ANNUALREPORT 2021
Youth Empowerment, SRHR for Young People, HIV/AIDs Awareness & Prevention, Behavioral Change Communication, Livelihood and Skills Empowerment. Reach A Hand Uganda designs programs, activities and campaigns that put young people at the forefront of their growth and societal change.
YOUNGPEOPLEYOUNGFORPEOPLE
LETTER FROM THE BOARD CHAIRPERSON BOARD CHAIRPERSON Omukungu Joeseph Kigozi
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We had just come off of 2019/20, which was a good year yet, when I wrote the introduction to the Annual Report from the previous year. Although the pandemic had begun, neither the extent nor the duration of the COVID-19 socioeconomic depression were known. Early on in the epidemic, the prospects for businesses, health, and well-being globally appeared bleak. Given that the majority of the work we do involves young people, community activities, and meaningful youth involvement about their health, RAHU was not immune to the effects of the lockdown since everything, including transportation and community activities, came to a complete stop in order to prevent the spread of RAHUCovid-19.has responded to these unforeseen problems in a remarkable way. Above all, we all made sacrifices as staff, stakeholders, and key players in reproductive health for young people to ensure that they still get the services and accurate information they need to make informed decisions. We made difficult decisions to survive as an organisation, but above all, explored innovative ways to still communicate to young people and continue to play a part in keeping them safe from both Sexual and Reproductive Health challenges, as well as Covid19. We as an organisation showed incredible resilience and resourcefulness as we adopted new working practices, many of which involved working from home and online. As an organisation, we have remained true to our cause despite the circumstances, the resilience of our young team remains unmatched. Am proud of all of us that continue to demonstrate a culture of hard work, innovation, resilience and continue to aspire for even greater heights for IRAHU.extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed to the achievements through the year 2021, the RAHU staff team, members of the board, and all stakeholders, for their dedication and sacrifices to keep the fire burning. We all look forward to the year ahead. Young people for young people!
LETTER FROM THE BOARD CHAIRPERSON As Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU) celebrates its tenth anniversary, we do so together with each and every one of you. This is an opportunity to consider what has been accomplished over the past ten years as well as the extraordinary challenges of the last year and how everyone at RAHU has assisted us in navigating the toughest 12 months in our work with young people and the nation as a whole.
INTERVIEW WITH THE CEO & FOUNDER CEO & FOUNDER Humphrey Nabimanya
Wecannotare pleased to see that we have converted a young person from a peer educator into a mentor who will mentor and advocate for other young people. We have also empowered other young people and built an informed youth movement. We now have a young person who is prepared to make a life decision after doing their research. We have witnessed our young people launching their own original projects.
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To ensure the safety of the staff and young people we interact with, we had to conduct meetings online. I observed the shift from physical to online communication, which was a significant accomplishment because it improved how we work as an organization. I frequently met with donors to discuss how we could use the funds we already had to combat COVID-19 while also carrying on with the things we were already doing, such as HIV/ AIDS prevention and awareness. Naturally, this caused a disruption in service delivery because so many young people who were HIV/AIDS positive could not easily receive their medicine.
Additionally, the team has had a lot of capacity building. We have broken down the work we do into many departments, which helps us to be more strategic and focused. The monitoring and evaluation department, for instance, assists us in learning about the influence we have had over the years, our history, where we are headed, and what needs to change. We want to contribute to the elimination of poverty for young people as well as as many other SDGs as we can by the year 2025, not just focusing on health.
Reach A Hand Uganda has evolved into a consultation organization for the majority of the government’s departments including the Ministries of Health, Ministry of Education and Sports, as well as the Ministry of Women, Labor, and Social Development. We are honored to participate in technical working groups and provide guidance on youth-related issues. There are numerous issues that young people must with that people outside of their age bracket
INTERVIEW WITH THE CEO & FOUNDER
The COVID-19 lockdown was a difficult situation because I was away at the time for a fundraising opportunity. I had to get used to managing the company remotely with my colleagues back home. We had to lobby for and promote the creation of online functional platforms.
The suspension of community activities forced us to turn to mainstream media, which was difficult at first but ultimately successful. The stages and standards that RAHU has created are better as a result of our interactions with thousands of young people to date in numerous communities and 52 districts. We can today claim with confidence that we are an organization that serves young people. The team has expanded as well, starting out with just three members and now including more than 40. So many partners now support the work we do, we have seen a rise in our activities and mobility and we have become experts at social behavioral modification at RAHU throughout the years.
