Not for SALE: Vol. 9 No.

1
February 2006
Young Talk
is FREE •Know your rights
Sex education for •Stay in school
primary schools
•Read your books
Young Talk welcomes you to the New Year 2006
Make a decision to stay safe from HIV/AIDS, STDs want to be in Young Talk. In this issue Young
•Be creative
and early pregnancy. Young Talk is your Talkers in Mbale, Kabarole and Kasese write
newspaper, the young adolescents between the about the good and bad things their friends
age of 10-14 years or those in P5-P7. made them do. •Wait to have sex
This year we are putting it in your hands. We
come to you and ask you to write what you Enjoy reading and writing to Young Talk.

What friends
made me do Friends are good for all
of us. They can help us Sad ending
in our studies. They When I was 13 in P5, in 2001, my friends
also keep us company suggested to take me to a certain shop so that
we could make friendship with the
and make us happy. shopkeeper.
Friends can also
encourage us to do I told them I did not want. They told me I
work at home and should leave the school or else they would be
other good things. beating me on the way home.
But friends can also These girls were getting things like sugar
cause us to do bad and sweets from the man without paying.
things. Do not
allow your One time they told me to go with them to the
friends make shop. The shopkeeper was hiding inside the
you do bad shop. They locked me inside and he
forced me into sex. I reported the
things. man and he was jailed for 12
years. But I syphilis got
Good advice treatment for STDs.
Girl, 15, Mbale
My friend Juma encouraged me to read Young
Talk and from it I have acquired knowledge on
how to stay safe. Wamusayi Rogers, Read more on
Mbale Young Talkers'
experiences
on Page 2
Escape
One day, my friends took me to a
party and they got me a girl. I
danced with her and after a
short time she told me we
should have sex.
I told her I did not have Journalist
condoms and I was not ready
to have sex. She then told me
she wanted to tell me
for a day:
something sweet from A young Talker in
outside. Mbale writes his
story
When we went out she
tried to force me into sex.
I made an alarm and people
came and started beating her.
Mandu Robert,
16, P7, Butta PS,
Mbale YOUNG TALK IS FOR TEACHERS AND PUPILS IN P5, P6 AND P7
2 Young Talk, February 2006

I helped my friend stay safe

Avoid sex
During school days I live with my
uncle. When he was away his wife
would tell me to have sex with
her. When I told my friends about
it they said, “Oh! You are stupid!
You have left sweet things." Three
of my friends told me the same
thing. But I finally talked to
another friend who told me; "My
friend we are going through the
same experience." He advised me
to pray. I prayed. I got a dream
telling me to tell my uncle. When I
told my uncle, he got up very
angry and went to his wife and
asked her what she was asking
me to do. As she was mumbling,
he slapped her. She packed her
things in shame and left. My uncle
is now married to another woman
and who is well behaved. Boy,
Butta PS, Mbale

