Ugandas Young Stars

A newsletter for Ugandas youth, by Ugangas youth

- Self-Esteem, Self-Reflection, and Personal Identity

Im The Me I Want To Be.

THE ME I WANT TO BE
Namara Collins :: Mwengura Secondary School :: Age 17 :: Bwera Village, Bushenyi District
My name is Collins and I am the me I want to be because the colour of my face, the size of my body, the sound of my voice and the respect I give people and my fellow students. All these things make me special and make me the me I want to be.

IF YOU WERE AN ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD YOU BE AND WHY?

Kaundha Martha :: St. Theresa Primary School :: Wakiso District
If I were an animal, I would be a jaguar because jaguars are used as a symbol of power, strength, and beauty. Jaguars were once worshiped as gods. The word Jaguar comes from a Native American word meaning the killer. Jaguars are also able to take their prey in a single bound. If I were a jaguar I would also be an excellent swimmer and climber.

IS THERE A DAY IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU FELT REALLY PROUD?

Ogwang Donald :: National Teachers College Unyama :: Age 21 :: Ngai Sub-County, Oyam District
It was five years ago when I was going for my ordinary level in Doctor Obote College, Boro Boro, Lira. I was in senior two and was very social and had love for everyone. Late one Friday evening, a few friends and I were going out to shop for scholastic materials. While on our way, we saw a motorcycle parked under a mango tree behind Boro Boro dispensary. To my surprise, I was told by one of my best friends to remain behind. I accepted but was unaware of what he wanted to discuss. As we were only two now and our friends were some ten to fifteen yards from us, he told me in a low voice, Hey Donald, lets go and steal that motorcycle. I have a master key which can start it. I responded, Why do we have to steal? He said, We can sell it after stealing it and buy ourselves phones, good clothes, go for drinking, and get many girls. I refused because I thought that it could be very bad for me. Stealing the motorcycle could lead to being murdered or imprisoned for a good number of years. If I got caught, it could also be problematic for my parents. Since that time my life has turned out to be very good. I studied onwards and now am a student at the National Teachers Collage and am pursuing my diploma. If I had stolen the motorcycle, I might not be where I am today. After the incident I feared that some of my

other friends would leave me, but they didnt, and we continue to be friends even today. I have told my story to many people, especially the youth, so that they can learn from what happened to me. That day I decided not to be pressured by a bad friend to take a motorcycle, and Im glad that I made that choice because now I feel great and proud of myself for making the decision not to steal.

Ugandas Young Stars :: Volume 1 :: February 2012

WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT:

BEING A MEMBER OF YOUR TRIBE OR BEING A UGANDAN CITIZEN?
Nagadya Deborah :: St. Theresa Primary School :: Wakiso District
I like being a Ugandan citizen because Uganda is a civilized and democratic country. People cultivate the land and are friendly and caring. We live in a small country but our soil is rich and we have a good climate and green vegetation. We are also lucky that Uganda has rarely had wars. Ugandans also have a wonderful way of dressing! Oh! That is why I love being a citizen of Uganda.

Mbabazi Evelyn :: St. Theresa Primary School :: Wakiso District

I was three years old when my father left us and went to work in another country. He had been gone a long time and my siblings and I knew little about him. On Easter we had a big surprise, he returned home! I wasnt expecting it because we were so young when he left but that day we came face to face. We danced, rejoiced and made fun. We had lost hope thinking that our father had died a long time ago. That was a day that was very special and made me very happy.

Atino Teddy :: Icheme Girls School :: Form 5 :: Age 18 :: Oyam

Im by the name of Atino Teddy, Im a Ugandan and a Lango by tribe. I live in a small village called Baribule in Ngai Sub-County, Oyam District. I am a student and Im in form five at Icheme Girls School. Im a girl who is social and approachable. I also like studies and am ambitious. I like making choices that are beneficial and achievable as far as education is concerned. After completing my studies I would like to become a teacher. All of these qualities and dreams make me who I am and I like that. I work hard in order to pass my examinations so that I can succeed and go to university. I want to become a teacher because I admire their way of conduct. Teachers have decent dressing codes, are rarely drunkards, are not vulgar, and they are moral in their behaviour. I also want to become a teacher to promote literacy in my community. I look forward to having the chance to educate our young, growing generations. Im especially passionate about educating girls whose rights are being degraded in my home village and the surrounding areas. I wish to embrace girlchild education which will act as means of empowering women. Women are too often only looked at as an instrument of production, especially baring children, and their ideas are not taken into consideration. I disagree with this and would like to become an educator so that I can establish the ideas of liberty, equality, fraternity, and freedom of expression to transform the community into a better place as well as uplift standards of living. Furthermore, teaching is a good profession because the wages are good and would allow me to care for my family. My income would help to reduce dependency burdens for basic necessities like food, shelter, payment of school fees, and medical care.

Above all I would like to be exemplary in my community. If I become a role model I can encourage other people to copy my good behavior and live positively which will, in turn, transform our community. I also think that this will promote understanding amongst people which reflects civilization. In conclusion, education is always my first priority and everyone should make a choice that he/she thinks is best for him/her so that our communities, counties, districts, and our country is developed socially, academically, politically, and culturally. That way the whole world will recognize and appreciate Uganda.

