Not for SALE: Vol. 11 No.

5
June 2008
Young Talk
is FREE •Know your rights
Sex education for •Stay in school
primary schools
•Delay sex

Girls and boys can

do the same work
Have you ever stopped to think about the
work boys and girls do in your home or
village?

Young Talk travelled to Mpigi district

in central Uganda and talked to
pupils of St. John Bosco Katende
PS about work for boys and girls.

Nakato Martha says:

"I am given a lot of work. Wasswa does
little work. My father says boys do not do
housework. He says boys do not enter the
kitchen."

Joshua Wasswa says:

"I do not know why Nakato is given more work.
When I go to play, my father tells her to remain
home and wash plates. He told me boys are not
supposed to do work meant for girls. I can only help
my sister to fetch water but cannot cook. I am told
men are not supposed to be in the kitchen".

These stories show that there is more work for

Nakato and less for Wasswa. It is common for
girls to have more work than boys in many
families. Henry Manyire, who teaches at
Makerere University says; "this affects and
reduces the time girls have to be
children. They play less and may not
go to school while boys have more

sswa
time to be children". This is not
ua W a
, P7,
good for girls.
osh
Boys! Help girls with TWINS: J ha Nakato, 13 pigi
t
housework. There is no work
and Mar sco Katende PS M
o
St John B
that was made only for

e!
girls or just for boys.
Both can share out the
n a priz
same work equally.
Wi rk
ite down the wo
•Discuss and wr home. Now write

Good things about sharing work that girls do at at boys do.

down the work
•W ho wo rks long
th
er hours? Boys
• Nobody is overworked.
or girls?
• Work becomes easy 366, Kampala,
• Saves time Send to Box 22 at you are
• You all have enough time to read and play. stories about wh ur home to
• You learn to do different types of work like going to do in yo is shared
cooking, washing, looking after younger ones, make sure work boys and girls.
n
digging and slashing. equally betwee ll help your
• You learn to work together as a team. This ho w this wi
Tell us
ST ANSWERS
makes sisters and brothers good friends family. THE BE Talk T-SHIRTS.
g
• You all feel loved WILL WIN Youn
• You will have respect for each other
YOUNG TALK IS FOR TEACHERS AND PUPILS IN P5, P6 AND P7
2 Young Talk, June 2008

Sharing work brings happiness

FACT rk
In Uganda men wo a day.
te n ho ur s
eight to
men work
But Ugandan wo orking
12 to 18 ho ur s. W
d for
longer hours is ba
women's he alth .
rk your
Think about the wo rs do
, sis te
mother, aunt
everyday.
home
Boys! girls in your
need help wi th
Boys and girls, when you share work housework.
usework
equally, you are able to finish "We are proud to be girls. We believe we can do great Get involved in ho rk load
faster.This helps you to have time to things. When we say 'No' to something we mean No'". and re du ce th e wo
ful boy
of girls. Be a help
play and revise books. Working Gloria, Angie and Miria, St John Bosco Katende PS, Mpigi
together also helps you to build
friendship and happiness.

We do the same work
"My sister and I do equal work.
When we are reading, our mother
does all the work. Kiryowa A, 12,
St John Bosco Katende PS,
Mpigi
Both Kiryowa and his sister are
happy since they do the same work
and are treated equally. Does that
happen in your home too? If not,
think of how you can change things.
I work when I want
"I am the only boy in my family. My
sisters work as I read my books. I
sweep the compound when I want".
Sserunjogi R, 13, P7, Arch-
bishop Kiwanuka Memorial,
Mpigi
Boys and girls, be assertive Boys, just like Kiryo
wa
can do housework. , you
There is
nothing wrong wi
Assertiveness means speaking th it. This
out strongly and clearly. It is view is supported
by
believing that you have a right to Manyire who teac Henry
hes at
have an opinion and feelings. Makerere
University. He
When you are assertive, you look says: A 10-
into someone's eyes and tell him
or her your opinion clearly. year-old girl
can sit and
Do not be shy while speaking. carry a baby.
Stand or sit upright. I think a boy
Assertivness means standing up too can sit
to your beliefs and words. and carry a ba
by".
Sometimes you need to speak
out your words and beliefs over
and over. Key Message
Remember that boys and girls • Boys too can do
need to be assertive and you have housework
the ability to be assertive. Assertiveness helps you
to take care of yourself • Being a girl or boy is
Assertivess does not mean and stay safe. It enables not determined by the
shouting, quarreling and abusing you to ask for help when work you do
other people. you are in need. •Boys and girls can do
the same work

