A team of over seventy (70) university students and Senior Six leavers have completed their training as peer educators to pass on sexual reproductive health and rights information to other young people.
The group underwent a training program by Reach a Hand Uganda (RAHU) called Peer Educators’ Academy, an initiative that provides a platform to train and equip young people with in-depth information and skills on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), as well as life skills and entrepreneurship.
The knowledge acquired is then passed on to other peers in the community so that informed choices are made by all in regard to their sexuality and livelihoods.
After the training, the peer educators then proceed to rigorous outreaches in different schools and communities across the country over the course of the year, sharing the acquired information and skill with their agemates wherever they go.
Speaking at the event to commission the trainees on Friday, Issa Buka, RAHU’s Programs Manager said he was confident of the unique skills possessed by this year’s peer educators
“We have been blessed with enthusiastic young people who were eager to learn and be ready to be ambassadors to their peers when it comes to passing on sexual reproductive health and rights information,” Buka said.
Humphrey Nabimanya the RAHU Team Leader noted that for the first time since inception, the Academy welcomed young participants with disabilities, who freely interacted, learnt and mingled with everyone else.
“It was a huge step forward to achieving the desired level of inclusivity for all young people,” he said.
The month long training that was held at Victoria University, had notable inspirational speakers like Gen Elly Tumwine, Dr. Maggie Kigozi, Dr. Sulaiman Kiggundu, Ricky Rapa Thompson who co-founded Safeboda and officials from the Ministry of Education and Sports among others.
Speaking at ceremony, Dr. Karusi Kiragu the Country Director of UNAIDS Uganda applauded Reach A Hand Uganda for using the peer educators model to reach out to other young people across Uganda.
“There is the perceived credibility of peer educators for the target group. The fact of sharing background, interests and use of language easily facilitates the transfer of information and that young people tend to talk freely with their peers about most subjects, including sensitive issues such as HIV/AIDS awareness, reproductive health,” Dr. Karusi said.
Reach A Hand Uganda also appreciated and recognize individuals who have been instrumental to its growth as an organization right from inception in 2010. These were Kin Kariisa, CEO of Next Media Services, Maj. Rubaramira Ruranga, HIV/AIDS champion, and Dr. Maggie Kigozi, an entrepreneur.
The Reach A Hand, Uganda Peer Educators Academy is supported by the Segal Family Foundation, Rutgers, and Victoria University.
