www.straight-talk.or.

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Words of
wisdom
“The soul is made for
action and cannot rest
until it is employed.
Idleness is its rust...” So,
you need to keep doing
some kind of work, so that
the devil may always find
you employed. Journalists of the day: Janet Kamakune
St. Jerome and Anette Kobugabe of Lyamabwa
2006 youth group discussing.
13 No. 3 March
Vol.

Spend time gainfully

Hell o
visited ST Clubs in Kabarole parents/teachers/friends
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and Kasese districts. We and make your day
discovered that idleness is a interesting,
big problem among young productive and
people. Many of them end safe.
readers, this is a new up in risky behaviour. That is
year of action. Kick dangerous! Fight idleness. Use your time
idleness, boredom Check how you spend your constructively to
free time. be able to achieve
and laziness out of your future goals.
your life! Idleness Having leisure time is fun. It
makes you weak and allows you some time to
miserable. Idleness relax! But you need to relax GAINFUL
leads to poverty! safely. ACTIVITY "I pick
cotton to raise
Idleness may lead Know the true value of time, school fees."
Robert
you to making wrong snatch, seize and enjoy every Bwambale16,
choices. Make a plan moment of it. Time is money. S2,Rwenzori
Never postpond something High School,
to keep busy this Kasese
you can do today to
year! tomorrow.
Recently, Straight Talk Work out a plan with your

I spent my holidays
productively
"Basing on the skills I acquired from
school and Straight Talk
newspapers, I spent my holiday
productively. I was employed in a
bookshop to do computer work.
even taught my boss how to use
a computer. I went for an HIV
test and tested netive. I organized
an AIDS awareness seminar and
invited peer educators and
health workers to sensitise
people in my home area. I
also sang in our church
choir. Sometimes I preached the word of God. I
visited many churches in Kampala. I would also
spare time to talk with my parents. Most
important of all, I earned some money to
support myself for further studies."
Kyangwa Moses, Chairman Anti- AIDS
Club, Kaliro College School
 2 Straight Talk, March 2006

I spend my time well

We are holiday makers. We meet every Wednesday and have an

adolescent talk on matters concerning our future. We call upon fellow
adolescents to join us and continue reading Straight Talk and Twogere
Kaati. Bukuya Straight Talk Club, Kasanda Mubende

“I wake up in the morning and go to the borehole to fetch water for home use. Then I

Idlenesdsmenqhauveoentoueghscharacter to be idle. E.V.

have breakfast and go to look after our cows as I play football. I love football so much. It
helps me not to be idle. Afterwards, I take the cows back home and have lunch, bathe
and rest a bit. In the evening I help with any work at home. I do not like being idle. It
may cause me to do wrong things like abusing people". John Kokas Opejo, Kumi • Few women an
Lucas overb
Township to go idle. Yiddish Pr
• The hardest work is with doing nothing is that you never
g
• The only thing wron ished. Author Unknown
Dangers of idleness know wh en you’re fin

Idleness can lead you into: I'm abstaining. I love swimming, SS Mushanga, Mbarara
• Joining bad groups dancing, visiting friends, watching Your friends are misleading
• Drug abuse including flicks, reading novels and you. Ignore their advice. Stick
alcoholism and cigarrette, going to picnics to to your plan of keeping
smoking spend my free time. busy in a constructive
• Early sex But my friends are way. Continue
• Stealing discouraging me abstaining.
from doing so.
I'm in a group that advises me to They say that I The way you
smoke, drink alcohol and be like should instead Alcohol can make behave now
them. If not they will kill me. What get a boyfriend you lose your

can I do? B Atuhwere, 14, S2, to give me

sense of jugdement
determines
Kihihi High School, Kanungu money and everything I what you
Leave that group and join want. But I'm a virgin and I do not become in future.
another one that supports your feel like getting a boyfriend. My
parents provide me with everything
Choose friends who
goals. If the threats continue
inform a teacher or your I need. I'm confused. support your goal. Smoking is harmful to your
parents about it. A Tushemerirwe, Sacred Heart Make healthy choices. health

