Vol. 4 No.2, June 2009
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My changing body
WELCOME to another exciting Scouts
Voice. It prepares you for the journey
to growing up. It guides you from
being a child into puberty without
confusion.
You might be seeing changes hap-
pening to your body and do not
know why it is happening. This is
Scouting for Solutions
Every one is
different
Girls start experiencing
changes from around the
age of 8 to 10 while boys
start around 10 to 13. You
are normal no matter what
age you start . The speed at
which people grow differs
from one person to another.
Do not start to worry if you
have not started experienc-
ing body changes. Your
time will come!
called puberty. grow and we become taller.
Puberty happens to everyone. It is Sex hormones are produced in the
a result of small messengers that are brain, the testes, and the ovaries.
produced by our bodies. They are These hormones make girls breasts
natural chemicals that tell our bod- large and control menstruation. In
ies when and how to grow and when boys, they make beards, muscles big-
to reach puberty.. They are called ger and the voice to change. There
hormones. are many more changes, that both
Growth hormones make our bones to girls and boys go through. Read on!
What to expect
In P4 I saw my friends with hair in the armpits.
I laughed at them. I thought they were BOYS
abnormal. When I got to P7, I got hair in my • Hair on face, pubic area time for everything. Read your
armpits. I shouted and my friends came to see what and armpits
was happening. I told them that I had a caterpillar • Wet dreams
under my armpits. They laughed at me and told me • Shoulders broaden
it was pubic hair and that it was normal. • Penis grows big and
Nankwanga J 12. St. John SS, Busia produces a discharge
Yes, at Puberty boys and girls get hair around their GIRLS
private parts and their armpits. Pubic hair, helps to • Softer voices
keep the area around your private parts clean. • Hair in pubic area and ful to your partner.
It keeps away sweat from the sensitive skin around armpits
the private parts. Some boys also get hair • Menstruation periods
on their legs and arms. • Hips widen
• Growth of the breasts
st away
Scouting is not ju
itself!
of life, it’s life in
Registgehr ynoouwr
throu
Message from the Chief Scout
Growing up is wonderful but
challenging.You will experience
body changes but this does not
mean that you are ready to have
sex.
Puberty can come with many new
and different emotions: happiness,
sadness, disobedience and joyful-
ness. The way you behave when
puberty comes is what will help you
stay safe and achieve your goals.
Scouts, when you reach puberty,
you start having sexual feelings to-
wards the opposite sex, friends tell
you to find boyfriends or girlfriends
or you start worrying about men-
strual periods.
Control yourself. There is a right
books and concentrate on your
future. Do not give in to what bad
friends will tell you to do. Stay safe.
Remember, abstinence is the only
sure way of not getting HIV. Abstain
from sex until marriage. When you
get married, don’t forget to be faith-
Eng. George Samuel Onep
Chief Commissioner
UGANDA SCOUT ASSOCIATION
 Scouts Voice, July 2009

During the recent Scouts

Voice training in Kaazi, scouts
shared with us some of their
IT DOES NOT HURT:
BOYS
experiences of growing up.

Boys start experiencing body changes

IT’S JUST A GROWTH STEP
between 12 and 13 years. Some start
earlier or later. At this stage your
body will start getting much taller and
bigger.

The Voice
Allan Epeduno from Soroti Dem-
onstration school says, “My Voice
changed. When I went to school, the
girls laughed at me. I felt bad.”

During puberty, boys’ voices become

lower and deeper. It is caused by tes-
tosterone, a hormone which causes
the voice box to grow bigger. It might
be squeaky when you talk, but do not
worry. It is normal. Girls, avoid laugh-
ing at boys with changing voices.
Breasts
Penis size and shape
“I realised my private parts were
bigger. But I am not scared because
GIRLS: prevent any bad smell. Liana Ibrahim,
14, Busia SS.
Girls develop
breasts during
we had learnt about puberty.” Senteza
Daniel, 10, Mirembe Infant School.
Menstruation Periods Menstruation shows that your body
puberty.
Eggs are produced in the ovaries. is developing well. It means you can
A hormone
The female has two ovaries. During become pregnant if you have sex. But
The size of the penis differs from one it does not mean that you are ready to
called
puberty, an egg is released once ev-
person to another. Many boys spend have sex. Hormones cause the ovaries oestrogen
ery month from any of the ovaries. If
a lot of time worrying about the size to release an egg each month. Each causes breast
the egg is not fertilized, it is released
of their penis. An erect penis bends female is born with thousands of eggs. growth.You
out of the body along with some
pointing up, down, to the left or right. can not speed
blood. It is called menstruation. It
It can not be straight like a ruler. When the ovaries mature, the uterus up or slow
lasts from three to five days.
also matures and a soft lining begins down breast growth. Any size
I had a stomach ache. When I went to form in the uterus each month. This or shape of breast is good
to the toilet I saw blood on my is how the uterus prepares to receive and healthy. Breast growth
underwear. I was scared. I told my a fertilised egg. If there is no fertilised
is NOT a sign that you are
mother. She bought me pads and egg, that lining breaks down and passes
ready sex.
told me all about menstruation. out through the vagina. This is called
I used to play with my friends
I bathe regularly and change pads to menstruation.
when am naked.
Now I cannot do that. I will