Dear Teacher
• Encourage al
l yo
beyond P7 and ur pupils to look
• Both boys an aim at good grades.
d
intelligent if gi girls are equally
to participate ven equal opportunity
• Show confid in class and outside.
ence in your pu
abilities, especia pils'
motivate them lly girls. This will
.
"My brother does not do any work
because men are not supposed to
do housework". Najjuuko B, 12,
Saying to an elder
P6, Arch Bishop Kiwanuka her says I should
Memorial, Mpigi "My grandmot elder, I should
never say No to an ir eyes. She
in the
What do you think about not look direct pect and no
Sserunjogi's statement? What about says it shows dires says Najjuko.
ll ma rry me ",
Najjjuuko? Do you think she is one wi
happy? She has to do most of the Dictionary: other is
work since her brother is not Najjuko's grandm t for people.
Assertive:strong and sure or confident of oneself. ec
supposed to do housework. She gets teaching her resp n be
Culture: the way of doing things by different groups of people. Re me mb er, yo u ca
very tired and has little time to play assertive to
or read. This is not good. Avoid this Intelligence: the power of learning, understanding and thinking. respectful but be
and try to share work equally. Opinion: Belief or judgement about something.. stay safe .
 3 Young Talk, June 2008

Welcome to part III of the he steps on a banana peel that

“Sara the Special Gift.” In
this part, Sara’s uncle
comes home and finds her
helping her aunt with
work. He tells her to do
something useful yet she was
cooking. As he walks back,
The special Gift
was thrown down by Zingo. He
falls down. Sarah runs to help her
uncle to get up but he is very
angry with Zingo. Sara defends
Zingo because she is her friend.
But the uncle, who is not friendly
shouts at her. Sara’s uncle goes
away unhappy.

something annoying but here

Pest: an annoying person or

Get rid of: become free of

Dictionary:
Defend: To protect from
Do something
What are you doing useful
sitting around here • It is good to
help with house

it can mean killing

work
• It is bad to

Chore: work
But I’m helping
aunt cook throw rubbish
around the
compound.
• Say sorry when

harm

thing
you annoy
someone

AAAAAAARRRRRGGGHHH! Oh

I’m sorry
uncle. Sorry? I’m
going to get
rid of that
pest.
Oh, oh,
ouch Give
me
that!

That’s just
Oh no uncle! Zingo another example of Chores! You don’t
is very good. I’ve how you waste your know the meaning
taught her many things time doing useless of chores. You’re
since I things! going to have a lot
found her. more soon.

But uncle, Zingo

even helps me
with my chores.