Do first things first

As a young person, you
have so many of things to
do. Infact you do not have
time to be idle. Idleness is a
bad habit. It can destroy your
plans and make you live a life
Friends can
wait.The test
of regrets!
is more
important Learn to prioritise your tasks. To
prioritise means doing important
things first. If you prioritise things
you:
• learn to balance your time well
• become a high performer
• take control of your life
Make a plan of your daily tasks.
Begin with the most urgent ones.
Planning your activities is a good
habit.
For example, you may have tasks
such as: watching a football
Do not give
match, reading for a test, washing excuses for doing
your uniforms and going out with
friends. Which of these do you
bad things.
think should come first?
Reflect on yourself and how you Stand as an
spend you time? With whom do individual who
you spend it? How have you
benefited? Do your parents can make safe
approve of the way you spend
your time?
decisions on your
own.
Think about your life. It is not too
late to change. Learn to exhaust
yourself with productive Make it a habit
activities. Find a balance between
school, work, friends and not to make
everything else. excuses.
 3 Straight Talk, March 2006

Peer to peer advice

Fellow students avoid early sex. It has
no profits apart from reducing your
chances and potential to pass exams
well. R Mukiibi, 19, S4, St
Leonard’s SS Maddu, Mpigi
Fellow adolescents, give your lives to
God, master of everything. You will be
guided by the Holy Spirit to resisit all
the temptations of the body. Read
(Galatians 5:16-25) to help you stay
safe. M Kyangwa, Kaliro
Dear students, having friendships
does not mean sex. You can share and
discuss other things. W
Nfitumukiiza, Light College of
Business Studies & Vocational
School, Ibanda-Mbarara
Please youth, know that every
problem has a solution. Take every
step at a time till you come up with
the best solution to your problem.
Believe in yourself and be the person
of yourself. Do not feel shy if you
have a problem. There are people to
help you. Trust in God for any
problem you may have. C J
Omuron, 17, Chairperson ST
Club, Soroti SS
Girls should compete with boys in
being presidents, vice presidents,
managers and directors of different
companies. We should not leave
these positions only to men who end
up mismanaging them. Hadijjah
M.J, Kololo SS, Kampala

QUIZ Your letters will go into a raffle for prizes.

Wait and see!

Write to ST Money Quiz,

Have you ever had a relationship for
money and things?
PO Box 22366, Kampala
We are happy for the continued
Have you ever offered or received supply of Straight Talk newspaper.
money to get a relationship? What did Before, we used to rely on materials
you giveor get exactly? from the counselling and guidance
department. ST Club
Tell us the story of your relationship. Kayoro SS Busia

Discover
Did you know that penguins are very
faithful and helpful creatures?
Faithfulness
It is true. Once a penguin finds a mate,
they usually stay together for years for
as long as they have chicks.
Positive choices
When looking for a mate the male
penguin makes a loud call and walks
about to attract a female. When he
finds one, they bond with each other
by touching necks and slapping each
other on the back with their flippers.
They also “sing” to each other so that
they learn to recognize each other’s
voices.
Club Activity: Discuss what you learn from the penguin story. What
values or skills do you share in the story?
Helping each other
As soon as the egg is laid (penguins lay one or two eggs
at a time), the female runs out for dinner, leaving the
male to watch the nest. When the female returns, it is
the male’s turn to head out for food, leaving the female
with the egg. It can take up to two weeks for him/ her to
come back.
Effective communication
When the chick hatches, it immediately
starts calling so that its parents will learn to
recognize its voice.
Parent-child interaction
Once the chick is strong enough, parents
head for the ocean at the same time. The
chicks are left in a group together (sort of a
daycare). When the penguin parents return
with food they recognize their chick by its
voice.