Pimples Pupils of Mirembe

be ashamed since I have
breasts and pubic hair.

I had pimples. I felt very bad about this.

Junior School read SV.
Mbayo Mercy, 13,
But I managed by bathing daily. Marvin, Scouts Journalists Highway SS, Sironko
13, Grapa Parents Junior school, Busia worked with them to
Wet dreams Some boys and girls get pimples. They
produce this issue
One day I woke up and found my bed can be on the face, neck, shoulders,
wet. I thought I had urinated on it. But chest and back. The oil glands in your
when I checked, it was whitish and not skin become active and start producing
urine. I remembered the teacher had an oily substance called sebum. Sebum
told us about wet dreams in class. I keeps your skin soft and young look-
had started having wet dreams. Boy, ing. But if produced in large quantities,
13, Winn and Joan PS, Busia it blokes the
pores caus-
A wet dream is a way for the male ing pimples.
body to get rid of excess sperm and If you have
semen. Usually boys wake up to find
pimples,
semen on their beds or their pants.
They are normal. Having wet dreams gently wash
does not mean you should have sex. with soap and
It means you are growing up normally. warm water.
It also means you can make a girl Do not press
pregnant when you have sex. pimples.

SEXUAL ATTRACTION, EMOTIONAL CHANGES
Disobedience
Besides the physical body chang-
es, you will get new and different
feelings.You may feel happy, the
next minute you are sad, rebel-
lious, disobedient or joyful. Just
like Opolot Daniel, 11, Soroti
Demonstration PS says: When
I was young, mummy used to
send me to fetch water, fire-
wood, to bathe my sisters, wash
dishes and when I would refuse
she would beat me. I stopped
being stubborn. I listen to my
parents so they do not beat
me.
Change does not mean disobey-
ing or abusing parents and teach-
ers. Stay calm. Have good friends
who will not lead you to do bad
things. Get friends who will help
you be a better person.
Kaazi was a blast during the camporee
Get help when
faced with change
Growing up is fun.You want to
discover new things. Society
Smartly dressed scouts during the 2008 Camporee held in Kaazi.
puts a meaning to many things
like being cool, having breasts
and having sex. It is important
to make the right decision.
When you are not sure about
anything, talk to an adult you
trust like parents, teacher and
scout leaders. Learn skills that
can help you later in life. Get
on growing up before rushing
to make decisions.
Godfrey Walakira Counselor,
Scouts preparing food on a table
Straight Talk Foundation
made of wood and Bamboo
Sexual Feelings
Many adolescents develop attrac-
tions and sexual feelings for the op-
posite sex. It is normal and natural.
I was attracted to a girl . I wanted
to have sex with her but my friends
stopped me. I controlled my feel-
ings and decided to be friends with
her. I cannot think about having sex
Puberty is time to get your own identity
Who am I, what is my purpose?
You have so many questions going through
your mind during adolescence. Get your own
identity. This can be achieved by:
l Make safe decisions about sexuality
l Interact with fellow young people
l Feel good about your looks and body
l Take responsibility for your actions
As scouts, put service above self.
Do not give into temptations.
Stand for your motto by:
l Doing community work
l Work hard at school
l Help your parents, sisters and brothers
Namufuta Hope, 14,
Dabani Girls SS, S2, Busia
with her. Nkata Muhammad, 14,
Mirembe Infant School, Kampala
Nkata, that was good. You donot
have to have sex with the person
you are attracted to. You can control
sexual feelings by keeping yourself
busy with other activities like studies
and sports. Boys and girls, respect
Your questions
each other. You can be friends
without sex
Scouts learn to make bricks in Kaazi.
It was an all round programme
Scouts Voice, July 2009 
Is it true that a boy of 10 can
produce sperms? Were innocent,
Victory PS, Busia
Yes, it is true. Usually, from the age
of eight, a boy may be going through
body changes and among them is
production of sperms. So, a girl who has
sex with him can be at a risk of
getting pregnant.
Is it true that if you reach 18
without getting periods, you can
not produce? Aero Rebecca, Soroti
Demonstration PS.
It is not common that a girl reaches 18
without having her periods.Such a girl
should see a doctor for medical check
up and advice.
Counselor:
Falal Rubanga, STF
Between 14th - 18th August
Kaazi, the National camping site
for Scouts will be the place to
be.The annual Camporee will
be on. Theme this year will be
‘Scouting for a better world’.
What to expect in
this years camporee
l Civil Aviation marines will
be there to talk about water
safety.
l Uganda Police Fire Brigade
will talk about Fire safety
l Aids Information Centre
(AIC) teach about
Voluntary testing and
counseling
l National Environment
Management Authority will
present about environmental
conservation.
l ANNPCAN will tell you
about child rights
l Police Family Protection
Unit will talk about child
protection
l Straight Talk Foundation
will be there.
l SFS - Empowering
Africa Young Peoples Initia
tive
 Scouts Voice, July 2009

