Hope for Uganda

A ray of hope amid the devastation of HIV/AIDS throughout Africa: a partnership effort of more than six months between Reach the Children and the Hope Clinic Lukuli* may have started a positive chain reaction, the end of which will never be fully appreciated.  Meanwhile, it is clear that a movement has begun.  Community members are committed to living “a long, loving life!”

 

For generations, the Ugandan culture has inhibited discussion between parent and child about sensitive issues such as sexuality.  The Stay Alive™ program ‡ advocates open discourse on the subject, as it relates to choices, family, love, kindness, sacrifice, self-respect, happiness, and freedom.  This formidable effort on the part of the Hope Clinic Lukuli, which provided the funding,‡ and Reach the Children, which implemented the project, touched the lives of many in the target communities.  The ripple effect of this project will mean a better life for hundreds of children and countless others as they work together to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.

 

Normally Stay Alive goes direct from implementer to school, whereas Hope Clinic Lukuli was inserted in this case to provide the outlet for the health demands and enquiries that Stay Alive could raise.  It allowed inter-school mixing through the fun events and also mobilized guardians to get children immunized, adults to consider HIV tests for themselves and kids evaluated for growth stage, nutrition guidance and their own HIV status.  That variation has been successful and schools are now using Hope Clinic for malaria treatments and other health matters.  They supply free government malaria treatment and have access to free nets so Stay Alive has raised awareness of topics and also forged a link to child health providers.  The program was introduced first to school advisors and religious group leaders in the area of Kampala.  Once their support was gained, head teachers and teachers attended a one-day workshop that gave them an overview of the program.  Seven different primary schools sent representatives, totaling an outreach to over 2400 children.  With the funds raised by the Hope Clinic Lukuli, through ‘Until There’s A Cure’ ( the funding organization who so generously supported these efforts), Reach the Children was able to provide hard copy manuals of the program to the teachers, students, and parents.  Trainers also conducted workshops at each school on site.  These training sessions not only trained the teachers in their own environment, but also reached more school administrators and dormitory matrons and patrons for those in boarding school.  This training included effective teaching methods of the Stay Alive program, such as the “5 P’s”: picture, participation, practice, pledge, and parent participation.  Additionally, the Reach the Children trainers were able to fix dates for parent meetings through the teacher training sessions. 

 

Several of the parent meetings were well-attended, making the potential for a connection in the daily lives of the children much more likely.  Parents were introduced to culturally-appropriate ways of addressing these sensitive issues with their children.  Because a critical piece of the effectiveness of the Stay Alive program rests with the parent-child interaction, Reach the Children trainers were pleased with the participation.  The trainers acknowledged some obstacles in relationship to this piece of the program, such as 1) parents often tried to protect their daughters, but felt that their sons could learn about sex on their own, 2) the children needed to make decisions regarding sex for themselves (not use excuses like, “My parents told me to wait until I’m married…”), and 3) children look to their parents as role models and therefore the parents have a responsibility to lead by example.  The trainers encouraged the parents to not just lecture their children, but to take time with them and discuss the issues.  Talking about the issues, such as sexuality, with the children before they become sexually active provides accurate information and opens the door for continued communication as questions arise throughout puberty.  The parents agreed that they needed to be approachable, should be kind and understanding, be truthful, be willing to listen, and reinforce responsible behavior with personal stories.  Above all, the parents agreed that now is the time to talk about sex, instead of waiting until the window of opportunity has passed.

 

Perhaps one of the best ways to ensure the success of the program is through follow up action.  The Hope Clinic Lukuli hosted a Saturday activity called “Stay Alive treats.”  They have continued to host them since the children enjoyed them so much.  In these sessions, facilitators allowed open discussions, reflection, and applications of the lessons learned in the Stay Alive program.  Games and music were used to gain trust and demonstrate mutual respect between the participants before and after the discussions.  In this way, parents and other community leaders can increase their interaction and dialogue with the children.

 

The words of the Reach the Children trainers best sum up the reason behind these great efforts: “We believe that children, individuals, and whole communities have the inherent capacity to change attitudes and behaviors.  The power to fulfill this capacity is often denied or is not exercised.  This power must now be recognized, called forth and supported both from within and without.  This will enable people to initiate and sustain behaviors that promote a healthy state of mind, body, and spirit and environment.  The HIV/AIDS pandemic affects everyone.  Our experience as affected and infected individuals proves that behavioral change is possible.  Behavioral change is the most essential strategy in overcoming the HIV pandemic…  Ours is a long sustainable community solution that gives skills that not only enable individuals to change families, but to reach out to their communities.  We want to walk away and let our solutions work.”  Indeed, the seeds of a brighter tomorrow have been planted in Uganda.  Through ongoing follow up and continued support networks, those seeds will grow and blossom. 

 

Help us plant more seeds of solution by donating to Reach the Children.

 

*See more information on the Hope Clinic Lukuli at www.hcluganda.org. 

†Licensed by United Families International www.unitedfamilies.org.

‡Funds provided to Hope Clinic Lukuli by Until There’s a Cure www.utac.org.

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