Young Talk, March 2009

Vol. 10 No.9 Young Talk, March 2009

Not for SALE:

Young Talk is FREE Sex Education for primary schools • Know your rights • Stay in school • Delay sex

Dear Young talkers this time we look at teenage pregnancy. It is one of the problems that comes with early sex. Read stories told by young people like you who are out of school because of having early sex. Read carefully and learn.

Hard to be a young father I was in P7 and had sex with my girlfriend who was 12 in P5. She got pregnant. I loved her and decided to marry her. I have faced many problems. I lack money and can not support my family. I am an orphan. I dig to help my family. Study when you can. Do not hurry to have sex. Martin, Kumi

I regret having sex I had a boyfriend when I was 12 in P7. I liked him and when he asked for sex, I accepted. At first I was scared, but he said he loved me, I felt safe. After two months, I went back to school. I fell sick. I was checked and found pregnant. I was sent away from school. My parents were disappointed. I told them about my boyfriend. He was forced to pay a cow and sh 300,000/=. But I failed to push the baby. I was operated on. After birth my uncle took me to sell in his shop, I regret having sex. I would still be in school. Susan, 13, Soroti

What do you learn from Martin and Susan’s stories? You would not want to suffer like them. So, delay sex until you are old enough to handle the results. If you are having sex, you can stop.

We are staying safe from early pregnancy. We are not having sex.

ging. I I am so tired from dig give or t, ea have nothing to ? do I n ca at to my baby. Wh

Ann is 14, she got pregnant in P6. The boy does not help her. She digs to get money.

You are too young to have children and look after them well. Becoming a parent at an early age takes away your chances of having a better life.

HIV/AIDS facts HIV is found in four liquids: blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk. HIV is not found in air.

Early sex leads to: Gloria, Aggie and Maria St John Bosco Katende PS, Mpigi YOUNG TALK IS FOR TEACHERS AND PUPILS IN P5, P6 AND P7

l HIV/ STD infection l Dropping out of school l Imprisonment l Rejection by your parents l Suffering with pregnancy l Operation or dying while giving birth l Shame to you and your parents

It is spread mostly through sex. It can also be passed on from a mother to her unborn baby or newly born during birth or during breastfeeding. HIV may also be transmitted through blood transfusion and unclean instruments

Delay sex... it is safe and healthy for you.



 Young Talk, February 2009

Pregnancy does not mean marriage

Think of the way you can correct your mistake, go back to school

GIRLS and BOYS: Show your parents that your are sorry for your actions. Ask them to forgive you. Show that you have changed and will not misbehave again.

Iam sorry I did not listen to your advice. I will not do it again

Vol. 10 No.9

Avoid early

pregnancy

Ask for forgiveness

I am sorry I did not listen to your advice. I will not do it again

Mr Gyaviira Ssimbwa of University Hills PS Mukono recieves a football and netball from STF’s Denis Pato. His pupils sent the most number of letters in November 2008.

Harriet, thank you for being a very strong girl. It is good your parents are willing to take you back to school. Be grateful and thankful to them. Reward your parents by reading hard.

early pregnancy As you seek help from parents and relatives. l



My cousin who was 12 got pregnant. She did not tell her parents. She went to an old woman who helped her to abort. She nearly died and that is how we found out. Adepo Scovia, 13, Teso Boarding PS, Soroti What do you learn from this story? Do you think Scovia’s cousin did the right thing? Abortion can lead to; • Death • Damage of your sexual organ • Infections • Barrenness

Going through

Every one makes mistakes. However, one mistake should not lead to another. Do not run into marriage, abortion or ending your life. Ask for forgiveness and change your behaviour

In case you are forced into sex:

FOR TEACHERS Help your pupils get and read Young Talk

Dear teachers when you get Young Talk l Ask pupils in P5-P7 to form groups of 8-10. l Give each group a copy of Young Talk to read together. l Ask the pupils to identify hard words and discuss with them. Keep doing that for all the copies that you receive throughout the term. l Make sure that each pupils gets a chance to read YoungTalk.

l l l

Tell someone especially an adult Go to a hospital and ask about drugs that can stop you from getting HIV Report to the police before taking a bath

Go to hospital near you as soon as you know you are pregnant.