PEP: Protection after Rape

HAVE HOPE
Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is a
medical advance. Long ago, rape cases
just had to pray that they did not get
HIV. Now there’s medicine they can
take. Victims should take PEP within
24 hours of being raped. After 72 hours
PEP has a less chance of stopping HIV.
What is PEP?
RAPE PEP is a four week course of antiret-
Rape is when a woman or girl is forced roviral tablets (ARVs). ARVs are the
or deceived into sex. Rape is most com- medicines that people who have HIV
mon with women as the victims how- take to control the virus. In case of PEP,
ever boys or men are also raped. Rape is the ARVs can stop HIV from entering
a crime. your body’s cells, multiplying and “tak-
ing root”. When HIV enters the body it
Situations that may lead to rape: needs an enzyme to start reproducing in-
• free lifts side our cells. PEP blocks that enzyme.
• lonely places
• wearing tight clothes that suggest If you’ve been raped:
sex • know that you have done nothing l Helpful and friendly
• taking alcohol and drugs wrong
• bad friends • tell someone you trust
• immediately go to the nearest environment
health centre and tell the health
worker what happened
• If you are not offered PEP ask and
insist on receiving it. It is free
• Accept to be tested for HIV
• Ask for emergency family
planning pills to prevent pregnancy
These must be taken within 72 POEM
•
hours of the rape
Do not bathe. Go to see the
Traps and tricks
police who will have a doctor Oh Sugar Daddy!
fill out a form, confirming that Oh Sugar Daddy!
you were raped Oh my mummy’s agemate.
• Keep your clothing as evidence What do you want from me?
• Get counselling I know exactly what you want
from me
A scout’s honour: My science teacher has
advised me
As scouts, we have laws that guide us
Neither will I ride in your car
in our everyday life. These rules can
Nor will I eat your free lunch
help you as you grow up. A scout is:
What do you want from me?
l Trustworthy and loyal
Neither will I take your money
Nor your beautiful dress
l Cheerful and considerate Nor any offer
l Respectful and cares for the
You have set a trap for me
But I’ll not get into it
For if I agree with you,
I will get AIDs

Nantongo Lydia

Across Nateete Junior School,

Kampala.
3. People of the same age, group, behaviour etc
By Denis Pato
5. A strong feeling of any kind e.g. love, joy, hatred,etc.
8. A person who is grown to full size or strength.
9. When you feel a lot of joy, peace and excitement then you are..... 1

10. The possibility of meeting danger or suffering pain.

12. The discharge of semen by boys during sleep.
2
14. The two organs of a woman that produce milk.
16. ....is when the penis becomes long and hard especially due to sexual feelings.
17. A monthly period when girls and women discharge blood from their uterus. 3 4

Down 7
5 6

1. A person of teenage years who is growing from childhood to adulthood.

8 9

10
2. The whitish liquid which contains sperms and is produced by male glands.
11
4. Drops of liquid similar to water which comes out of the skin when someone
12
is working hard or their body is hot. 13

6. The two organs in females which are responsible for producing eggs (ova).
7. A stage when a person’s sexual and other body organs begin 14 15

to develop as a sign that the person is becoming an adult.

9. A substance produced by the body and carried by the blood 16

to organs which assist in body growth.

11. The state of being either male or female.
13. Male sex glands in which sperms are produced.
17
15. A male cell which can combine with a female egg to make a baby.

Scouts Voice is produced by Straight Talk Foundation for

Uganda
Scout Uganda Scout Association, P.O Box 1294, Kampala,
Association
Email: scouts@scouts.or.ug DESIGN: Allan Dentine Bulamu