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INTERVIEW WITH THE COUNTRY DIRECTOR
We are launching programs with a variety of partners. Of course, one of our most important communication campaigns in recent times has been the Kyaddala communication on sexual reproductive health and rights, a TV program that provided advice on how to overcome obstacles, remain resilient, and pursue your dreams. We are working on a minor project in the Yimuka program in collaboration with a company called Yimuka. To assist the trigger points of their small businesses so they can grow, we provide seed funding to young people who have started them. However, only roughly 40 young people are currently benefited by this initial phase. Our most important instrument when it comes to mental health is communication, so that young people also understand it. The feeling that you are alone, that this is specific to you, that you are isolated, is one of the difficulties that has the greatest impact on mental health. We work to spread awareness of the fact that this is a calamity that has fallen and that it is not specific to any one young person through the various methods we employ. We spread the idea that we are able to overcome obstacles by being tenacious. And now that the lockdown has been lifted, you have the chance to reconstruct your life. You must go on with your life so that you can still get the most out of it.
The first is that we were able to effectively exit the lockdown phase, which lasted for two years, and that we were able to continue running our programs, even with the lockdown. We were able to escape a very difficult situation where we had to deal with the states. We were able to present all the essential proof of our work when our premises were searched. And that we can prove that our work is absolutely nonpartisan.
Our work is centered on enabling young people from all backgrounds to pursue their aspirations and improve themselves. The other element, of course, is that we are able to carry out some significant activities that serve as a representation of Rahu, like our iKnowKati campaign and the intergenerational dialogue. We are able to host the love Mukibanda Concert, as well as other significant community events that engage and educate young people. We are also able to maintain our partnerships with the areas in which we operate. And we believe that 2021 strengthened us as an organization.
In the Western District, Isingiro, and Mbarara, where we are collaborating with public health facilities to reach young people who are in the most difficult-to-reach areas with the last-mile information and contraceptive services, we have used the peer provider model. The main goal of our work is to reach every last young person who needs our services. We have also been successful in using SautiPlus and ICT innovations to reach districts through the Heroes for Health project in collaboration with Cordiad, where we can act as immediate responders to sexual and gender-based violence among young people in many hard-to-reach areas. We have thus been able to show that even young people in Kalangala and other similarly remote regions may profit from ICT interventions, go to health facilities, register any instances there, receive treatment there, and receive follow-up. Finally, we are able to compile a database of the actual transgressions that young people experience. We can show that young people participated and that ICT solutions have no geographical restrictions; they may currently be used in any area of the country.
COUNTRY DIRECTOR James Tumusiime
REACH A HAND UGANDA10 OUR PARTNERS FUNDING IMPLEMENTINGCOALITIONSPARTNERSPARTNERS
Ministry of Health Ministry of Gender
Labour and Social Development UN CORPORATEGOVERNMENTSAGENCIESPARTNERS
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Education and Sports Ministry of
10 18 24 28 14 15 IMPACTFAMILYVALUESOURWHATWHOBUILDINGYOUTHANDYOUTHHEALTHSEXUALPROGRAMMING2021PARTNERSOUROURCOREREPRODUCTIVEANDRIGHTSENGAGEMENTDEVELOPMENTCAPACITYWEAREWEDOCOREPLANNINGOF2021OFTABLE CONTENTS 31308
36 ONLINE ENGAGEMENTSMEDIA AND BLOGS 38 40 32 iKON AWARD FILM AND TELEVISION
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Founded in 2010 by Humphrey Nabimanya, RAHU is a youth-centered non-profit organization focused on youth empowerment programs with an emphasis on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention and livelihoods.
RAHU’s strength lies in its capacity to mobilize youth and its elaborate network of volunteers and partners that are inclusive of media houses, RAHU icons (music icons, sports icons, cultural icons, media icons and social influencers) and other key players in the field of youth interests.
WHO WE ARE WHAT WE DO We focus on the changing social norms and values that limit access to SRHR services and information through designing effective behavioral change communication strategies and campaigns to create awareness and mitigate sexual reproductive health risks among the young people today. We consist of a dynamic, passionate and committed team that believes in the power, potential and future of young people.
OUR CORE VALUES 1 2 3 4 5 RAHU espouses the following values that guide us: A world of young people making informed life choices To equip young people in all their diversities with timely and appropriate information, skills, knowledge and means to enable them live healthy and productive lives
TRANSPARENCY AND OPENNESS: We believe in a culture of honesty and therefore employ an open-door policy where all staff, volunteers, peers and partners can freely communicate with each other.
