Vol.10 No.

9
Not for SALE: September 2007
Young Talk
is FREE •Know your rights
Sex education for •Stay in School
primary schools
•Wait to have sex

Living
happily with
a guardian
Who is your guardian?
A guardian is a person who takes care of
children who are not his or hers. You may
have parents, but also have a guardian who
gives you what your parents cannot afford.

Today there are many orphans and needy children. Some

children live alone, while others have gone to the streets.
However, there are others who have been taken up by
relatives, family friends or even strangers who take care
of them. They are their guardians.

If you live with a guardian, be grateful for what they do

for you. Be thankful for what they give you. You should
know that you have responsibilities to fulfill like:
• listen and respect for your guardian
• talk freely with family members
• do housework without complaining
• work hard at school
• be patient when you ask for something
• accept being corrected

Remember in whatever situation you

could be, good behaviour is one of the
things that will help you achieve your goal.

Stay safe.
Quiz
Do you have someone you
wish to be like? What do you
like about them? Are they
good examples to you? In
what ways are they good
examples?
Write and send your
answers to Young Talk
and win YT
d
•Respect yourself an
School Bags

your guardian
•Get involved in
housework
lf to "We live with our Auntie and she loves us. She gives us what we need. She tells
•Do not allow yourse us to be clean and not to fight. We do house work without being told. We are
be married off early happy with our guardian". Bulyaba Peace and Joy Mulinde, Pioneer PS,
•Avoid self - pity Soroti YOUNG TALK IS FOR TEACHERS AND PUPILS IN P5, P6 AND P7
2 Young Talk, September 2007
Me and my guardian
Young Talk team travelled to Soroti and Kaberamaido districts recently. They talked to
pupils who live with guardians about their experiences. Do you have a guardian? Share
your experience with with your friends.
I'm never forced to do
work
I live with my sister. She gives me
everything that I need. I never wait
to be forced to do work because it
will annoy her. I want to continue
being good so that she continues
taking care of me. I advise other
children who live with guardians
to respect their guardians.
Opule Simon, 11, P7,
Pioneer PS Soroti
Dealing w ith grief ,
W he n yo u lo se
re nt
a pa
ief. Some
you feel al ot of gr
of pain
children feel alot en have
and they do not ev w he n
to
so m eo ne to ta lk nts.
they lose their pa re
an s w ho
So m e ge t gu ar di
d up run-
are so cruel and en
ning away from th
em
a situa-
If you are in such ul t yo u
tio n, ta lk to an ad
with and
feel comfortable
at th ings will
have faith th
get better
Patricia Wamala
STF Counsellor and Trainer
Losing a parent is very difficult.
But when all hope is gone,
somebody comes along to take
care of you.
They take you into their home
and you become part of their
family. This may be a hard time.
I'm never angry when
punished
When my uncle punishes me, I know
he wants me to become a good
person. I behave well and work hard
at school so that he is happy with me.
I also help to look after my sick
grandmother and to fetch water. We
should have good manners when we
are living with guardians so that they
are happy with us, Teopista Awor
12, P7, Pioneer PS
He is like a father to me
My guardian is not my relative. But
Improve your relationship with your guardian
Work hard at school: A good
report will make your
guardian interested in your
studies
Be grateful for whatever they
give you and be content. Do not look
for Sugar daddies or sugar mummies
to give you what your guardian cannot
give you.
Be satisfied with the love
and attention you receive from
your guardian. Do not compete with
Use the second chance
But you need to make the best of it
to achieve your dreams.
But some kids are never thankful to
their guardians. They are ever
complaining how the aunt or
uncle is mistreating them, not
giving them food and other bad
things. But how do you treat your
guardians?
We need to understand the new
families we are with now. We must
accept that it is not going to be the
same like it was with our parents.
Instead we should be thankful that
someone could give us a place to
sleep, food to eat and even send
us to school.
When to say
NO to your
guardian
My sister sometimes refuses to
he is like a father to me. He got me give me food because I have
when I had no one to go to. It was ignored her advice to get
his children who told him about me. married. I live with her because I
He gives me books, clothes, shoes lost both parents. What can I
and all the other things that I need. I do? Namujju A, 13, P5
respect him like my parent and I do Masaka Junior Sch
house work at home. Munu Gar
Daniel 12, P7, Akisim PS, It is a crime for any one
Soroti to force you into
marriage. Tell your
teacher about it or
report the matter to
police. Most
guardians mean
well. But there are
some who may
force you to do
things that may
be harmful to
your health.
Say no to a
guardian who:
I feel I'm part of the family •Asks for sex
I was brought at my uncles place to •Refuses to give you
help him in the house but he took food, medical care,
me to school. I love school and I shelter and clothing
want to thank my uncle. He gives •Forces you to get married
me everything that I need and he •Refuses you to go to school
talks to me like his real child. I feel •Gives you work that may be
part of his family, I respect him so beyond your ability to perform
much. Flavia Ikodet 10, P5, •Forces you into prostitution
Lwala PS, Kaberamaido •Isolates you from the family
your guardians children. Treat them like
your brothers and sisters.
Be positive towards life. You are
luckier to have a guardian. You have
another chance. Use it well.
Choose a good time to talk: If
you have any issues to talk about
choose a time when your guardian is
not tired.
Do not do things to annoy
your guardian. Treat them like your
own parents.
For Teachers
You can talk or write a letter to I am an orphan. I almost left
your guardians and thank them school due to problems. After
for taking care of you. They will discussing with my teacher, i
be happy and will even look hope to continue with my
after you with more care and studies. Ninshaba E, 11,
love. Butare PS, Ntungamo
But this does not mean you Teachers, you can do a
should accept mistreatment. lot to help orphans and
Some guardians demand for sex other children living
with guardians to finish
in exchange for school fees.
school. If a child
continuously misses
You don't know whether to have school/fails to get school
sex and get the fees or just stay requirements, try to find
at home and forget all about out why. Be friendly and
school. This is a terrible situation. talk to them. You can
help them to talk to
Always say no and talk to their guardians if
your teacher, or any adult nec ess ary
you trust about it.
YOUNG TALK IS FOR TEACHERS AND PUPILS IN P5, P6 AND P7
 3 Young Talk, September 2007