Rock Point 256 is a radio drama: enjoy and learn

H Negesa, 17,
Rainbow
High School
Budaka
4 Straight Talk, March 2006
puts me under pressure think that I do not trust This is called incest and

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to prove my love by him. I love him dearly and not acceptable in our

Dear
playing live sex with I do not want to lose him. society. Talk with a
her. Yet I do not want to So what should I do? female counselor in your
Namutosi R, Mukasa
spoil her future by school or a trusted Nasulu,

SYFA
making her pregnant. University High Auntie and ask them to Kampala
What should I do? School, Mbale talk to your father. Do
Yakhut B, 18, Tank You are right to fear not keep quiet. This
3666
2236
Boxx22
O.Bo Hill SSS, Pallisa pregnancy, HIV/AIDS. sexual abuse and is
P.P.O. P A L A You are doing the You have a future plan punishable by law.
M
KK AA M P A L A right thing. Having for. Be open and tell him
sex is not proof that your fears and how you Gifts
one loves you. Stick to a feel about his sex There is a boy who
I’m a straight talk member no and explain to her demands. If he insists used to give me
in my school. But exactly how you feel. leave him because he gifts but I
sometimes I get worried Remember early sex leads does not respect your refused
about HIV testing because to STDs/HIV. feelings. You will get a them. But
Keep saying better partner. my
No. friends
Incest told me
Student- My dad always asks me that I’m
teacher for sex. I cannot tell my mad to
relationship mum because he might refuse his
I’m in love with refuse to pay school fees gifts. I’m not
our mistress. for me. What can I do? ready for sex.
She normally Girl, 14, Sacred Heart Nakitende V,
asks for sex. But SSS, Kabwohe- North Road
Nakitende I fear I might Bushenyi College,
Viola get HIV. She Kawempe,
says that if I do Kampala
not have sex If the gifts are
with her, she attached to having
will leave me. sex in return, refuse

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Yet I do not them. This shows that he
want to leave is interested in sex and Nyangoma H, Straight
her. does not respect your Talk Club member
Godfrey, feelings. Remember that Bundibugyo
Iryaruvumba early sex leads to Progressive SS
High School, pregnancy, HIV/STDs. Both boys and girls
Kisoro Stay safe. should wait to have sex
Though you until they are mature
did not Sex and age enough to handle the
if I test HIV positive, I may mention your age I am I always hear and consequences of early
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kill myself. Advise. sure this is a sugar- read that sex should sex. Early sex leads to
B Hamson, Kinkiizi mummy to you. Such a atleast begin at 18 unwanted pregnancy,
High School relationship makes it years. But many HIV/STDs, early
Having fears before taking difficult for you to times students reach parenthood, school
an HIV test is normal. negotiate for safer sex and 18 years when they dropout and
There are many people you may end up getting are in S2 or 3. imprisonment.
who have picked courage infected with HIV/STDs. Should they have sex
and tested. Some of them It is better to have a in such classes? STDs
have tested positive but relationship with Turyamureeba A, People always say that
are living positively with someone your age with Kinkizi High almost everybody has
the help of counselling. whom you can School, Kanungu syphilis. What causes it and
Go for a test in a proper communicate at the No, they should wait to what are the signs of this
testing center like AIC, same level. have sex even after 18 disease?
where you will be years, until they Lukenge R K, S4, St
counselled on how to Trust complete studies and George’s SS Masaka
deal with the negative or My boyfriend wants to have are married. Although, Syphillis is a sexually
positive results. sex with me but I fear at 18 a person is transmited disease. It is
pregnancy and STDs. I believed to be an adult, acquired through sex
Sex demands want to tell him about my it is better to wait a with an infected person.
I love my girlfriend so fears. But I’m afraid he will little longer, to avoid One of the signs of
much. But sometimes she risks of HIV/STDs. syphillis is a painless sore
Babra

UIIZ
on the genitals. It is not

QU
Q Z
Nabwemage true that all people have
Boys always say
Bututma, St
that sex has no syphillis. Abstain or
Matia Mulumba
SS, Kassanda- age limit. Dear always use condoms
Mityana Straight Talk properly and consistently
Do you have young brothers/ what do you Councellor:
your
sisters? What do you think is
say? Dr Alex Kakoraki

role as a big brother/sister? u to

What kind of role model are yo Publisher:STRAIGHT TALK FOUNDATION
them? 45 Bukoto St., Kamwokya, P. O. Box 22366, Tel: 0312-262030, 0312-262031 041-
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Write to The Editor, Straight
mp ala . Loo k out for the Programme Director: Anne Akia Fiedler, Editors: Teopista Agutu, Betty
P O Box 22366, Ka
e of August 2006. Kagoro, Edith Kimuli, Gilbert Awekofua. Designers: MeBK, G.bM, Funded by
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