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OUR VISION OUR MISSION BELIEF IN YOUNG PEOPLE: We recognize that young people’s concerns can only be well addressed by young people and that young people have agency, voice and power and hence our slogan “Young People for Young People.” YOUTH DRIVEN: We work with young people for young people, and bring in the spirit of volunteerism of young people. We build a critical mass of young people who reach out to mobilize, engage and inspire other young people.
INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY We appreciate the difference in the economic, social, cultural and political orientation of our target constituency and endlessly work to promote mutual understanding, while recognizing the existent differences.
TEAMWORK: We believe team effort achieves much more than an individual’s work and therefore promote team work, utilizing each person’s competences to achieve our overall organizational goals and objectives.
REACH A HAND UGANDA16 FAMILY PLANNING IMPACT OF 2021 IMPACTSECONOMICDALYSIMPACTSHEALTHIMPACTDEMOGRAPHICAND Family Planning services were provided across the intervention districts and contributed to the impact below; Computed using MSI Impact 2 modeling 31’494 18’622158’813 2094’923468’2502’5971’980(maternalTotalAvertDeathsMaternalAvertedPregnanciesUnintendededDALYsAvertedand child) Direct Healthcare costs saved (2018 GBP) Live AvertedChildAvertedBirthsDeaths AvertedAbortionsUnsafeAvertedAbortions
17 SEXUAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS STRATEGY, PARTNERSHIPS AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SAUTI MEDIA HUB MILESTONES
REACH A HAND UGANDA18 RAHU operated in 26 districts and implemented 20 projects through which 129,364 people accessed SRHR information. 35,344(28%) SRHR services were provided. 27,459 were young people 10-24 years of age. 442,560 free male condoms and 5,742 free female condoms were distributed. Beneficiaries were reached through different approaches across the 26 districts through which referrals for services were made as indicated in the chart below; SEXUAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS Chart 1: The different approaches of implementation in 2021 Information Referrals Conversion Rate 35069 Outreaches 10282 5459 53% 734 312 43% 11793 8214 70% 29405 0 0% 18638 79 0% 14180 40% Activations Youth Days Table Talks CommunityDialogues Door to Door Health Education
NEW ADVOCACY PARTNERSHIPS Population Reference Bureau (PRB) Reach A Hand Uganda partnered with the Population Reference Bureau (PRB) through Family Planning Advocacy Resource Hub to develop advocacy communication materials on family planning for youth. Through a collaborative process, teams at PRB and RAHU designed a fact sheet and an advocacy video that targets local policy makers to improve access to family planning for youth. National Youth Council As an advocacy strategy RAHU set out to co-opt a pool of youth political leaders who can raise Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights issues on the national Political agenda. RAHU signed a 3 - year MOU with the National Youth Council to collaborate on SRHR issues. As part of the process, RAHU built the capacity of the National Executive Committee to support national advocacy on SRHR. Additionally, joint planning, implementation of youth centred activities, as well as fundraising together for programmes around SRHR is ongoing. SRHR was raised on MEDIA ADVOCACY Sex for Pads
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UPR Leadership RAHU co-convened the Youth Rights cluster or thematic group under the stewardship of the National CSO Stakeholders’ Forum on the Universal Periodic Review. Every 5 years countries that subscribe to the United Nations undergo a review relating to their human rights track record in a bid to hold governments accountable and make recommendations to improve. Uganda is set to be reviewed in January 2022. In collaboration with the Forum secretariat, the National coalition of Human Rights Defender, the center for Constitutional Governance, and 25 other youth lead and youth serving organizations, a report highlighting youth rights issues and key recommendations was developed, which contributed to the CSO Stakeholders Shadow report on the 2016 UPR review recommendation and other emerging rights issues in Uganda.
In collaboration with the Media champion, Canary Mugume, RAHU undertook to raise public awareness on unsafe abortions in Uganda. The strategy was used to invoke public discourse on the salient social and systemic issues that predispose young girls and women to unsafe abortions. RAHU leveraged social media and the longstanding partnership with NBS TV to reach a wide audience. The campaign reached over 500,000 people and stirred public debate and caught the attention of key policy makers including Winnie Kizza, the Former leader of Opposition in Parliament who tweeted, “It is a sad reality that girls in Kasese and other rural districts trade sex for sanitary pads. It is deeply troubling that many child headed families as a result of potential instability have young mothers who trade sex to earn a living. Uganda must make the commitment to restore the dignity of girls.”