YOUNG TALK IS FOR TEACHERS AND PUPILS IN P5, P6 AND P7

4 Young Talk, June 2008
DEAR
Young TALK
36 6 Kampa
P.O. B0X 22
.When I started my
menstrual periods I
experienced strong pains. I
asked for advice from my
mother and she told me that
having sex with a man could
stop the pain. Is this true?
KM, 14, P6, St Michael-
Mukole PS, Kasese
No. It is not true. Having sex does
not stop menstrual pains. Menstrual
pains are normal. You can reduce
them by taking painkillers (panadols)
and exercising like running or playing Muyambi, do you know someone
netball.
What happens when a
person uses an expired
condom? Z, P7, Apiding S,
14, Abota PS, Amuria
It is very dangerous to use an expired HIV can take three or months for it
condom. It can burst or get torn
during sexual intercourse. Then it is
no longer protecting you. You can
get infections and unwanted
pregnancy. Avoid using an expired
condom. Also, remember that at the
age of 14 years, you are too young
to have sex. Concentrate on your
books for now.
Dictionary
s d to Yo n
Hormones: Substance
by the bod y and
produced
helps it to grow
rself
Hygiene: Keeping you
n in
and where you stay clea
to pre ven t dis eas es
order
t Geoffr
Ovum: a female egg tha
into a bab y if
develo ps
fertilized
t inform
Painkillers: A drug tha
reduces pain
Remembering
The Day of the African child
Is it true that
when a girl plays
sex in water she
cannot become
pregnant? Ahabwe
D, 12, P6, Nyamiko
la PS, Bushenyi
Dear Ahabwe, fertilisation
takes place inside the body
of a girl/woman. Being in
water does not stop sperms from
moving from the boy into a girl to
fertilize the egg. This is a lie. The
best way to protect yourself from
pregnancy and sexually transmitted
diseases is to delay sex.
How long does it take ''Wee enjoy reading Young TTalk
''W alk,, it has taught us to delay sex
alk
for one to get HIV until we finish our studies'' St John Bosco Katende PS Y oung
Young
from an infected Talk Club members, Mpigi
person if they had sex
without a condom?
Muyambi J, 10, P6, Kiboga When I am bathing I see When one sperm
Progressive PS, Kiboga some mucus in my fertilizes the ovum,
vagina. Is it normal? Feeza V, where do the rest go?
who had sex with an infected 13, P6, Summit view Army Tushabe J Umea PS,
person? It takes a very short time PS, Kampala Sembabule
that is not easy to calculate. The Do not worry. That mucus is normal. Sperms compete to get to the
moment sexual fluids from both It happens to every girl, when they ovum. When one sperm fertilizes
people mix, the virus can be passed reach adolescent stage. It can only the ovum the rest
on from one person to another. But become abnormal when it looks like spend some time
spoilt milk, smelling and itching. This in the body, die
to be seen in blood after testing. is when one will need to see a health and come out.
Delay sex to avoid getting infected. worker.
Know your body
Adreen
Kanyesigye
Counselor/
Clubs
Officer,, STF
Officer
Hair under the armpit
Why do boys and girls grow
hair under their armpits? Did yo
uk
Tumusiime M, 12, P4, that ch now
Kyandago PS, Kanungu expose ildre
stay sa ung Talk
it When you reach puberty, you will see
Give th fe
many changes on your body. One of em cop r?
ies of
Star tea
the changes is hair that will grow in newsp the
aper
cher
your armpits and the private parts.
The hair in your private parts is called
Okware
pubic hair. Some people have a lot of
,
pubic hair while others have little. Tororo. ey, Ng
elecho
He pic m
Young k P
Having hair under your armpit shows Talk on s for his pup S,
t im e ils
and alw
that you are growing normally. The su
For this s about it.
ays
skin under your armpit is soft so, this
hair helps to keep the sweat away
, he win
sa
mobile
from skin. This keeps the skin healthy phone
and
Dear teachers
bution questionaires.
u distri
In February we sent yo ble.
June 16 is the day of African child. This
d them back as soon as possi
is the day when we remember the black Please, fill and sen nu mb ers also. We will
ephone
Send us your mobile tel Yo un g
enever we send out
children who were killed in Soweto,
send you messages wh your
t miss this chance. Play
South Africa in 1976. These children
were striking because government had Talk publications. Do no g
rat ion. Ge t Youn
ung gene
failed to give them a good education. role in protecting the yo k
m Tal
All African countries remember this day. Talk, Teacher Talk and Far
It reminds the world that the rights of
the African child need to be promoted.
The theme this year is ‘Child Publisher: STRAIGHT TALK FOUNDATION
participation: Children to be seen Plot 4, Acacia Avenue, Kololo, P. O. Box 22366, Tel: (0312) 262030/1,041 530008
Kampala (U), Fax: 534858, E-mail: strtalk@straight-talk.or.ug,
and heard’. The celebrations were in strtalk@imul.com, Director: C. Watson,, Deputy Director: T. Agutu, Editorial
Luweero district. By writing to Young Manager: E. Kimuli, Editors: G. Awekofua, M. Akello, J.Abongowath, D.Agaba,
Talk, you are seen and your voice is Chief Designer: M.eB. Kalanzi, Designer: Gb. Mukasa Printer: The New Vision.
heard. Continue writing in. Nassozi Faith, Young Talk is funded by DANIDA, DFID, Ireland Aid & SIDA.
Uganda Child Rights NGO Network www.straight-talk.or.ug