds

included:

to six implementers, including the URDT Girls School and Nyabyeya Forestry College, putting over 1300

World Association of Newspapers

adolescents in school, 65% of them girls.

In November 2006 STF editors Teopista Agutu and Betty Kagoro flew to Liberia to help students to put

Reaching parents in Busoga

together a newspaper for peers. Working in a

An IPH/CDC fellow designed,

cinderblock school in rainy Monrovia, the editors and

wrote and distributed 3000

students came up with The Classroom. Says Agutu:

posters, 5000 brochures and

“Liberia is where Uganda was 15 years ago with many

5000 flyers for parents in

small newspapers and broken down infrastructure.

Busoga on couple counseling

But the students were super bright.”

and testing, male participation, couple dialogue as a key to HIV

Mvule Trust

prevention, and parent child

This new NGO exists to provide bursaries for post-

communication. Three radio

primary education, with a focus on girls and science.

spots were also developed and

In 2006 STF undertook to house and support Mvule

aired for a period of 6 months.

I30I STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

Finance and administration S

Emphasis of spending

2006. At 1800 UGX to the US dollar, this amounted to

almost equalled spending on print. This was due to

about $3.1 million.

the addition of four new radio shows and the

TF’s expenditure budget increased from about 5.3 billion UGX in 2005 to almost 6 billion UGX in

2006 was the first year in which spending on radio

production of radio spots for PSI/CDC. In 2006 STF continued to receive funds from four longstanding core donors: DCI-Ireland Aid

In total STF’s radio shows cost about 776,918,806

(368,164,650 UGX), the UK’s Department for

UGX while Straight Talk newspaper cost 251,238,327

International Development (Dfid) (1,310,737,247

UGX and Young Talk about 295,678,940 UGX.

UGX), Sweden’s SIDA (470,000,000 UGX) and

Increasing the spend on radio relative to print is part

Denmark’s DANIDA (1,142,888,760 UGX).

of STF’s strategic plan to reach the out-of-school and the less literate.

These four donors contributed funds for costs such as rent, utilities and salaries. With respect to activities,

Year

Radio

among other things, DCI-Ireland funded radio shows

2004

8%

53%

in Ateso, Lukonzo and 4rs; Dfid funded Young Talk

2005

16%

37%

and Straight Talk and much of the radio broadcasting;

2006

18%

19%

Print

SIDA funded primary teacher sensitisations, health fairs and local language Straight Talks, and Lwo

About 265,017,275 UGX was spent on outreach and

Straight Talk radio; and DANIDA funded Young Talk

training and 498,299,649 UGX on Gulu Youth Centre.

and Straight Talk as well as Farm Talk in full.

Because of the youth centres in Gulu and Kitgum and the growth of Tree Talk’s planting project, the

STF received considerable funding, amounting to

proportion of STF funds spent directly on mass

about 1.35 billion UGX, from USAID and US

communication declined from 53% in 2005 to 45% in

government sources. CORE supported radio shows

2006.

and community work in the Lusoga and Kupsabinyspeaking areas. UPHOLD supported the Gulu Youth

In early 2007 STF embarked on a large process to

Centre and some Parent Talk radio shows. Parent Talk

produce consolidated general purpose audited

and Kid Time newspapers were funded by BEPS, the

accounts for 2004-2006. These will be presented in

USAID project in the Ministry of Education. Path-Kenya

the Annual Report for 2007.

funded the production of Scouts Voice; the Rock Point radio drama was funded through the Yeah project. Multilateral support came from the UN World Food Programme for the Tree Talk project. STF also received support from Unicef for the Gulu Youth Centre, for radio shows for adults in Lwo, and for the production of leaflets for adolescents in IDP camps. In December 2006, STF received funds from Unicef to start a youth centre in Kitgum. UNFPA helped to support the youth radio shows in Lusamia and English.

STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT I31I

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

Department for

International Development

DANIDA

I32I STF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

Boys perform role play in their Straight Talk club. The real life drama is that boys have a long period of sexual acitivity between first sex at about 18 and marriage four to ten years later. Delaying sexual debut, reducing partner turn over, and consistent and correct condom use are critical behaviours for boys.

•

STRAIGHT TALK FOUNDATION...

STRAIGHT TALK FOUNDATION...

is a Ugandan NGO, formed in 1997.




is evidenced-based.

It grew out of the teen newspaper,

It addresses the HIV epidemic in

Straight Talk which started in 1993.

all its heterogeneity.

STF is based in Kampala but has




is committed to new and healthier gender relations.

youth centres in Gulu and Kitgum.

The current construction of STF has a staff of about 80,

masculinity and feminity prevents

including 18 journalists, five

defeat of poverty, HIV and other

trainers, 23 counsellors, four

tragedies.

researchers and innumerable youth workers.




promotes a scientific understanding of HIV and other social problems. It aspires to accuracy and clarity

STRAIGHT TALK FOUNDATION...

in its science reporting.


recognises the social role of sex. HIV prevention efforts fail

produced over 11 million

when sexuality is not at their

newspapers, broadcast over 3000

centre.

radio shows and worked with over 3000 teachers in 2006. STF is committed to keeping adolescents safe.

GOOD BYE TO ANNE... Anne Akia Fiedler joined Straight Talk, the newspaper, as its editor in 1994. She worked tirelessly to turn the paper into an NGO and was the cofounder of Straight Talk

Board of DIRECTORS

Foundation in 1997. For the next nine years she served as programme director with integrity and distinction. STF was heartbroken but proud when Anne left in late 2006 to become chief of party of the USAID project, AIDS Capacity Enhancement. In 2007 she received a Masters in Public Health/ International Track with Fathers can do more: only 20% of adolescent boys say that their fathers are their most important source of information on body changes, growing up and staying safe. (Population Council, 2007)

Dr Peter Cowley, Chief of Party, Business PART Project Rev G Byamugisha , Church/FBO Partnership Resource Person Dr Frank Kaharuza, Director, Research, CDC/UVRI Aggrey Kibenge Principal Assistant Secretary, Minstry of Education Charles Odere, Advocate, Lex Uganda Hon E Tumwesigye Member of Parliament, HIV/STD specialist

honours from the University

Anne Akia Fiedler, Chief of Party, ACE

of Washington.

Cathy Watson, Director, STF, Ex-oficio

Straight Talk Foundation

Plot 4 Acacia Avenue, Kololo, P.O. Box 22366 Kampala, Uganda, Tel: (256 31) 262030, 262031, Mobile: (256 71) 486258, 486259, Fax: (256 41) 534858 Email: [email protected], [email protected], website: www.straight-talk.or.ug

Design: Micheal eB. Kalanzi