Young Talk, June 2009

Vol. 10 No.9

Young Talk, June 2009

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Not for SALE: Young Talk is FREE

Elizabeth Okello, Teacher, Gayaza HS

Sex Education for primary schools • Know your rights • Stay in school • Say a BIG NO to sex

When we talk about virgins, we normally think it is only girls who can be virgins. This is not true. Every boy and girl is born a virgin. Virginity is only lost after having sex. Elizabeth Okello, teacher, Gayaza HS

Virgin Power: For boys and girls Who is a virgin? A virgin is a boy or girl who has not had sex! Yes, boys and girls are born virgins. z You can remain a virgin for as long as you want. z Virginity does not cause any problem to your body. z Protect it till the right time when you get married.

Virginity is healthy

Boys, keep the promise

Proud to wait “I want to keep a vir gin till marriage. I do like bad friends. They can lead me into sex. also talk to young peo about the benefits of being a virgin.” Ngangeyo Hope, P7, Hoima Public School

Virginity is good for your growing body and mind. It: z Shows you are in charge of your body. z Protects you from HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). z Protects you from early pregnancy. z Helps you focus on your studies and the future.

“I advise boys to stay virgins by avoiding bad friends and refusing gifts for sex from older women. Virginity is cool. Play football during your free time and avoid being idle. “ Henry Ahirwe, 11, P5, St Mary’s Bwebare PS, Mbarara

Henry Ahirwe

Thank you, Henry and Hope, for saying NO to sex and advising your friends to stay virgins like you! You win a Young Talk package: a dozen book and pens.

Beauty queen

New quiz: Imagine you are having a conversation with a friend and she tells you:

Says NO to sex Ruth Agonza, 20, studies at Kichwamba Technical College, Fort Portal in western Uganda. She is studying electrical engineering. She was chosen the most beautiful girl at the college. So she is Miss Kichwamba. Ruth is a virgin. ‘In P3 I made a promise not to have sex until marriage. Even when I joined college, I promised myself not to get involved with boys. Many boys ask me to be their girlfriend but I tell them that I cannot serve two masters at the same time. I love sports. My mother encourages me to keep the promise.’

Ruth is waiting for the right time to have sex.

The February Young Talkk quiz was: Virrginity is lost through sex. What are you doing in your village and school to avoid sex? We recieved over 190 responses. Thank You. You all win exercise books. We especially loved letters from Masika Shamimu, Kyondo PS, Bundibugyo and Mugabe Mathias, 11, P5, Rutooma Parents PS, Mbarara. Shamimu writes: I am avoiding sex by: • Following my religious teaching. • Saying a loud NO to gifts. • Avoiding bad friends. • Avoiding alcohol which can confuse my mind.

Mathias wrote: “Delaying sex is

Ann

What would you tell Ann if she is your friend? Draw this picture and fill the empty bubble.

cool, healthy and easy. It helps you stay in school, perform well and be liked by the teachers. Keep your virginity. Say NO to sex.” Thank you, Shamimu and Mathias. You get Young Talk gift packs of exercise books, pens and reading books.

2 Young Talk, June 2009

Make good choices Being a virgin shows you are in charge of your body. You are waiting for the right time to marry after your studies. Say NO to what can lead you into early sex.

Bad friends nds tell me that, if I do not have sex like will not produce in future. They say pracakes perfect. I have refused their advice. to be a virgin until marriage. ukunda, St Paul’s PS, Rukungiri. Natukunda, you made the right choice! Just because your friends say they have sex does not mean it is right. Having sex can put you at risk of HIV/STDs. You can even be imprisoned for making a girl pregnant. Focus on your studies.

Life more precious than money “There is a shop keeper who always told me that he had my message. One day I went to buy sugar and he said he loves me. He gave me money and clothes. I refused them. I shouted at him. I reported him to my parents. My mother talked to him. Since then he does not disturb me. Scovia N, 15, Sibirise PS, Busia

Namaganda, yes you are a virgin! Virginity is lost the first time you have sex. You don’t lose your virginity by climbing a tree or riding a bicycle or using a tampon.

False stories about body changes Body changes like wet dreams, menstruation periods, pubic hair and breasts do not mean you are ready to have sex! You may get sexual feelings like Kyobutungi Catherine of Butagasi village, Mbarara district. She became pregnant when she was in P7. She says: “I started wanting sex in P7. My friends advised me to have sex. I became pregnant. I regret losing my virginity and making my parents unhappy. They have forgiven me and promised to take me back to school when the baby is big. I promise to work hard and make my parents happy again.”

