10 years of Straight Talk
Dec 15, 2003
Ten years ago, there were very few national programmes to address adolescent reproductive health and sexuality in the country.
Ten years ago, there were very few national programmes to address adolescent reproductive health and sexuality in the country. Now Straight Talk Foundation has filled the information gap, writes Stephen Ssenkaaba
THE beginning was hard, the future uncertain. The sceptics dismissed the idea as far-fetched and unworkable. But the vision bearers held on to their dream.
Ten years ago, there were very few national programmes to address adolescent reproductive health and sexuality in the country.
Then, sexuality and reproductive health were hardly talked about in schools and homes. This led to risky sexual behaviour among many adolescents. Something had to be done.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) came up with an idea of a newsletter on adolescent sexual reproductive health to be distributed to youth in different parts of the country.
The organisation contacted Catherine Watson, then a freelance journalist with The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and entrusted her with the task of designing the proposed newsletter. But she had another idea.
“I told them (UNICEF) that instead of publishing a newsletter, we should come up with a real newspaper that would help teenagers to stay safe,†says Watson, Communications Director and Founder of what is today known as Straight Talk Foundation (STF).
Then Straight Talk came into the picture.
Watson produced the first issue of Straight Talk newspaper on October 19, 1993.
For its first publication, the publication relied on a big article from Dr. Donna Kabatesi, then at the STD clinic, Mulago, now director of Centre for Disease Control.
“We distributed our first publication to 800 secondary schools throughout the country,†says Watson. A few months later Watson, found Anne Akia Feidler, then a freelance journalist.
“We started working together. Anne worked from her desk at The New Vision. I worked from home. We were supported by a group of brilliant young doctors and counsellors including Elly Tumwesigye, Edith Nnaku, Edith Mukisa and Joy Oguttu,†she adds.
These people also took part in STF organised school visiting programmes where they talked to youth about sexuality and reproductive health.
The copies of the first issue also were inserted at an affordable price in the New Vision newspaper.
Despite its modest beginnings and thin staff structure, Straight Talk was determined to go on.
With its eyes on keeping adolescents safe through the provision of behavioural change communication programmes and life skills development, STF tackled various issues on sexuality and reproductive health.
“We discussed topics on sexuality, reproductive health, and body changes in a very neutral yet open way without sounding vulgar, says Watson.
Even though the publication came out as a surprise to the public, it was well received by students, teachers and parents
“Within a few weeks of the first issue, students started writing to us seeking more information about sexual and reproductive health.
Soon, we started receiving requests from head- teachers asking us to visit their schools and talk to students, says Watson proudly.
As the popularity of the publication grew in schools, the need to have more staff and funding increased.
In 1997 Straight Talk Foundation was registered as a Non Governmental Organisation and got its first home in a small office along Bukoto Street in Kamwokya.
After gaining its NGO status, Straight Talk Foundation continued conducting school visits and publishing the Straight Talk newspaper.
In 1998, management of the organisation introduced another publication called “Young Talkâ€.
“Since Straight Talk targeted adolescents between the ages of 15-19, we came up with Young Talk for primary school adolescents aged 10-14 year olds,†says Watson.
The publication whose monthly circulation has reached 400, 000 copies contains messages on delaying sex, avoiding early pregnancies and STDs among others.
After Young Talk, STF introduced Teacher Talk, a quarterly newspaper for primary school teachers.
With termly distribution of 250,00 copies per month, Teacher Talk helps teachers to manage their own sexual health and encourage a safe supportive environment for adolescent sexual and reproductive health in schools.
After the introduction of Teacher Talk, STF found it necessary to reach out to the unschooled adolescents, thus introducing quarterly local language newspapers in Ateso, Luo, Runyakitara and Luganda.
Circulating 80,000 copies, these newspapers cover topics such as STD treatment, family planning, abstinence and condom use.
Through the introduction of Farm TALK and Tree Talk, STF in partnership with Government has spearheaded the teaching of agriculture and the environment in schools.
In order to reach more youth, the organisation started radio shows in 1999.
The shows in English, Luo, Runyakitara, Ateso, Lugbara and Samia are mostly for out-of-school children.
STF also started a school visits programme where the foundation works with pupils, students, teachers and parents.
According to Watson, plans are underway to introduce, Parent Talk, a newspaper that will inform parents on how to keep marriages safe from HIV and how to help their children stay safe.
As messages from different beneficiaries reveal, Straight Talk Foundation has been a blessing to many.
“Since I started Straight Talk, I have stopped having sex,†said one student.
“Young Talk has helped me a lot in answering children’s questions on issues like menstruation and STDs,†said a teacher from Gulu.
Through its multimedia programmes, Straight Talk Foundation has grown to reach two million adolescents, one million parents and teachers every month while making 1,404 radio broadcasts a year.