While Sophia talks about why she had
to go for an HIV test , her father in
law appears and asks them to leave
his compound.
Meanwhile Sophia’s child sees her
and runs towards her but the
grandfather hits her with his walking
stick to stop the child from running to
the mother. The child starts to cry and
Sara’s mother picks her up to console her.
Sophia’s father in law continues to back
at Sophia and her group asking them to
leave his compound but Sara’s mother tells
him she was not leaving his compound
until she helps to solve the problem Sophia
is facing.

Father in law: The father of your husband

The empty compound

Console: To comfort someone who is hurt

Take your evil
away from here

or the father of your wife

•Treat those who have lost
their loved ones well

Issue: A problem
Dictionary
•People living with HIV
need friends. Make
friendship with them.
•Anybody can die of AIDS.
•Help those with problems
Just then, Sofia’s father-in-law comes out of his house.... in our community

Sofia’s child runs towards How can you attack

her grandfather your own grandchild?
what has she done
wrong

Get out of here.

stop interfering
with our lives

A little later

Iam not going anywhere until

we finish this issue. Sara go
and call your father

But you
said he died
of cancer

She killed him. I gave It was AIDS,

What else a you wasn’t it?
her everything but hiding?
she killed him.

It’s...
Never not
my Son
YOUNG TALK IS FOR TEACHERS AND PUPILS IN P5, P6 AND P7
4 Young Talk, September 2007
My friends have
girlfriends. They
DEAR tell me I should
get a girlfriend too.