Hon Godfrey Baluku, state minister for Information Communication Technology and National Guidance also had this to say, “This story which has been run on NBS TV is difficult to watch. The stakeholders and government have to do something to address this concern”
ADVOCACY AND POLICY MILESTONES
SEXUAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS
The campaign has also led to several crowdsourcing campaigns including the online #PadThruCOVID by Burungi Charities for girls Kasese. Albeit, pads are just part of the wider issue, the efforts are complementing other advocacy issues on different fronts including at district and national level.
There were impassioned speeches by Hon. Nyamutooro (National Female Youth MP) and Jacob Eyeru (Chairperson National Youth Council) on the state of young people and girls in particular.
The youth leaders pledged the commitment of the National Youth Council and Parliament through youth representatives, to articulate and advocate for the policies, and legislation that addresses SRHR in the areas of decision making.
104 (59 male and 45 female) participants attended the IGD physically including 10 key policy makers and influencers including the National Female youth MP, Ms. Fiona Nyamutooro, Chairperson of the National Youth Council, Chairperson, Jacob Eyeru, and Dr Richard Mugahi, Assistant commissioner, Reproductive health and infant health at the Ministry of Health. The IGD strengthened collaborations with other partners including SRHR alliance, UNESCO, CEHURD, UN Women and Next Media. Social media reach using the IGD Global Hashtag was 1,937,754 on twitter. A link to the IGD can be found here.
SEXUAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS
NATIONAL ADVOCACY IGD In 2021 the IGD was held under the theme, “Prioritizing Adolescent and Youth Sexual Reproductive Health to Achieve Uganda’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. The IGD attracted drivers of change from across the region to inspire, invigorate, and engage on issues around gender equality and SRHR. The IGD featured diverse panels on Gender equality in the wake of the COVID 19 pandemic; the utility of self-care in sexual reproductive health care management and the emerging issues on SRHR in the wake of the COVID 19 pandemic. Additionally, there were IGDPowerTalks on Peer Educators and their role in the community Leaving no one behind by Centering Persons with disabilities respectively as well as SRHR for the Elderly.
Role District and community leaders in the access of SRHR services
SEXUAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS RESEARCH STUDIES AND EVIDENCE BUILDING
Contraceptive methods (18.35%), HIV screening and testing (17.9%), SRH counseling and information (10.86%) as well as pregnancy testing (10.11%) were the most needed SRH services by young people during the lockdown. The least needed services were treatment for abortion (1.5%), SGBV counselling and support (1.9%) and postnatal care (3.75%). The need for these services was generally higher among the 15-19 age category. The most sought services by young people were antenatal care (93.33%), pregnancy testing (93%), and maternal and child delivery (92.31%), while the least sought were SGBV counseling, SRH counseling and information and testing for other STIs.
RAHU conducted 2 evaluations in Mayuge, Adjumani and Kasese districts. The evaluation conducted in Mayuge district focused on production of evidence on the household cost of the non-provision of SRHRs services during the COVID-19 Pandemic, with particular focus on young people and vulnerable populations. Below is a summary of the findings per objective; Impact of COVID-19 on young people’s access to and utilization of SRHR services
The majority (72.2%) of the caregivers interviewed did not know any role or assistance rendered by the district and other community leaders in facilitating young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services during the lockdown. On the other hand, 10.3% and 2.2% respectively reported that local leaders were instrumental in raising awareness about SRH services and issuing movement permits. Only 7.6% of young people interviewed were reported to have obtained SRH information from local leaders/politicians, 5.63% from VHTs and 2.11 from religious leaders.
Homegrown food was the main source of food for a majority (85.7%) of the households during the lockdown. The majority of the households could afford two or more meals per day for adults (96.6%) and children (79.1%) at the time of the study, and there were no significant variations between the intervention and control sub-counties as evidenced as a Chi-Square value of 0.88. However, 20.3% and 28.3% of the households in Baitambogwe and Mpungwe sub-counties respectively could not afford a minimum of three (3) meals a day during COVID-19 lockdown between March and April 2020.
2. There is a need to continue sensitization aimed at progressively changing the societal wide negative attitudes, beliefs and perceptions regarding SRH in general and family planning in particular.
5. Improve the coordination between the providers of SRH services, especially information. Formation/strengthening the capacity of working groups that bring together all key stakeholders in the space of SRH promotion and service delivery.
Impact of the pandemic on the households of young people 10-24.