Watson attributes this to enabling government policies, freedom of the press and a team of energetic and dedicated staff.
And just as the organisation looks up to the future, the past is one worth celebrating.
Ends
THE beginning was hard, the future uncertain. The sceptics dismissed the idea as far-fetched and unworkable. But the vision bearers held on to their dream.
Ten years ago, there were very few national programmes to address adolescent reproductive health and sexuality in the country.
Then, sexuality and reproductive health were hardly talked about in schools and homes. This led to risky sexual behaviour among many adolescents. Something had to be done.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) came up with an idea of a newsletter on adolescent sexual reproductive health to be distributed to youth in different parts of the country.
The organisation contacted Catherine Watson, then a freelance journalist with The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and entrusted her with the task of designing the proposed newsletter. But she had another idea.
“I told them (UNICEF) that instead of publishing a newsletter, we should come up with a real newspaper that would help teenagers to stay safe,†says Watson, Communications Director and Founder of what is today known as Straight Talk Foundation (STF).
Then Straight Talk came into the picture.
Watson produced the first issue of Straight Talk newspaper on October 19, 1993.
For its first publication, the publication relied on a big article from Dr. Donna Kabatesi, then at the STD clinic, Mulago, now director of Centre for Disease Control.
“We distributed our first publication to 800 secondary schools throughout the country,†says Watson. A few months later Watson, found Anne Akia Feidler, then a freelance journalist.
“We started working together. Anne worked from her desk at The New Vision. I worked from home. We were supported by a group of brilliant young doctors and counsellors including Elly Tumwesigye, Edith Nnaku, Edith Mukisa and Joy Oguttu,†she adds.
These people also took part in STF organised school visiting programmes where they talked to youth about sexuality and reproductive health.
The copies of the first issue also were inserted at an affordable price in the New Vision newspaper.
Despite its modest beginnings and thin staff structure, Straight Talk was determined to go on.
With its eyes on keeping adolescents safe through the provision of behavioural change communication programmes and life skills development, STF tackled various issues on sexuality and reproductive health.
“We discussed topics on sexuality, reproductive health, and body changes in a very neutral yet open way without sounding vulgar, says Watson.
Even though the publication came out as a surprise to the public, it was well received by students, teachers and parents
“Within a few weeks of the first issue, students started writing to us seeking more information about sexual and reproductive health.
Soon, we started receiving requests from head- teachers asking us to visit their schools and talk to students, says Watson proudly.
As the popularity of the publication grew in schools, the need to have more staff and funding increased.
In 1997 Straight Talk Foundation was registered as a Non Governmental Organisation and got its first home in a small office along Bukoto Street in Kamwokya.
After gaining its NGO status, Straight Talk Foundation continued conducting school visits and publishing the Straight Talk newspaper.
In 1998, management of the organisation introduced another publication called “Young Talkâ€.
“Since Straight Talk targeted adolescents between the ages of 15-19, we came up with Young Talk for primary school adolescents aged 10-14 year olds,†says Watson.
The publication whose monthly circulation has reached 400, 000 copies contains messages on delaying sex, avoiding early pregnancies and STDs among others.
After Young Talk, STF introduced Teacher Talk, a quarterly newspaper for primary school teachers.
With termly distribution of 250,00 copies per month, Teacher Talk helps teachers to manage their own sexual health and encourage a safe supportive environment for adolescent sexual and reproductive health in schools.
After the introduction of Teacher Talk, STF found it necessary to reach out to the unschooled adolescents, thus introducing quarterly local language newspapers in Ateso, Luo, Runyakitara and Luganda.
Circulating 80,000 copies, these newspapers cover topics such as STD treatment, family planning, abstinence and condom use.
Through the introduction of Farm TALK and Tree Talk, STF in partnership with Government has spearheaded the teaching of agriculture and the environment in schools.
In order to reach more youth, the organisation started radio shows in 1999.
The shows in English, Luo, Runyakitara, Ateso, Lugbara and Samia are mostly for out-of-school children.
STF also started a school visits programme where the foundation works with pupils, students, teachers and parents.
According to Watson, plans are underway to introduce, Parent Talk, a newspaper that will inform parents on how to keep marriages safe from HIV and how to help their children stay safe.
As messages from different beneficiaries reveal, Straight Talk Foundation has been a blessing to many.
“Since I started Straight Talk, I have stopped having sex,†said one student.
“Young Talk has helped me a lot in answering children’s questions on issues like menstruation and STDs,†said a teacher from Gulu.
Through its multimedia programmes, Straight Talk Foundation has grown to reach two million adolescents, one million parents and teachers every month while making 1,404 radio broadcasts a year.
Watson attributes this to enabling government policies, freedom of the press and a team of energetic and dedicated staff.
And just as the organisation looks up to the future, the past is one worth celebrating.
Ends