Dear Counselor, are there training workshops where students from different schools are brought together to be taught more about the WSWM?

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..

Dear Counselor, what do you mean by “HIV/AIDS , You have a Role to Play too?”

“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.

Dear Counselor, what type of training and support does SchoolNet Uganda give to schools participating in the World Starts With Me (WSWM)?

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.

Dear Counselor, when did “The World Starts With Me” (WSWM) program start in Uganda and what schools are currently participating in the WSWM program in Uganda?

The World Starts With Me (WSWM) program is a sexuality education program implemented by SchoolNet Uganda (http://www.schoolnetuganda.sc.ug )  and funded by the World Population Foundation (http://www.wpf.org ). The WSWM program started in Uganda with three schools in 2003 and the number of schools participating in the WSWM has been increasing. This year 2009, there are 150 schools across the country participating in The World Starts With Me (WSWM) program.

The schools  participating in the WSWM, this year 2009 are:

 Mvara Secondary School, St. Mary’s Girls Secondary School Ediofe, St. Joseph ’s College Ombachi, Muni Girls school, Arua Public Girls SS, Arua Town College Girls SS, Amuria Secondary School , Pope Paul VI Anaka, St. Mary’s College Lacor, Bukooli College ,Banda Secondary School, Bweranyangi Secondary School, Kyeizoba Girls Sec School, Bugongi Girls SSS, Nganwa High School, Masheruka Girls SS, Busia SS, Dabani Girls school, Lumino High School, Buhobe Secondary School, Awere SS , Gulu, Gulu Central High School, Gulu High School, Pope Paul II, Gulu, Sacred Heart Secondary School, Sir Samuel Baker Secondary School, St. Joseph’s Layibi, Gulu, Alliance High School, Trinity College Gulu, Gulu College, Bwikya Secondary School ,Duhaga SS, Kitara Secondary School, St. Andrea Kaahwa, Iganga Girls SS, St. John Buwaya Secondary School, Jinja SS, Kiira College Butiki, MM College Wairaka, PMM Girls School, Wanyange Girl’s Secondary School, Muguluka Pilkington College, Kakira Secondary School, Nakanyonyi Girls SS, Busedde College, St John SS Ikumba, St. Thomas SS, Kashati, Sselwanga Lwanga SSS, Bishop Dunstan Nsubuga Memorial  SS, Aggrey Memorial SS, Entebbe SS, Kyambogo College, Mbogo High School, St Joseph’s School Nsambya, St Peter’s Nsambya, Lubiri Secondary School, Airforce Secondary School, Nabisunsa Girls School, Angel High School, Namirembe Hillside High School, Emma High School, Muyenga High School, Trinity High School (Kawempe), Mt. RWENZORI Girls SS, Bwera SS, Karambi SS, USUK Secondary School, St Joseph’s Naggalama, Bukomero Secondary School, High Standard Christian SS, Kateera, Y.Y. Okoth Memorial College, Kitgum Comprehensive, Kotido SS, Ngora Girls’ Secondary School, Ngora High School, Teso college Aloet, Almond College, Lira, Comboni College, Dr. Obote College, Lango College, Lira Town College, St. Mary Magdalene Sec School, St. Katherine Girls, Bishop Tarantino College, Fatima Aloi Comprehensive Girls SS, Rachele Comprehensive SS, Lira, Central Secondary School, Aloi Secondary School, Luwero SS, Naalinya Lwantale SS, Ndejje SS, Ndejje High School, St. Henry’s College Kitovu, St. Herman SS, Kalisizo, Holy Family Kyamuliibwa SS, Kako Secondary School, Excel Boarding Secondary School, Masindi Academy, Masindi Army Secondary School, Kabalega Secondary School, Army Day SS, Masindi Secondary School, Mbale SS, Tubur SS, Nabumali High School, Mbarara Army Boarding Sec Sch, Nadunget Secondary School, Moroto High School, Moroto Parents Academy, Bulo Parents SS, Kasaka Secondary School, Kibibi SS, St. Maria Goretti SSS Katende, Lukalu SS, Gombe Community Polytechnic, Kibibi Standard School, Bishop’s Senior School Mukono, Hilltop Nkokonjeru, Namilyango College, Nyenga Secondary School, St Peter’s Nkokonjeru, Stella Maris Nsuube, 3 R’s Secondary School, St. Lwanga Vocational and SSS, St. Balikuddembe SSS, Kisoga, Springfield College (Nakifuma), Lweru Secondary School, Buwule Memorial SS, Mutunyera High School, Namapo Secondary School, Olio Polytechnic, Soroti Secondary School, St. Steven Secondary School, St Peter’s College Tororo, Tororo Girls School, Majansi High School, Rock High School, Buwaga Secondary School, Aidan College, Gayaza High School, Alliance High School Nansana, St. James High School Nansana, Trinity College Nabbingo, St. Bernadette SS , Kyengera, Nkoowe High School, Kireka High School, St. Elizabeth SS, Nkoowe, St. Kizito High School, Kings College Budo, Yumbe Secondary School and Aringa Secondary School

Dear Counselor, what is sexuality education and what sexuality education, do I need as a young person?

Simply put, sexuality is your physical, emotional and social self. Your sexuality affects how you think of yourself and how you relate to others as well as how others relate to you and is part of you throughout your entire life.

As a young person, you need information and skills to be able to take responsibility for your sexuality and to avoid risky behavior that could lead to unwanted pregnancy, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS.

You need to learn about:

  •  How your body, mind and feeling are changing as you enter and go through adolescence including good hygiene.
  • The reproductive system, menstruation and how pregnancy occurs.
  • How to communicate to others about sexuality.
  • How to handle societal and peer pressures.
  • Your rights and how to protect them.

And many more.

The World Starts With Me (WSWM) is a comprehensive sexuality education program which will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need as a young person.

Dear Counselor, how can I benefit from the WSWM when I are out of school?

Benefits from the WSWM depend on what becomes of you as a person after learning the WSWM program. You can use the knowledge and skills you get to develop into a responsible citizen to protect yourself from abuse and defend your rights, educate more young people or community on various sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) challenges. And much more!

Besides sides that;- you can still continue to learn how to go about your challenges , share your opinions and also help more young people through this online support centre. You can submit your questions and you can also respond to other young people’s questions.