3. Reach A Hand through their community structures such as the peer educators and in partnership with other players the SRH sector need to accelerate the SRH campaign beyond schools and other formal settings to informal community spaces where young people routinely meet and interact.
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1. Strengthen the capacity of parents to effectively engage in sex and sexuality talks with their young people.
Below were some of the recommendations;
4. Continue to lobby the government to provide adequate funding for youth-friendly corners and ensure that staff there are trained in the provision of youth-friendly SRH services.
1. What is the knowledge and attitudes of young people on maternal health care services and safe abortion care services in Kasese and Adjumani districts?
Finally, 36% of the health workers disagreed with the current legal and institutional status of safe abortion care, while another 33% agree and 28% had no response. This implies that some health workers have not been sensitized on the gaps existing in the present legal and institution status on safe abortion care in Uganda.
Below are some of the recommendations from the study; 1. There is need to engage in more advocacy to develop guidelines for reducing maternal mortality from Unsafe Abortions in Uganda.
The second evaluation was in Adjumani and Kasese districts. The evaluation was to answer the following questions.
3. What are the existing gaps that need immediate advocacy interventions or action concerning maternal health? Below were the findings from the evaluation; The survey established that 50.1% of the young people interviewed have access to Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights information the finding suggests that there is a gap in the delivery of these services which affects the young people’s ability to make the right reproductive health choices. In addition, 93% of the young people interviewed said they access family planning services from government hospitals. Furthermore, in terms of the reasons why young women seek abortions 36% mentioned the need to avoid unwanted pregnancy, 14% to complete education and another 14% have inadequate knowledge of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights issues, this finding suggests that an increase in the access to family planning methods will be helpful in reducing on the demand for young women seeking unsafe abortions. In addition, 62% of all the health workers interviewed have never received any training in conducting safe abortions these results have implications on their ability to offer safe abortion services even when they are required based on the current legally acceptable circumstances. Similarly, 46% of the health workers agree that abortion should be permitted under any circumstances which implies that there are no uniform legal guidelines that determines what should be offered in term of safe abortion care services.
3. There is a need to provide youth friendly services in government health facilities as the survey established that the highest number of young people seek SRH services from there.
SEXUAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS
4. There is need to ensure that young people have uninterrupted access to appropriate family planning methods whenever they need them to reduce the demand for unsafe abortions which greatly contributed to maternal deaths in Uganda.
2. There is a need for provision of more opportunities for young people to receive SRH information which helps make the right reproductive health choices.
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5. There is need to provide training opportunities to health workers in providing post abortion care to the many young women who engage in unsafe abortions.
2. What is the knowledge, attitudes and practices of health workers with regard to maternal health care services and abortion services in Kasese and Adjumani district?
However, thank God that those were the wee –hours and the last ‘psalms’ of our grandparents which some of our parents opposed, being
The Peer Educators Academy for the year 2021 had over 728 active peer educators, youth champions and advocates that supported in our different programming to enhance access to sexual and reproductive health information and services in different communities. The peer educators have been able to engage other youth in behavioral change activities like table talks, community dialogues, integrated outreaches and district based and national level advocacy.
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CUKO EMMANUEL FROM OBONGI DISTRICT
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
At the core of our interventions are the young people! at RAHU we don’t just give young people seats at the table but also empower them to meaningfully engage in these spaces. The Peer Educators Academy for us continued to be an adaptive environment where young people from different targeted communities kickstarter or continue their individual and community impact journeys.
“Born and rised in a rural community in Obongi district, West Nile – Northern Uganda, in a polygamous family to economically disadvantaged, peasant parents and orphaned at nine (9), I had no hope that the world would at a certain point in life give me an opportunity to curve for myself a future I had no idea what providence had in store for my life for where I come from, “The light of the world – education” was less embraced by parents and children alike as custom and our parents, day by day at the fireplace, relentlessly narrated to us that the destiny of a boy is to look after the animals, hunt, fish, farm and can at will or under parental arrangement marry at an age after entering manhood [15years] and then marry more wives, dependent on his capability to provide for all his them. While our sisters unlike us boys were discouraged from; leave alone attaining but even thinking about education.
I like; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi; aspire to leave a great legacy in my community, district and country; to influence beliefs and policies that will positively impact and inspire generations to come”.
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS
SEXUAL
exposed to a little light of civilization that made them act contrary by instead sending us to school though most of us nearly being pioneers remained at P5 and 6 and dropped out to marry or be married. Thank Providence that even through all these, I rose from Primary to Secondary and now to the University and being a pioneer University student from my Parish, my life became a ray of hope, a reference and testament that Indeed it can be done as today a number of parents in my community, though mainly peasants toil thick and thin to highly educate their children.
