CAPs Friday 9/4/10

Moses writes to you about his CAP:

 

YOUTH CRACK HIV IN SCHOOLS (YCHS)
Before getting to the Africa Youth Summit in South Africa in 2009, I must admit I was behind the world by an uncertain step! Back then, I didn’t know that my ideas would lead to great positive change and turn out to be of national concern. At the summit, all sessions were positive agents of change and engaging in a conversation about community action projects was my turning point and indeed has turned out to be a turning point in our country. I learnt of the work that young people are doing in their communities and how they have made change. I wanted them to help me in my community but the summit put it clear that I was that agent who could make the change which I wanted to see. Yes we had come from different countries but with common goals of changing our communities though in varying fields or sectors. As for me, I went cracking HIV which has greatly affected the youth in Uganda.  

 

On my return to Uganda, I straight away went to a local school where I was practicing teaching. While there, I looked at ways of raising my flag of change. After forming one Anti –HIV/AIDS club, I went to my district of birth to raise my flag of change.

Three weeks after the Summit, I was engaged in serous visits to schools, youth organisations, churches and local leaders creating awareness and seeking permission to have my activities codified. We therefore decided to develop the Youth Crack HIV in Schools (YCHS) project to be operational in all secondary schools in Luweero Sub County with the deep seated aim of ending stigma, promoting Positive Living and counseling.

 

 

The project has grown and picked fame since then to date. Over 4000 people (school children, youth leaders, organisations, church leaders, etc) have been reached. The project earned national and international Recognition and respect when I was nominated for the HIV national award-which is given to people who have done remarkable work in the fight of HIV /AIDS in their communities.

 

In February 2010, we registered success, when three children-1 boy and two girls, orphaned by HIV joined our model academy. Many similar cases have continued to enroll in schools with no discrimination on basis of their status. Volunteers help the children to reach new areas and funding for the projected to be widened.

 

 

The work which I started alone now has 43 people core volunteers. These are peer educators, religious leaders and political leaders, change makers, professional HIV/AIDS counselors, sexual reproductive health specialists and teachers.

 

We now have three active youth groups, one in the town and two in the deep rural villages. These strong groups make shows and interact with fellow school children in bid to crack HIV in their schools. Trainings, workshops, and counseling sessions are still going on today.

 

Currently, we are working with other partners and volunteers to have a fundraising event. In 2009, the end of year show proved to us that it could be a good fundraising avenue.

Since the establishment of the project, a magical net work has come to life and I must confess that am grateful to the changemakers team and the British council.

 

Moses