Abortion is dangerous

I got pregnant when I was in P6, I felt so bad about it. My boyfriend tried to make me abort, but I refused. He ran away. My parents were not happy with me. I was sent away. His parents accepted me to live with them. But my parents later accepted me back home. I gave birth and they are willing to take me back to school. This makes me happy. Harriet, Kumi

l Boys and girls do not involve yourself in early sex. l Talk to your friends about the dangers of early sex. l Avoid bad friends. l Report anyone who tries to ask you for sex to your teachers, parents or guardian. Vivian Kityo Wakisa

l Go back every time you are told to do so. l Eat well and rest enough. l Sleep under a treated mosquito net to avoid malaria. l

Deliver your baby in a big hospital be cause you may need an operation.

GET HELP Visit or call any of these places for counseling and support: Mirembe pregnancy crisis home, Martin road, Old Kampala Wakisa Pregnancy crises Namirembe road, Old Kampala Tel. 0414576 087 Naguru Teenage Centre Kiswa Health Centre-Bugolobi, Kampala Tel. 0414 288 304/0414 288097

Gulu Youth Centre Tel. 0471 432 917

Kitgum Youth Centre Tel. 0471 439 680 Any health centre/hospital nearest to you

2

Young Talk, March 2009

Sara’s uncle is surprised about the stove. He wonders whether anyone else knows about it. Now an excited uncle wants it to be a little secret. He can not wait to tell the chief about the new stove. Sara gives the easy to light and smokeless stove as a gift to her uncle and Auntie. When the uncle tries to touch the stove, it burns his finger.

THE SPECIAL GIFT ....YOU LEARNT THIS AT SCHOOL ? DOES ANYONE ELSE KNOW ABOUT THIS ? ONLY MAMA AND GRANDMA.

GOOD ! NOW WE’LL JUST KEEP OUR LITTLE SECRET TO OURSELVES, WON’T WE ?

DICTIONARY

Smokeless: Burning with little or no smoke Secret: A thing that should not be known by other people Excited: Being happy

I DON’T KNOW WHAT’S COME OVER HIM.

AND I’LL BRING THE CHIEF TO SEE IT IN THE MORNING.

OH NO ! IT’S CRACKED !

OH I DO !...I ONLY WISH HE WOULD GIVE US A LITTLE MORE TIME.

YES SIR !

SARA TAKES SOME FIREWOOD AND LIGHTS UP THE STOVE. IN A SHORT TIME A GOOD FIRE IS BURNING LET’S LOOK AT THE DESIGN AGAIN AND FIX THE CRACK.

IT WILL NEVER BE READY ON TIME !.... WHAT DID WE DO WRONG ?

LOOKS LIKE THE TOP’S NOT STRONG ENOUGH.

GOOD MORNING. IS THE STOVE WORKING ? THE CHIEF IS COMING SOON !

WE WANT TO SEE IT TOO !

GOOD MORNING UNCLE. GOOD MORNING AUNTIE.

CALM DOWN MY SON. IT’S NOT THE STOVE. IT’S ZINGO

IT WORKS UNCLE ! ITS MY SPECIAL GIFT FOR YOU AND AUNTIE FOR THE WAY YOU HAVE HELPED ME IN SCHOOL...

AH...THERE’S VERY LITTLE SMOKE. WE MUST HAVE ONE TOO. LITTLE MARIA IS COUGHING ALL THE TIME.

IF IT DOESN’T WORK BY TOMORROW. YOUR UNCLE WILL GO WILD...

WHAT WAS THAT ?....IT’S BROKEN. YOU WANT ME TO BE THE LAUGHING STOCK OF THE WHOLE VILL.....

HMM...LET ME SEE HOW HOT IT IS.... OUCH ! IT’S SO HOT ALREADY !

....SPEC...SPECIAL GIFT, EH ? YOU REALLY ARE QUITE A CLEVER LITTLE GIRL, SOMETIMES. BUT NOW, TELL ME...ERM. WHAT WOULD YOU BE STUDYING IF YOU WENT TO SECONDARY SCHOOL ? UM...THAT IS, AH...IF YOUR FATHER

ELECTRICITY ! ELECTRICITY, EH ? A VERY INTERESTING

THE CHIEF ARRIVES AT UNCLE’S COMPOUND FOLLOWED BY A LARGE CROWD. UNCLE HAS TOLD EVERYONE ABOUT HIS NEW STOVE.

