Action 4 Health Uganda joined partners to commemorate International Youth Day in Asuret Sub-County of Soroti District on 12th August 2024. Asuret Sub-County, Soroti District has the highest number of young people in the entire district, clocking in at over 60%. No wonder it was chosen to host this year’s International Youth Day.
The young people here are actively engaged in various skillful activities that earn them decent incomes to support their needs and those of their families. These include liquid soap making, animal feed concentrate, and poultry keeping.
The Sub-County benefits from the Youth Livelihood Program, which sees two young people picked from each Sub-County of Soroti District. However, the district has 12 sub-counties, which does not allow equal representation for each sub-county per intake. Each intake has 20 slots, allowing for 2 per sub-county. The limited slots will necessitate that some sub-counties have one young person forwarded to the skilling program.
Among other challenges that the youth face is teenage pregnancy, which is a result of poverty that necessitates school dropouts, domestic violence, alcoholism, and inadequate representation, where youth are sidelined due to their age. Having the event in this area allowed the youth to voice their concerns more so in the presence of the Guest of Honor, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of the Republic of Uganda.
Action 4 Health Uganda participated in pre-event activities such as community mobilization, where the Youth Truck team provided sexual reproductive health rights information and services. Condom and femidom demonstrations and distribution were done, as well as information on family planning. The community was also informed of the event at Soroti Core Primary Teachers’ College (PTC) and called upon to attend. During the distribution of condoms and female condoms, it was observed from the comments of the young people that some young people were pleased to receive free condoms, which they would sell for a fee. In contrast, others were happy to receive free condoms they had previously purchased.
There was also a dialogue in which young people were allowed to air their views and advocate for their health, especially concerning HIV and economic empowerment, which was the theme of the dialogue.
On the day of the event, youth from Action 4 Health Uganda and the TeamUp Uganda program were able to exhibit their work. The President especially took note of the Makapads, a sanitary product made from recycled paper and papyrus, and mentioned them during his speech, in which he advised young people to be creative. The President also picked interest in SimplyFP, an online SRHR service platform started by a POWER lady, Joan Atuheire. The President emphasized to the youth in attendance the need for wealth creation, saying, “If you are going to be youthful young people, you must understand wealth creation and what you need to support wealth creation. Which includes loving Uganda and loving Africa because you need it for the market.”
“I am grateful for this opportunity to exhibit our SimplyFP venture to the president and fellow youth. I met fellow youth who shared various ideas of products and services we can add to our platform.” shared Faith Atugonza on behalf of SimplyFp.
“I am grateful for this opportunity to exhibit our SimplyFP venture to the president and fellow youth. I met fellow youth who shared various ideas of products and services we can add to our platform.” shared Faith Atugonza on behalf of SimplyFp.
“During the exhibition, we were able to interact with fellow youth and encouraged them on how they too can take up different activities as a way of generating income.” shared Vincent Matovu, Program Coordinator, Makapads manufactured by the youth of Malangala Youth Empowerment Centre in Malangala Sub-County Mityana.
“I have been able to exhibit my product, a mineral-based fertilizer, and I am grateful for this opportunity to do so on International Youth Day,” commented Suzan Nassolo, a youth under the TeamUp Uganda program.
Joram Isogol, a youth under the Empower Youth Project (EYP), also attended and shared, “I am grateful for Action 4 Health Uganda for the opportunity they have given me to take part in the International Youth Day in Soroti.”
Engaging young people in events like International Youth Day is one way of fostering their participation on platforms where their voices can be heard and their potential ignited to fulfillment.
