Written by Counselor at SchoolNet on 25th May, 2009
Yes, there are National WSWM Student camps though not for all students.
In 2007, SchoolNet Uganda realized the need for providing extra training to outstanding students as Student Peer Educators so that they can effectively help in the implementation of the WSWM program in the schools. The first group of 40 Student Peer Educators was trained in May 2008, at a 4-day WSWM student camp which was held at Nabisunsa Girls’ school. The participants of the 2008 WSWM Student camp were selected based on their outstanding performance at the 2007 WSWM Exhibitions.
Due to the good work done by the trained Student Peer Educators, the Head teachers of the WSWM schools requested for at least one Student Peer Educator to be trained at each of the participating schools. Two WSWM Student camps each lasting 5-days will be conducted in the 2nd term holiday of 2009. A total of one hundred (100) Student Peer Educators (SPE) will trained, one from each of the 100 schools which participated in the 2008 WSWM project cycle.
The students to participate in the WSWM Student camps will be selected by the schools and each school is responsible for setting its selection criteria.
At the WSWM National Students’ camp, in additional to being taught more about the content of WSWM, the students are equipped with communication and presentation skills, skills for writing and directing skits or plays like young professionals, counseling skills, photographic and video recording and editing skills and much more..
Written by Counselor at SchoolNet on 24th May, 2009
“HIV/AIDS, You have a Role to Play too” means that everyone including students has a role to play in the prevention and the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
As a student, you need to :
- Seek knowledge and information that empowers you to acquire critical life skills that will help you stay safe from HIV/AIDS.
- Support and care for all infected and affected learners, teachers and other persons and work tirelessly to eliminate stigma and discrimination.
- Participate in school-based anti-HIV/AIDS activities on prevention, mitigation and capacity building.
- Set goals in life that motivate and drive you on to achieve and stay out of mischief and predisposition to dangerous or risky situations.
- Report suspicious conduct, indecent touches and all forms of sexual abuse to a trusted elder in the school or to your parent and/or community or religious leader.
- Aquire and share knowledge and skills of HIV/AIDS.
- Act as a positive behavior role model to your fellow students and peers.
- Know your HIV status through VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing).
- If you are living with HIV/AIDS, seek medical and psychosocial care, adhere to treatment, live positively, protect yourself from re-infection and from infecting others.
Written by Counselor at SchoolNet on 24th May, 2009
In order to ensure that WSWM is effectively implemented in schools, SchoolNet Uganda conducts a two-day sensitization workshop for the Head teachers of all the new schools in the program. After the Head teachers’ workshop, each of the Head teachers then selects two teachers (preferably a male and a female) to undergo an intensive five day training.
The participating schools are provided with the WSWM curriculum both in print and on CD and the fact sheets which contain very detailed factual information on the topics in the curriculum for additional reading.
SchoolNet Uganda then works with the school to launch the program at the school with the purpose of sensitizing other teachers and the students about the WSWM program so that they know what it is and what it is not and the benefits of participating in the program.
SchoolNet Uganda also provides on-going support to both the WSWM teachers and the WSWM students.
Once a term, the school is visited by the Teacher Support Specialists (TSS) to help answer questions the WSWM teachers may have and to share best practice in the delivery of the WSWM curriculum. The school is also visited by the Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) consultants to answer some of the SRH questions the students may have and to provide personalized counselling to students.
SchoolNet Uganda also provides online counselling to students via a special WSWM website [http://schoolnetuganda.sc.ug/wswmonlinesupport/] where students can post SRH challenges affecting them or their peers and a counselor will respond to them. Answers to general questions are posted on the website and answers to very personal questions are sent via personalized emails. You are advised to read through the questions and answers already on the website so that you don’t ask a question similar to those already answered.
SchoolNet Uganda also conducts 5-day trainings for Student Peer Educators. One student is invited for training from each of the WSWM participating schools. The Student Peer Educators help the WSWM teachers in the implementation of the WSWM program at the schools.