Ugandas Young Stars :: Volume 1 :: Page 2

IS THERE A DAY IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU FELT REALLY PROUD?

Asiimue Victoria :: St. Theresa Primary School :: Wakiso District
There was a day during which I was very proud of myself. My mother had been invited to a ceremony and my father had gone to work. They locked their room in fear of theft. My second brother was supposed to hold the key, but we found that it got lost. We looked for it but werent able to find it. I went and got a bunch of keys and started trying all of them in the padlock. One of the keys opened the door! After that my father said to me You are a very responsible girl, and you will inherit your parents wealth. That day, I was very proud of myself.

Amutuhaire Susan :: Mwengura Secondary School :: Age 17 :: Rwemitoozo Village, Bushenyi District
One day my school introduced a new debating system called middle school system. Some students were chosen to be the main speakers and I was chosen as a rebato, which means a concluder. When I gave out my opinions, I managed to convince many students and they ended up all supporting our side. We become the winners as the motion was stated that bride price should be abolished. That day we won the debate and I was really proud.

Atyang Jenifer :: Icheme Girls School:: Icheme, Oyam District

There is a day in my life that I cannot forget, regarding education. I am really, really proud of it. When I was in primary five and before that when I was still in primary three and four, I didnt go to school, even though people tried to force me. I would just think, What is the use of education? After all I dont have parents, and who will pay for my school fees? When I reached primary five in 2007, I started thinking about education, and one day I dreamt that I was the only one in our family who had reached secondary school. My dream became true! In our family we have seven people, six girls and one boy, who is the last-born from my side. I am the fifth born, and I am the only one who has reached secondary. My sisters didnt study because we didnt have parents to pay their school fees. I really liked studying but had no one to pay for me. I lost my mother when I was only four years old, and I lost my father in 2001 when I was only six years old. My four sisters stopped at primary seven because no one was able to pay for them. Starting from that day, I dreamt about education, and I really had an interest in studying even though no one could help me. During holiday for third term on 23rd, 12 2007, my birthday, my older sister and the follower promised me that they were going to pay my school fees, and they told me that they wanted me to study up to university because they didnt reach secondary. I asked them how I would reach that level when we dont have money. They told me that they are going to work hard and pay my school fees up to the level of

school I want. I shouted, Glory be to God! because I was very, very happy, and I was really, really proud about it. I like education more than food. From that day until now, I have prayed to God that I will finish my education as my sister said I would. Unfortunately my other sister, who was struggling to pay my fees, is very sick and she might tell me that I have to stop school because there is no money to pay my fees. I am really, really proud of education but have no one to help me. I like education because I want to achieve my goals. I wish someone could help me. I will be very, very proud again and again because of education. I tell you solemnly, I am really, really proud of education.

Ugandas Young Stars :: Volume 1 :: Page 3

IF YOU WERE AN ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD YOU BE AND WHY?

Amolo Barbara :: Icheme Girls School :: Icheme, Oyam District
Animals are some of the most wonderful creatures on earth. God made them in special ways and they have a way of life that I admire very much. Undomesticated animals are independent, they dont plan for the future at all. Domesticated animals are simply concerned and worried about the time their owners will release them so they can go out and satisfy their animal instinct. These are the reasons why animals are always happy, they do not have any problems with nature and how they are created. If I were an animal I would be a lioness because of how they behave and spend their lives in the jungle. Lionesses are queens of the jungle and lions are the kings. The lioness is always respected, honored, and feared because of her bravery. Lionesses and lions have more independent lives compared to any other animals on earth because they eat what they feel like. They are on top of the food chain. The way a lioness hunts in the jungle is by waiting, targeting its prey, catching it, and finally eating it without fear or favor. When a lioness has the intention of eating something, it will. The only thing a lioness prey does is run for its dear life, otherwise it is going to be eaten and nothing will be said about it as its remains to rot in the soil without burial. Lionesses and lions are above all laws and rules in jungles. They are not guided; instead they guide and take care of themselves without any other animals interfering Essay questions for the next issue: YOUTH EMPOWERMENT 1. What is Empowerment? 2. Are there any issues that you feel passionately about (ex.- girls education, protecting the environment, fighting corruption)? Why do you feel strongly about this issue and how can you and other youth work to bring about change? 3. If you were married to someone who was HIV+, would you still want to have kids? How would you discuss your options? Please turn in essays by March 9, 2012.
Ugandas Young Stars Volume 1 Page 4 Published by United States Peace Corps Volunteers

with their way of life. They decide what to do and when to do it. This is the kind of free life that I admire most- to be feared and respected. I tell you solemnly if I were an animal I would choose to be a lioness because when it comes to the kitchen, Im always at the top of distribution as a lioness is and at the same time I have the power and strength to guide and take care of myself without anyone else guiding me.

DO BOYS AND GIRLS HAVE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES GROWING UP?

Nandutu Gloria :: St. Theresa Primary School :: Wakiso District
Boys and girls have different experiences growing up. Girls start their adolescence earlier than boys. Both boys and girls go through puberty and along with body changes we can experience fast and extreme changes in emotion. Ive noticed that sometimes I can become angry quickly. It can even last for a whole week! Luckily I have caring teachers and friends who advise me to take things in stride and take life step by step, which helps me when Im struggling with emotional changes.