Stay Alive Program in Uganda Schools

Uganda in-country director Jane Agolo has been sharing excellent updates on the Stay Alive program.  This program educates young children on important issues related to sex education and HIV/AIDS awareness.  This critical educational campaign is absolutely changing the lives of the children involved and Jane’s commitment to the program has been integral to its success.  The following list shows the ways in which the program is positively impacting the children’s lives.

The twenty-five schools that are engaged in the Stay Alive program provide a shelter from harsher realities of life in the following ways:

• They shelter most of the innocent children from early marriages;
• They help many people, especially the HIV/AIDS affected individuals, to know the value of living positively;
• They help those who are yet unaffected by the virus to abstain from situations that may lead them to acquire HIV/AIDS;
• They encourage the youth to focus on their studies and provide hope for a better life ahead; and
• They give youth tools for choosing good friends which promotes a happy life in the society.

The Stay Alive Program has touched over twenty thousand youth in Kaberamaido, especially primary school children. It has become part of their lives. In schools they have Stay Alive clubs.  The youth involved in this programming are dedicated to their studies and to living a life that will keep them free from HIV/AIDS.  They learn about the risks and preventative measures through after school programs adopted by the various participating schools.  They learn the Stay Alive curriculum through drama, songs and in-class assignments. 

Recently we gave out Stay Alive books to schools and below are pictures of children of Akwalakwala Primary School.

 

Program Highlight:  Meet Akello Ann Grace.  She is a pupil of Alem Primary School in Kaberamaido district.  She is a 13-year old girl in P5 Class, living with her grandmother.  Akello lost both parents and it is her grandmother who provides her basic needs.  Akello loves the Stay Alive Program in that, it has given her hope and strength to go on with her studies.

Of course, without the dedication and training of the teachers and the support of Jane Agolo, they would never have this opportunity to learn and thrive in a healthy way.  Thank you for all you do!