Am I still a virgin? Am I still a virgin if I use a tampon, climb trees or ride a bicycle? Namaganda Mai, Nakigo PS, Iganga

A tampon is one of the materials used to trap menstruation blood. It is put in the vagina. Scovia, you are a star! Money is good but it cannot compare with your life. Some people may give you money and gifts, expecting you to pay back through sex. This is dangerous. Like Scovia, say NO to money and gifts. Study first, get jobs and earn your own money.

Different materials for trapping menstrual blood are z Pads z Sanitary towels z Tampons z Cloths If you don’t have money to buy pads, you can make your own pads from cloths. You do not need to have sex for pads.

You and the media

Keep your mind busy Young Talkers, sexual feelings are normal. It means that your hormones are working properly. Control them by keeping busy: find something to do like reading your books, playing games with good friends and helping parents with work at home.

Newspapers, magazines, TV and movies are some of the media. They help us to learn new things. But media can also make you do wrong things like having sex. Avoid media with bad stories. Focus on your books for a bright future.

Know your body: hymen

S

ome girls are born with a thin skin that partly covers the vaginal opening. It is called a hymen. Having a hymen does not mean a girl is or is not a virgin. Some girls who have sex still have a hymen. Others who have never had sex have no hymen. Most women have some hymen left until they give birth.

Virginity lost first time you have sex How useful is the secondary virginity? Nantale Shamim, 12, P7, Banunule PS, Kampala It is very useful! If you lose your virginity, you can still stop having sex and be safer. This is called secondary virginity. Remember: just because you had sex does not mean you have to continue saying yes to sex

A boy enjoys playing football at Gulu Youth Centre.

every time.

Picture bonus! Dear Young Talkers, write to us, send beautiful pictures and win Young Talk exercise books!

Young Talk, June 2009

Sex with a virgin not protection from HIV

BAS C BASIC B Is it true that if you have unprotected sex with a virgin you are safe? Rosemary, P7, Bukomero Junior School, Kiboga No, you are not safe! You can get pregnant or HIV anytime you have sex. There are many young people who are virgins and HIV positive. They could have got it from their mothers during: z Pregnancy z Birth z Breastfeeding It is called mother-to-child transmission of HIV. A virgin can also get HIV through sharing sharp objects with a person who has HIV.

Dr Stephen Watiti, Mildmay Centre

Learn to smile like this happy Young Talker from Lira

It is only by testing the blood that you can tell that someone is safe. Do first things first: read your books.

For teachers Dear teachers, teach your pupils the value of virginity. Tell them virginity is healthy. Do this during club activities. Let them ask or write questions about virginity. And encourage the children to talk to their parents. Jerolam Omach, Counsellor, Straight Talk Foundation

Teachers, help your pupils read and understand Young Talk. To win books on how to make school safer, send us a text with your name and school address on: 077-5-517458. You can also SMS when you pick Young Talk bundle from DEO or post office. If you send your pupils’ letters to Straight Talk Foundation with a covering letter, you also win.

Learn with fun games Virginity game

You can make your own play board. What you need: A box or hard paper, glue, blue, red and black pen. On top of the hard paper put the white paper using glue. Now copy the play board.

Science quiz: Get a piece of paper and copy this exercise. Tick the right answers: TRUE or UNTRUE and send them to Young Talk PO Box 22366, Kampala. All answers received BEFORE August 23rd, 2009 will WIN exercise books, pads and a personal copy of July Young Talk. You can tell if a person is a virgin.

True

Untrue

AIDS is a disease without a cure.

True

Untrue

Sex cures menstruation period pains.

True

Untrue

You cannot get pregnant if you play sex once.

True

Untrue

You can develop hips if you have sex.

True

Untrue

People with HIV need love and care.

True

Untrue

You can get HIV by sitting near an HIV infected person.

True

Untrue

A girl can get pregnant if she has sex during her period.

True

Untrue

Puberty is something that happens to boys only.

True

Untrue

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Our school environment What do you see in this picture? Write to Young Talk and tell us a story of what you think is happening in this picture. Best stories win exercise books, pens, and pads.

YOUNG TALK IS FOR TEACHERS AND PUPILS IN P5, P6 AND P7

4 Young Talk, June 2009

Dear Young TALK

Members of Young Talk club at Kyanuki PS, Kasese district.

