Pupils get life skills to fight HIV/AIDS
Jul 22, 2007
A forum has been introduced in several primary schools in Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso districts to sensitise pupils on HIV/AIDS.
By Elvis Basudde
A forum has been introduced in several primary schools in Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso districts to sensitise pupils on HIV/AIDS.
The SAS Winner’s Society empowers children with life skills on how to avoid getting HIV/AIDS, helping the infected people and coping with the problem.
The programme is the brainchild of SAS Foundation, a non-governmental organisation in Bugolobi, Kampala.
Under the programme, every school is given a mentor who forms the Winner’s Society to sensitise pupils.
“We can use children to fight HIV since their behaviour is still at an early stage of development, unlike adults,†says the Rev. Obed Rubaiza, the head of mentorship.
Rubaiza says: “HIV has rendered many children orphans, a situation that makes them think that they are always at the receiving end. SAS Foundation, therefore, thought calling the children winners would give them a positive message to boost their confidence.â€
Rubaiza say they started in 2005, with 55 HIV+ people, who were trained as mentors. These were given skills in counselling, community mobilisation and information related to HIV/AIDS.
After the training, the mentors were deployed in schools to start Winner’s Society.
He says: “We decided to train HIV+ people because they understand the HIV/AIDS problem.
He says 75 people have so far benefited from mentorship, 40 of work as mentors in schools.
“If the children are trained well, they can influence the behaviour of their colleagues,†says Rubaiza.
In schools, the society has a cabinet, which comprises a president, secretary and other executives.
Mentors make sure that the children are given the right information to avoid misinterpretation and falsehood related to HIV/AIDS.
“There are some people who associate HIV/AIDS to witchcraft or cultural misfortunes, but the children who have been taught and empowered by the mentors will help remove that kind of falsehood,†he says.
Currently, the Winner’s Society operates in over 60 primary schools, in the four districts.
Many pupils in the society say they have benefited a lot from the programme.
Tracy Akandika, 11, is the president of SAS Winner’s Society in Nagulu Infant and Primary School.
She says the programme has empowered her and her colleagues to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS.
Samuel Malinga, 12, the president of the society in Biina Primary School, says the programme has taught him the importance of abstaining from sex.
Caroline Lakoti, 13 and Gloria Namulima, 12, of the same school, say they have benefited a lot from the programme.
The programme has been well-received in many schools.
Charles Isabirye, the headteacher of St. James Biina Primary School, says: “When these children get the information, it is very difficult for them to forget. They carry the same information to other people in community.â€
Charles Mugisha, the headteacher of Nagulu Infant and Primary School, says the programme has benefited everybody — teachers, pupils and the whole community.
A forum has been introduced in several primary schools in Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso districts to sensitise pupils on HIV/AIDS.
The SAS Winner’s Society empowers children with life skills on how to avoid getting HIV/AIDS, helping the infected people and coping with the problem.
The programme is the brainchild of SAS Foundation, a non-governmental organisation in Bugolobi, Kampala.
Under the programme, every school is given a mentor who forms the Winner’s Society to sensitise pupils.
“We can use children to fight HIV since their behaviour is still at an early stage of development, unlike adults,†says the Rev. Obed Rubaiza, the head of mentorship.
Rubaiza says: “HIV has rendered many children orphans, a situation that makes them think that they are always at the receiving end. SAS Foundation, therefore, thought calling the children winners would give them a positive message to boost their confidence.â€
Rubaiza say they started in 2005, with 55 HIV+ people, who were trained as mentors. These were given skills in counselling, community mobilisation and information related to HIV/AIDS.
After the training, the mentors were deployed in schools to start Winner’s Society.
He says: “We decided to train HIV+ people because they understand the HIV/AIDS problem.
He says 75 people have so far benefited from mentorship, 40 of work as mentors in schools.
“If the children are trained well, they can influence the behaviour of their colleagues,†says Rubaiza.
In schools, the society has a cabinet, which comprises a president, secretary and other executives.
Mentors make sure that the children are given the right information to avoid misinterpretation and falsehood related to HIV/AIDS.
“There are some people who associate HIV/AIDS to witchcraft or cultural misfortunes, but the children who have been taught and empowered by the mentors will help remove that kind of falsehood,†he says.
Currently, the Winner’s Society operates in over 60 primary schools, in the four districts.
Many pupils in the society say they have benefited a lot from the programme.
Tracy Akandika, 11, is the president of SAS Winner’s Society in Nagulu Infant and Primary School.
She says the programme has empowered her and her colleagues to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS.
Samuel Malinga, 12, the president of the society in Biina Primary School, says the programme has taught him the importance of abstaining from sex.
Caroline Lakoti, 13 and Gloria Namulima, 12, of the same school, say they have benefited a lot from the programme.
The programme has been well-received in many schools.
Charles Isabirye, the headteacher of St. James Biina Primary School, says: “When these children get the information, it is very difficult for them to forget. They carry the same information to other people in community.â€
Charles Mugisha, the headteacher of Nagulu Infant and Primary School, says the programme has benefited everybody — teachers, pupils and the whole community.