SUPPORT HEALTH NEEDS OF 1000 ADOLESCENTS IN UGANDA

Introduction:

This report highlights the project's achievements in empowering adolescents in Kawempe through school outreach initiatives.

School Outreach Initiatives:

School Partnerships: Established partnerships with 3 secondary schools in Kawempe, gaining access to a wider population of adolescents.

Collaborated with educators to integrate SRH topics into the school curriculum, ensuring sustained impact beyond project duration.

Interactive Workshops: Conducted 30 interactive workshops within schools, covering the same SRH topics addressed in community dialogues (healthy relationships, contraception, menstrual hygiene, and STI prevention).

Peer Education Integration: Trained peer educators to deliver workshops within their own schools, fostering a sense of peer support and encouraging open communication.

Life Skills Training: Incorporated life skills training modules into workshops, focusing on communication, decision-making, and negotiation skills to empower adolescents to make informed choices regarding their health.

Impact of School Outreach:

Increased Reach: School outreach significantly expanded the project's reach, reaching an additional 720 adolescents (55% female, 45% male) through workshops.

Improved Accessibility: Provided a safe and familiar environment for adolescents to access information and ask questions.

Peer-to-Peer Learning: Enhanced peer support and encouraged open communication about SRH topics.

Conducted peer-led sessions in schools, engaging approximately 300 adolescents and promoting peer-to-peer support networks.

Life Skills Development: Equipped adolescents with valuable skills to navigate social and health challenges.

Overall Project Achievements:

Combined Outreach: Combining community and school outreach efforts, the project has directly impacted the lives of over 1,930 adolescents.

Knowledge Gain: Surveys indicate a consistent trend in increased SRH awareness (over 90%) following workshops in both settings.

Increased Confidence: Project interventions have empowered over 80% of participants to discuss SRH concerns with peers and healthcare providers.

Conclusion:

The project's focus on school outreach has significantly broadened its impact. By partnering with schools, utilizing peer educators, and incorporating life skills training, the project has fostered a supportive environment for open communication and empowered adolescents to make informed health choices.

We believe that by working collaboratively with schools, communities, and policymakers, the SUPPORT HEALTH NEEDS OF 1,000 ADOLESCENTS project can create a lasting positive impact on the health and well-being of young people in Kawempe.