going
She stopped
to discos to pass ed
My best friend us w to go for
h th e w in do
throug to
r to stop going 'JOURNALISTS'; The Mbale group of Young Talkers who
discos. I told he cause they might wrote this newspaper at Butta PS
discos at night be ped that habit.
rape her. She stop13, P6,
,
Mugisa John
Buhinga P S I left my friend Habits of High
Successful Te ly
I left my best friend.
He joined
bad groups. They w
He stopped marijuana, take alcoh
ould chew
ol and
enagers
A Habit is a beh
smoking have sex. I wrote hi
I
m two
chits advising him to learnt and doe aviour that someone has
had stopped b s
to Wilson bec eing a friend the group, but he ke ve
lea
know that frie automatically. Do you
n
developing ba ds can lead you into
au pt
joined bad pee se he had there. I also advised
hi
started abusin r groups and face to face but he m d habits and g
ood habits?
g
smoking. But people and refused. We stopped
In Young Talk this
two months being friends. I left year, we will give
later he came develop good habi you advice on ho
an
me to forgive d asked him but I felt very ts. The tips we will w to
him. He sad. We are both 1. Taking responsib give you include:
said he had st ility for your life
o
bad habits. N pped the Muslims. 2. Putting the mos
t important things
ow we are Kusemererwa 3. Knowing what first.
friends again. will come out of
Benard, Bu Nyaika Ismail, 13, P6, start doing it. so m ething before you
11, P6 hinga PS, Buhinga PS
4. Knowing that ot
her people have go
your ideas are no od ideas too and
t the only correct
s
She take 5. Listening to pe ones.
ople
alcohol ho joined
6. Working with ot
Young Talkers, her people to get
dw 7. Keeping and m better results
avoid risky I had a frien oys who used aking yourself be
tter
behaviour. Aboth o f b
a group t
hol and bea Get into a h
Mary Jackline to take alco I talked to her
Chairperson YT girls. When told me to for your life.ab it of taking re
sponsibil
Club and Headgirl e
about it, sh ne. She said “
things first. D t the most important ity
P u
o not let your
Kisoko PS leave h e r a lo mislead you. friends
or us we are
Go away. F g alcohol." I
okay enjoyin parents who
y
talked to m to leave her.
DICTIONARY
s:
advised m e
Acquire: get
Alarm: make a loud noise
ld her that
But I also to ds anymore.
n
are not frie me and wanted
we

Key messa g e
d
t what your
for help She a b u se y I left
. I am happ lly abou
Automatically: without to beat me Lillian, 13, P7, • Think critica .
thinking about it her. Mpanja fr ie nd s w ant you to do .
u get out of it
o P S
Critically: Weighing the Kameng w ill y o
• Ask: W h a t ,
at you want to
advantages and disadvantages
w h
For teachers
of something. k o u t. Sa y
•Spea
Experience: Something you
clearly
learn by going through it
a k e d e ci sio ns that will help
Escape: to become free •M in school.
Mumbling: speaking in a Challenge your pupils to keep a diary of
y ou st a y safe and keep
sults,
t sure of the re
low and unclear voice what their friends tell them do (they can
use an exercise book). Encourage them to • If y o u a re n o
Rape: force into sex lt.
Tip: Advice share it with their parents or you for advice. talk to an adu
4 Young Talk, February 2006

her? Girl, P7, Nakigulube

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
PS, Luweero
That is very bad. Look for somebody
older than you to talk to her aunt.
Your friend needs to talk to a teacher
or a counselor.

When I see my
girlfriend, my heart
beats fast and I feel like
having sex, what causes
that? EC, 12, P7, Pioneer
PS, Soroti
You are experiencing sexual feelings.
This is normal. But it does not mean
that you should have sex. At 12, you
are still too young. Concentrate on
your studies and play games to take
your mind off sex.

