GIDEONS YOUTH CENTRE

Adolescent Health Information and Services

Background

     Gideons Youth Organisation provides Adolescent Health Information and Services and skills-based training initiatives to the young people through the Y2Y initiative. We started in 2003 with four social workers as an outreach group with a Christian motivation on a voluntary basis.  Overwhelming response and acceptance of our pioneer efforts especially among the youth (who are in and out of schools) generated increased demand for services and information to address their vulnerability.  Some of thes vulnerabilities would include ASRH- HIV/AIDS related problems such as teenage pregnancies, abortion, drug abuse, STD’s including HIV.

Our referral point at the time was in Kampala district at Naguru teenage center some 18kms away, which made it even harder for most of these young people to go for services and information.  The local government, through the district Directorate for Health Services (DDHS), we were provided space at the regional Health Centre in Wakiso Town to set up a teenage center to able to help the young people (10-24 years) access information and related services.  This Reproductive Health program is currently linked to this Health Centre where our main offices are also located.

The Centre is planned to accommodate an office, a counselling unit and an Edu-tainment hall where film shows and education/training activities are to be carried out.  We have, with limited local support, been able to partially complete the Office section. (see Photos) 

The Centre's Structural plan Includes a counseling unit, Edu-tainment hall and a small office for ASRH–HIV/AIDS activities at the youth Centre, information materials/ library/ film shows· HIV/AIDS education, counseling services, contraceptive use education and distribution, peer education activities, outreaches (aimed towards schools and various communities), recreation and games,  life-skills training and referrals.

The future

We have been able to provide some of the services listed above, but are still very constrained in terms of equipment, human resources, funds and other material needs.  With support from friends and partners we shall be able to become more effective and work towards making this youth centre a model in the district in addressing adolescent health.  Weekly visits to the Centre by the young people are greatly improving. 

In the future, the Centre will be able to provide advanced services such as VCT for HIV testing, STIs/STDs management, clinical treatment and diagnosis. 

Challenges

The Centre is faced with an increased demand for RH information and services among the young people (10-24yrs), funds to develop infrastructure at the Centre to support programs and activities, ongoing support to train volunteers to be more effective in working with young people, and additional funds to support Administration and Office maintenance. 

Urgent needs

An urgent need of ours is to construct the Edutainment Hall and the Counseling Unit.  We need the basic materials to be able to accomplish this task.  This would include contruction materials such as 20 ft, poles, iron sheets, cement and timber, etc.  Total cost for Construction is $4750.  Items for the Audio/Visual side of the project would include a 28"Color Television ($350), a video tape machine ($135), a radio system ($162), and a power generator ($216).  Also needed are funds for the office maintenance and utilities ($200 monthly), support for 6 volunteers ($22 => $132 p/me per person, per month). 

Additional meterials needed for the Resource Centre include books, magazines, posters, leaflets, etc. and also game equipment and materials such as balls, board games, books, etc.  If you would like to provide any of these items, please contact us.

Volunteers

We are also in need of volunteers to work with us both local and international in any of the activities/ services listed above. Our work depends much on the volunteers we work with. Please contact us and indicated your area of interest! 

Up and coming!

The Centre will be open on Saturdays and other days when young people are supposed to come to the Centre (where peer educators take them through sessions of games, life-skills, share information on teenage pregnancy, drugs, abortion, STIs and HIV, Counseling and Film shows). A snack, drink, and a bite at intervals during sessions may be provided.  However this addition may not be be routine only because we may have a lack of funds.  Open days have begun starting in December of 2006.  We are targeting a weekly attendance of around 100 young people.

Sponsorship opportunities

You can become a Sponsor of this particular activity. With a total of 400 young people per month visiting the Centre on Saturdays; only $50 per week can indeed make deference in their health and well-being.  Please click on the appropriate link on the left-hand bottom column of this web site.