A Youth to Youth Initiative story from Uganda
Since 1995, DSW has established hundreds of youth clubs for sexual and reproductive health education and AIDS prevention training in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Through our Youth-to-Youth (Y2Y) Initiative, peer educators at these clubs teach other young people how to prevent unwanted pregnancies, HIV infections, and how they can implement positive changes in their own lives and in the lives of others in their communities.
The following is a personal from one of these members, Nabajju Stellah. She is a member of the Kasanje Youth Centre in Uganda.
“I got pregnant in school and did the exams while pregnant. Thank god that I passed well. While pregnant I saw myself as a failure in life. I would sit alone most of my times and shed tears because I thought it was the end of my journey. When it was time, I gave birth to my baby boy, Mawanda Davine Steven Kyewalyanga.
After some good time had passed, I started looking for jobs to earn a living and to raise funds to pay for my tuition when I went back to school. I got a job in one of the primary schools which were around and started teaching in it. I made “Mandazi” (warm, sweet snacks), so as to raise enough funds as I did not want to disturb my parents. I was successful in the first two weeks but as time went on, things turned against me, I made losses and this forced me to quit the job. I thought I was cursed.
When my son became one, I went looking for vacancies in primary teachers’ colleges. I tried NC PTC, Shimon PTC but no one was accepting applications. Thank god that when my parents heard of it, we were able to sit around the table and discuss the matter. It was then that my Dad gave me a chance to go back to school but on some conditions.
Under the conditions, I was told to take the boy to his father if I wanted to go back to school and if I didn’t, he was not going to support me. I was told to join the teaching course because if not I could do away with education. Though I looked for vacancies before becoming pregnant, I only did it because I had nothing to do but it was certainly not my priority. I had bigger plans for future before I became pregnant but when I found out, I felt that I had messed up and that my life had ended. I couldn’t go on with the plans that I had.
While at school, I still saw myself as a failure in life. I completed the teacher’s course, passed well and got a job. I joined this Y2Y club and I was counseled and given many examples of people in my situation. I found out that I was not alone. My counselor, Mr. Matovu Bosco, help me overcome the negative thoughts I had about myself. He told me that many girls like me get pregnant but don’t get a chance of going back to school. He told me to look at what I had achieved so far and to like my profession as a teacher. After some time, I felt that I was greater than anyone on this earth.
It’s in this club that I have learnt that I should always believe in myself. I learnt life skills while at school but really only got to know about them here in this club. Furthermore, in this club I have gone for trainings and in this, I have now more courage. Thank you.”