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Growing up in an intersection of contemporary life (high school and University) and traditional life where the dictates of culture mainly characterized with some biases (as realized when I grew older and studied on) which were dearly embraced by our parents was a blessing in disguise to me as it gave me the pleasure to compare and contrast and choose the better for myself and for my community as a peer educator. Thanks to God that my earlier countryside life was preparing me for the true taste of the world that I wanted to live in; a world free from GBV, one where the biases of tradition, culture and society on gender, women, young people and other minority groups like young people living with disabilities, would cease. It is this passion, after realizing that indeed some of the cultural norms are unbalanced that propelled me to become a peer educator with RAHU. I knew I had a role to play in my community, a role to advocate for the rights of the minority. And when I became a Peer educator, my world totally changed. I now have a rich exposure to not only comprehensive SRHR knowledge but also a set of competences and people who keep influencing my life day by day. I have grown into a strong advocate for the rights of marginalized groups of people in society. This, I truly feel deep within me. Becoming a peer educator, made me realize that everywhere, society is desperately in need of answers to the many challenges we face today. I have affirmed that if no one arises to take responsibility for influencing positive change, nothing changes. With such realizations, I aspire to be a strong defender and advocate for the rights and freedoms of marginalized communities and groups of people. I aspire to someday join the humanitarian mission taking on real responsibilities and with passion, dedicating my life to fight for sexual, reproductive, gender and human rights for marginalised groups anywhere around the world.
REACH A HAND UGANDA26 KIDEN JACKLINE FROM ARUA DISTRICT
I had a lot of reasons to why applied to become a peer educator first I was a young person in my refugee committee who wanted to create change among my peers, I also loved working for the community and loved engaging in community activities that addressed people issues like dialogues and so on, last but not least the RAHU slogan that was written young people for young people made me to get interested in volunteering with RAHU because I felt they would understand what we young people go through without judging or questioning us but to instead advise us on the right thing to do.
Being a peer educator changed me a lot and my life has never remained the same after my first training with RAHU. I have grown my self confidence and self-esteem now, and above all I have attained leadership skills now am a leader in the making. I also now see that my aspirations are well aligned as an individual. I have been able to continue my education while acting as a role model /mentor to other young people within the refugee community. I have learnt that every young person regardless of where they come from is deserving of opportunities and platforms like the peer educators’ academy to enable them grow”.
“My name is Kiden Jackline, age 25 years now, south sudanese refugee from Imvepi refugee settlement Arua district, currently a student at Nkumba university under a scholarship with Windle international pursuing Bachelor degree in Development studies
Well, I was in my senior six vacation in 2019 when I applied to become a peer educator with RAHU and I was 22years old by then and a very shy person who could not even talk among my peers because I didn’t know how to talk but also, I underestimated myself and had no self-esteem.
2. I can assure you that my self-confidence is @100% because I can now stand before a crowd and speak with confidence. I also learnt to let myself be free and interact with people all thanks to Reach A Hand Uganda, Am aspiring to be the among the best talked about actresses in the movie industry with Allah’s mercy and with the best guidance from the best @RAHU I am aspiring to be a strong, confident, self-made businesswoman will can never back down just because life has thrown me tough challenges because I have learnt that nothing Allah throws is anything you cannot handle and in Life it’s all about dreaming, believing, in achieving�� thank you”
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NAKATE SHARIFAH ALI FROM KAMPALA
The two things that changed about me since I became a peer educator; 1. I got a chance to feature in kyaddala season 2 which I was yearning for. My acting skills improved because I was working with the best people in the industry and down to earth directors who made me like the profession even more and want to do it more and more.