SUBJECT. I COULD BE THE FIRST MAN IN THE VILLAGE

COME AND SEE

TO GET ELECTRICITY. HAH !

THE STOVE.

HAHA ! HAHA! HAHA !

SENDS THE SCHOOL MONEY.

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



 Young Talk, February 2009

Young TALK P.O.Box 22366 Kampala Girls like playing with me. I don’t like playing with them. What can I do? Rubongeya Joshua, Buhinga PS, Kabarole At certain ages, boys do not like playing with girls. This is different from person to person. If you do not like to play with girls, you can tell them politely that you are not interested. They should respect that. I am 15, when I see a girl, I get an erection and sperms come out. Sometimes I feel like having sex. Please help. OM, 15, Moroto Army PS What comes out when you get erection is semen and not sperms. Getting erections is natural. However, if it happens every time you see a girl, then it becomes a problem because girls are everywhere. You need to focus your thoughts on other important things apart from girls. Even if you feel like having sex, it does not mean that you have to. Erections cool on their own and go away. Having sex may bring you problems like early fatherhood, HIV, STDs and dropping out of school. Are you able to look after a home and a baby at 15 years? You are not. It is now one month since I started seeing white spots that look like flour mixed with water, coming out of my penis. What could that be? Ongom T, 14, Layibi Central PS, Gulu We cannot tell what this spot is without seeing it. Please visit a hospital or a clinic and let a medical person look at that spot. Some people say there are condoms for young people. Is that true? Nalutaya B, 14, Timothy Bunyere PS, Masaka No dear, there are no condoms for young people. They are for adults only. That is why children should delay sex until they are adults and have found a wife or husband. They should test for HIV and agree to be faithful to each other. I have a boyfriend. He buys me sweets and pancakes. He usually asks me for sex. But he has other

Win a Book Write and tell us when you said NO to sex. Tell us the full story. Best 10 stories win story books. Write to Young Talk P.O.Box 22366 Kampala.

avoid stay in school and to x se ng yi la de e We ar pils of Mayuge PS early pregnancy. Pu sexual partners. What can I do? AL, Akwari Kwar PS, Kumi My dear, do not have sex for sweets and pancakes. You are going to destroy yourself and your future. Wait for the right person and the right time.This can be after

school and after testing for HIV. Have you tested for HIV with your boyfriend? You can get HIV/ STDs and also become pregnant. Please stop taking his things. Is it true that a girl who throws her pads in the latrine will pro-

duce? Nabwire Eresi, Bukobe Maboke PS, Busia Oh yes, she will produce. A girl who throws her pads in the latrine is clean and responsible.The latrine is one of the best places to throw pads.

KNOW YOUR BODY - Having pimples is natural I have alot of pimples on my face. I feel bad about it. What can I do? Apio Grace, 14, P7, Kitante PS, Kampala

friends must also be having them. You do not have to feel bad.As you grow they will go away.

Pimples are a normal body change, which happens during adolescence. Nearly every adult has ever had pimples. Some of your

Be ware of child sacrifice Child sacrifice is a crime that is common in our society. Make sure it does not happen to you: l Do not take lifts and gifts from people you do not know. l Avoid walking at night and in lonely places. l Stay alert and be aware of your surrounding. l Walk with friends. l If you think someone is following you,change directions. l Tell your parents whenever you are leaving home. l Do not accepts eats from strangers.

You can however control them by washing your face with clean water and soap everyday.

Advice My mother died of AIDS. When I fell sick, I also tested positive. I live with my cousin. But her husband asks me for sex whenever she is not around. I fear to tell her. What can I do? I do not want to pass on the HIV. N.H P7, 15 Marumbu PS, Kyenjojo Please advise NH Send your advice to Young Talk P.O. Box 22366 Kampala and WIN books, pens and rulers

Publisher: STRAIGHT TALK FOUNDATION 4 Acacia Avenue, Kololo, P. O. Box 22366, Kampala, Tel: (031) 262030/1, Fax: 534858, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], Executive Director: C. Watson; Communications Director: T. Agutu, Editorial Manager: E. Kimuli, Editors: M. Akello, D. Agaba, J. Abongowath, Writer: E. Mirembe, Photo Editor: G. Awekofua, Chief Designer: M. Kalanzi, Designers: GB. Mukasa, Allan B. Dentine Printer: The New Vision Young Talk is funded by DANIDA, DFiD & SIDA.