PO Box 22366 Kampala Will anything happen to me if I delay sex up till the age of 30? Auma G, 14, Bukobe Maboka PS, Busia Grace, nothing bad will happen to you. You will get older and wiser to make good choices in future. You will also be able to go for an HIV test together with your partner and make good decisions for your future. Delaying sex is one of the important ways of reducing risk of HIV and STDs. Is it true that HIV attacks only the white blood cells of the body? How does Septrin control it? Mugasho Lawrence, 13, P7, Nkonge UMEA PS, Ssembabule Septrin does not control HIV. It prevents a person with HIV infection from developing common diseases like pneumonia, meningitis, diarrhoea and malaria. Prevention of these diseases enables a person to live a longer and healthier life even when they have HIV and reduces progression to AIDS. Talk to a health worker if you react. They will help you. Can a girl of eight years get pubic hair? Nakabembe F, 11, Main Street PS, Jinja Yes it is possible and very normal. Some people develop body changes like pubic hair earlier than others. Some may start developing these changes from 9 to 19 years but they may happen earlier.

an produces when an ovum and a sperm cell meet and form an embryo inside the womb. However, in some cultures girls pull their labia minora (see the diagram on page 2). This custom is called visiting the bush. Perr forming this custom is a choice for a person to make and should not be forced. Many people do not visit the bush but they still produce children. My school is very far from home, I always reach late and they always beat me. Can I stop studying? Yokwe R, 14, P6, Mogiri PS, Kajo Keji County, Sudan No, do not stop studying. Going to school will make a very big difference in your future. Your teacher is breaking the law on corporal punishment. Please ask your parents/guardian to talk to the teacher who is beating you. You could also talk to the headmaster. Try to leave home early to reach school in time. You could also jog to school; maybe in the future you will become world champion runner. My father has lung cancer. He is about to die. I am worried. He has been providing the basic needs in our home. What will I do if he dies?

Is it true that if you do not visit the bush as our aunts tell us you will never produce? Asaale Juliet, 14, P7, Kibbuye Mapeera PS, Mukono No, my dear, visiting the bush has nothing to do with producing. A wom-

Counselor: Dr Edith Nakku, Mulago Hospital.

Mulongo Sadi, Buwagama PS, P6, Bugiri Sorry, Sadi, about your father’s illness. But do not lose hope. You can help him get medicine from Hospice Uganda in Makindye, Kampala. They will help nurse him well. You also need a wise adult to help you go through this difficult time. Please start talking to your dad and mum to plan for the future. Has he written a will? Make sure you ask your mum or respected elder like a reverend or khadi to make sure he does that. You can start rearing chicken, goats or planting trees that can help you get basic needs after he passes on. Contact Hospice on: 077-2-500769. Can a girl get pregnant if she has never had period? Namutebi E, P7, University Hill PS, Mukono Yes, you can become pregnant any time you have sex! Just because a girl has not had her period does not mean that she has a natural form of birth control. Getting pregnant is related to ovulation (the movement of an ovum from the ovary into ovaduct or a fallopian tube). Because a girl can ovulate before having her first menstruation period, it is possible to become pregnant before beginning to menstruate.

Science corner

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Pupils of New Bweyale Parents School, Masindi. Young Talkers, early sex can make you feel bad. Don’t try it. Stick on abstinence.

indow period is the time it takes for your body to produce antibodies (body soldiers) to HIV from the moment HIV enters your body. This usually takes two to 12 weeks. To know if you are HIV infected or not, test after three months. To be sure, you can test again in three months. Remember: HIV can be spread during the window period. Dr Paul Semugoma, International Hospital Kampala

Answer and send your answers to Young Talk P.O. Box 22366 Kampala and WIN pads.

BOOKS, PENS and RULERS

Publisher: Straight Talk Foundation 4 Acacia Avenu Telephone: (031) 262030/1, Fax: 534858, E-mail: strta President: C. Watson, Executive Director: J. Wiltsh M. Akello, Editors: G. Awekofua, F. Ouma, P. Kiwuuwa, J Designers: GB. Mukasa, Allan B. Dentine Young Talk

New quiz: Advise Katushabe If your father refuses to pay your school fees and yet he has good money, can your boyfriend help you? Katushabe Hope, 14, P7, Bihanga Model School, Kamwenge Send your advice to Young Talk, 22366, Kampala Uganda and WIN.

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