3. Network with the best people to increase my life opportunities.
“Before I became a peer educator, I was a normal campus girl at YMCA doing journalism and mass communication, who never had a real paying job apart from doing the stage plays to get some money for my tuition fees. Before that I had been home for a whole year after my S.4 and this was because my parents never wanted me to go for the journalism course that I was passionate about. My mom later promised to pay for my tuition but could not be able to sustain it. I started making small little savings from the money I used to earn from theater plays to help me with the first semesters of Trustcampus.me it wasn’t easy at all, with all the temptations around me, people willing to pay for all my semesters but wanting to use me in return. I stood strong and focused but broken for years but still had my own back, I decided to stop schooling after two semesters. Before putting a pause to my studies, I had two friends who used to talk about Reach A Hand and they assured me it would change my life, my acting career, and my self-confidence since I was a loner and not a people person. Since I loved acting so much and had watched Kyaddala season 1, I was yearning to feature in season 2. I was thrilled and could not hesitate. I got my application forms, applied and to my luck I was among the lucky ones that were selected to join the peer educator’s academy. This was the happiest day in days and I started to get hopeful that my dreams will come true. Why did I apply to become a peer educator? 1. To boost my opportunities for my acting career. 2. Build my self-confidence
2021 EDUCATORSPEER TRAINED 9% 7% 8% 20% 20% 36% ACHOLICENTRALEASTERN KARAMOJAWESTWESTERNNILE66 56 70 285 154 158 28 To enhance the capacity of the young people that RAHU works with as peer educators in different communities across the country. RAHU conducted both refresher and new trainings focusing on sexual and reproductive health, behavioural change communication, community mobilization, life skills among others. The trainings which were conducted across 23 districts that Adjumani, Agago, Yumbe, Madi Okollo, Moyo, Arua, Kitgum, Lamwo, Obongi, Amuru, Yumbe, Tororo, Butaleja, Busia, Kagadi, Kween, Namayingo, Bukwo, Budaka, Rwampara, Mbarara and Kampala in Uganda also focused on equipping the peer educators with skills to adapt to the changing environment with the disruptive changes in the world. YOUTH CAPACITY BUILDING
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MENTORSHIP, BUSINESS SUPPORT AND LINKAGE. As part of the continued mentorship within the active years of service and alumni network. Through our youth engagement department, the young people are supported to progress in different aspects of their lives including employment and business. Working with our partners, the young people are linked to business mentorship and capacity building to enhance their venture growth.
1. The external evaluation of the 2016/2020 strategic plan and organizational assessment;
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2. Developing and institutionalization of the 2022/2026 strategic plan; 3. The Board development process and;
STRATEGY, PARTNERSHIPS AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Strategy and Global Expansion 2021 was the transitional year between the 2016/2020 and the 2022/2026 strategic plans, during which time, the latter strategic plan was developed. This process took four phases. Specifically;
4. The staff development process. Between April and June 2022, Uganda experienced a deadlier 2nd wave of Covid19. In order to curb the growing numbers of infections countrywide, the government of Uganda instituted a 42 day lockdown. This disrupted the strategic planning and organizational development process. Nonetheless, the efforts to expand globally proceeded. The registration process for offices in the United States and the United Kingdom was successfully completed. Boards for both locations were also instituted with the primary function to support global resource mobilization efforts. The final 2022/2026 strategic plan was completed by November 2021. It outlines Reach A Hand’s programmatic focus across sexual reproductive health and rights, livelihoods, communications and innovation as well as continuous institutional development. The strategic plan goes into effect on January 1, 2022. Partnerships and Business Development In 2021, Reach A Hand pursued partnerships with International and local NGOs, in-country and international corporate entities, coalitions, bilateral organizations and government agencies. With 21 funding partners, 8 coalition members, 8 implementing partners, 3 UN agencies, 4 government agencies and 11 corporate partners, we were able to extend our programs to 26 communities across Uganda.
31 MEDIASAUTIHUB MILESTONES
SAUTI MEDI HUB MILESTONES
The Love Caravan and the #SafeLoveUG Concert had extensive promotion on the Reach A Hand Uganda and partner social media pages. The best way to create awareness among young people is to use the channels that they visit every hour, minute and second of their time. For four days, the Love MuKibanda campaign ran under the Hashtags #SafeLoveUg and #LoveMuKibanda which gained a lot of traction and following; #SafeLoveUG Twitter: 1300 tweets, 2,947,760 reach, 76,830,288 impressions, and 1,567 retweets with Reach A Hand Uganda and NBS TV being the biggest contributors. The Love Boldly #The SafeLoveUG concert was broadcast on NBS TV and on the NBS Facebook page. Love is sweet when it’s safe!
The SAUTIplus media hub is the communications arm of Reach a Hand Uganda. We believe that effective communication brings positive change and as such, it is core to the work that we do. Communication goes beyond what we send out, for us, it is engagement and we endeavor to see that in all communication, our target audience is involved, satisfied, and informed. In 2021, a number of digital campaigns were held as explained below.