Young TALK
But I wanted to
continue with studies.
la How can I avoid these
P.O. B0X 22366 Kampa friends?
Okecho G. 12, P6,
Akaba PS, Nebbi
You can make new friends if you
Is it true that when a

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find it difficult to fit among them. A
girl eats sugarcane good friend is one who wishes you
during menstruation success in your studies. Ignore what
the number of days she they tell you.
spends in her periods
increase? Koire A, 14, P7, What causes pus and
g talk
Budaka F.H.P pain when urinating?
Ja ce PS Ka mpala say Youn
om
No, it is not true. There is no Owora T, 14, Ikulwe PS, Young Talkers fr to abstain from early sex
relationship between sugarcane and Mayuge has helped them
the menstruation cycle. However, Pus and pain while urinating is a
adolescent girls do not have regular sign of infection. Go for check up
menstruation cycles because they are and treatment from the nearest
still experiencing changes in their health centre
bodies. The menstrual cycle becomes
more regular as the girl grows older. I feel some pain in my
penis. What can I do?
Can a girl of 11 years S. M, Paidha Islamic
produce a baby? Foundation PS, Nebbi
Kasozi S, 13, P7, St Visit a hospital or health center and
Kizito Kyengeza PS, Mityana explain your condition to a doctor.
Yes, but with much difficulty. It can You will be helped.
lead to death. Therefore delay sex
until your body is old enough to have I feel bad when I see old
a baby. men forcing young girls
to have sex with them.
My father wants me to What advise can you give
marry. But I still want to to young girls who give in to
study. He does not give old men?
me books and pens. What Mbabazi S, 14, Nyakasura Mpigi say Young
can I do? Young talk club in Mujo PS in
Junior PS, Kabarole w the signs of STDs
Mbaju P, 13, P4, Kyamiza Thank you so much for your Talk has helped them to kno
PS, Kasese concern. And if you know of such
Sorry! You are too young to get men report them to the police
married. Tell your teacher. Try doing immediately.
jobs like digging, fetching water, Tell the girls that they risk acquiring
laying bricks to raise some little HIV, STDS and getting pregnant.
money during holidays to buy what The effects of early sex can destroy
you need for school. you forever and yet the gifts are
enjoyed for a very short time. Be
patient and work hard at school. In
future you will get whatever you
need and be able to enjoy the
results of your hard work.

My mother died of AIDS

but some people say
that I also have HIV.
Should I go for an HIV test?
Nakama N,12, P6 St Jude
PS, Tororo PS in Rukungiri with
Do not worry. Unfortunately people Members of St Paul's Community is educative and en-
Talk
often talk like that about people their teachers. They say Young
whose parents have died. couraging
However, it is good to test for HIV to buy gifts. It is likely he is getting No this is wrong! As long as you
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because it is the only way you can those gifts through wrong means start having sex, you risk getting
know whether you have HIV or not. like stealing. pregnant and also
Before and after testing you will be getting infected. Delay
talked to by friendly people. Is it true that when you sex until you are old
wash with milk after enough to deal with
There is a boy in my having sex, you do not the consequences.
school who loves me. He get pregnant?
always brings me gifts, Bona A, P6, Nkonge Umea Peter Mubala
which I have refused to PS, Sembabule Counsellor
take. What can I do?
Mwajuma N, P6,
Bunyangule PS, Bundibugyo
Publisher: STRAIGHT TALK FOUNDATION
Plot 4, Acacia Avenue, Kololo, P. O. Box 22366, Tel: (0312) 262030/1,041 530008
Morani R, 14, P7, and Okwi Kampala (U), Fax: 534858, E-mail: strtalk@straight-talk.or.ug,
I, 12, P7, Budaka FHP. Tell this boy that the reason we go strtalk@imul.com, Director: C. Watson, Deputy Director: T. Agutu, Editorial
Morani is the headgirl in to school is to succeed in education manager B. Kagoro, Editors: E. Kimuli, G. Awekofua, Reporter: J.Abongowath
her school. They are grate- not for love. Do not allow that boy Designers:Gb. Mukasa M. eB. Kalanzi, Printer: The New Vision.
ful to Young Talk for edu- to disorganize you with gifts. Ignore Young Talk is funded by DANIDA, DFID, Ireland Aid & SIDA.
cating them him. Ask him where he gets money www.straight-talk.or.ug