DEAR While at the PIASCY

assembly our teacher Mr

Young TALK
Nsabiyunva Benon told us to
delay sex but my brother
tells me to have sex to test
la
P.O. B0X 22366 Kampa
Thank you Straight Talk Foundation for the copies of my penis. Is this dangerous?
Young Talk you send every month. Please continue. AN, 13, P7, Iryaruvumba PS,
YT Club members of Nakigo PS, Iganga Kisoro
Yes. Early sex is dangerous. It can
Can I get AIDS if I eat stops, the virus will start reproducing does not listen to me. What lead to unwanted pregnancies, STDs/
with a person who has
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
very fast and make them very ill. can I do? Can I leave him? HIV/AIDS. Take the advice of your
HIV? Aijula A, Mbarara Okello J, YT Club member, teacher to delay sex. You do not have
St. Martyrs school If a woman has HIV and Railway PS, Kampala to test your penis. You are normal.
No. HIV is transmitted through she is pregnant, can she It is normal for a boy to play with Your brother is misleading you. You
blood, vaginal fluids and semen produce a healthy baby? girls as long as their games do not get diseases through the penis if you
exchange. And from a mother to a Naluwugge A, P6, lead to having sex. have sex.
new born baby, at birth or through Kayayumba PS, Rakai
breast milk. The main way of HIV It is possible with the use of a service Is it true that when you When I was in class, a
transmission is through sex. called Prevention of Mother To Child use condoms you can girl touched my penis.
Transmission (PMTCT). With PMTCT, avoid AIDS? Mukombe B, 15, What can I do to avoid her?
My friends are forcing a pregnant mother takes some P7, Jinja Main Street PS Kisakye J, Buhanika PS,
me to have sex or I get tablets when she is about to give Yes. When used properly and always, Hoima
out of their group. What can birth. These services are available in from right sources and not expired, That is a bad touch. Tell her not to
I do to stay with my friends? all government hospitals. condoms offer protection against do it again. If she continues, report
Drami K, Bombo Army PS HIV. her to the teacher, parent or
You are too young to have sex. You I can see that hair is guardian.
can get HIV/AIDS and other STDs. growing in my armpit I have a friend who is
Good friends do not force each other and around my penis, but I an orphan and also is I live with my aunt who
to do things they do not want. do not want it. What can HIV positive. But her aunt hates me. She gives me
Leave the group. You will get I do? OAG, Hillside brings her men to have sex a lot of work while her
better friends. Annex Mixed PS, Lira with them. How can I help children do nothing. Girl,
That is a normal physical Kalonga PS, Mubende

UIIZ
There is a friend change. Every person goes

QU
Q Z
Talk to somebody older than you,
who wanted to through it during whom you trust. This may be a
befriend me but I adolescence. You have to teacher or a relative. This person can
refused. He said he accept it. It talk to your aunt on your behalf.
would give me sh. shows that you
20,000 pocket
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN
are growing.
money. What can I Keep good Counsellor: Dr. Alex Kakoraki
do? Nyanyuma H, personal hygiene by OFFERED MONEY FOR
Headteachers!
14, P7, Parents’ cutting your hair low SEX?
Sch, Bundibugyo
WHO GAVE YOU THE
using a pair of

Renew your
This is not a true friend. scissors. Also,
He is using money to bathe regularly. MONEY?
confuse you. Stick to your
principles and continue
saying NO.
I have a
friend
WHAT DID YOU DO? PO Boxice needs
who likes Write to Young It is a new year. So Post Off
x. Rush
I have heard that Talk Money quiz you to pay for your PO Bo
playing PO Bo x does
now. A school without a
when a person is with girls. I P O Box 22366, not easily get Young Talk
Talk .
on ARVs the HIV advise him Kampala

WIN
viruses stop not to,
reproducing. Is this but he
A PRIZE
true? Nahwera
Nganwa D, Junior
Sch, Bushenyi We thank you for
It is true, if someone starts on the educative
ARVs, at the right time. For messages
some people it could be too late through Young
for ARVs to work. But even when Talk. Nakabugo STRAIGHT TALK FOUNDATION
Publisher:
someone is on ARVs, he is not free Mwajuma 12, P6, Plot 45 Bukoto St., Kamwokya, P. O. Box 22366, Tel: (0312) 262030/1,
on behalf of 041 530008 Kampala (U), Fax: 534858, E-mail: strtalk@straight-talk.or.ug,
from HIV/AIDS. strtalk@imul.com, Communications Director: C. Watson,,
pupils of
Namuwongo Programme Director: A. A. Fiedler, Editors: T. Agutu, B. Kagoro, E. Kimuli, G.
He/she can still pass it on Awekofua, Designers: M. eB. Kalanzi, Gb. Mukasa Printer: The New Vision,
the virus to another Community
Young Talk is funded by DANIDA, DFID, Ireland Aid & SIDA.
person. A person also has Muslim PS,
to be on ARVs for life. If he Kampala Hillside www.straight-talk.or.ug