#SafeLoveUG #LoveMukibanda We’re surrounded by new phrases and styles that reflect the culture of young people in their different communities, this is why in 2021, we celebrated love in the language that young people understand. Our valentine’s day celebration through digital communication was held under the hashtags, #LoveMukibanda and #SafeLoveUG. Celebrating love for young people does not mean irresponsible behavior but rather taking care of each other, supporting one another to make informed decisions. The #LoveMuKibanda was an avenue to mobilize young people for SRHR service uptake in the slum areas and in the different communities in the districts of operation.
One of the biggest initiatives and campaigns run last year was the iKon launch campaign. The iKon initiative is a platform for empowerment and inspiration for young people in different sectors of Thelife.iKon initiative seeks to Educate, connect and award/celebrate young people in sectors like Social Entrepreneurship, Business, Employer iKon, Public Health, Innovation and ICT, Sports, Young Philanthropy, Climate Action, Journalism (Broadcast, New media), Farming and AgroProcessing, creative Arts, Most Influential iKon broken into Male iKon of the Year and Female iKon of the year, Heroine/Hero Award, Heroine/ Hero Award. Our messages online focused on recognizing African Heritage and talent. The iKon initiative is a platform for young creatives to showcase and grow their talents. The hashtag #TalentHeritageRecognition was used during the launch period and generated conversations on the need to motivate young people to be the best they can in everything they put their minds to. More information about the iKon initiative can be found at https://www. Posttheikon.org/promotion activities including social media updates, newsletters, T.V & Radio shows were done. Tracking the two hashtags used for promoting the iKon Initiative gained the following results; #TalentHeritageRecognition: Over 1 million impressions, with a total 176 retweets and reached over 280,000 people on twitter.
REACH A HAND UGANDA34 SAUTI Canvas Hybrid event RAHU together with Light For The World (LFTW) and partners - Voices and Beats, NAVCORP, Segal Family Foundation, NBS, One8 Media launched the SAUTI Canvas under the theme “Focus on Abilities”. Aimed at bringing inclusivity to the public’s attention, the Sauti Canvas was launched in April and centred on inclusion of different categories of young people, in the performing arts. This first edition focused on young people with disabilities who are often left behind when it comes to the music industry. The Sauti Canvas was launched to showcase young people’s talent in the different categories of music, Hip Hop, instrumental and dance. This was used as an advocacy platform for young people with disabilities for their participation in the music and arts industry and access to youth friendly services. The launch attracted 40 participants physically and reached 293,361 participants online. Have you seen a brass band composed of instrumentalists with disabilities? If you have not then the Sauti Canvas was an opportunity to enjoy their talent - “Brass for Africa” is the Throughband.the hashtag #SAUTICanvasUG: Over 773,476 impressions, with a total 293,361 reach on Twitter. During the Sauti Canvas wrap up, our Facebook page gathered over 2,079 post engagements and a reach of over 331,180 people on Twitter. This campaign promoted disability inclusion in the performing arts and young people showcased their super abilities and talents in the performing arts. The winners were awarded with prize money and opportunities to record and produce music with the finest in the industry like Kenneth Mugabi.
Twitter Spaces held online In 2021, Uganda experienced yet another COVID-19 lockdown that was characterized by; closure of schools, places of worship, bars and hangout places remained closed and another ban on public and private means of transport. This meant that young people were back home and guidance in all life spheres. Accurate information was the most needed to inform, empower and influence positive behavior. RAHU took to and held several informative and life changing Twitter spaces to communicate and advocate for the different issues that were prevalent in the young people’s communities. These ranged from; Generation Equality space, End maternal deaths, the World contraception day Twitter space and mental health twitter spaces.
SAUTI MEDIA HUB MILESTONES
Activities were conducted in five implementation districts of Kampala, Kasese, Hoima Kagadi, Kabale and Adjumani from 1st December 2021 and run till 7th December 2021. The campaign takes inspiration from the UNAIDS Global AIDS Strategy (2021 -2026) that emphasizes the need to end inequalities in order to end the HIV epidemic by 2030. Creating positive change in the lives of young people is fundamental and can only be sustained if the young people that form the most of Uganda’s population are at the forefront. During the 7 day’s campaign the #IknowKatiUG hashtag reached over 47,600,000 people online, with 26,600 interactions. The campaign also enjoyed 2,200 mentions, 18,200 shares, and 8,500 likes.
iKnowKati HIV/Awareness Campaign/ Digital Promotion. Through the iKnowKati, an annual RAHU-GLI HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention campaign, exciting, accurate and informative messages were disseminated on different RAHU online platforms. The 2021 edition of the iKnowKati dubbed “One week in December” was a 7 day’s campaign that was conducted under the theme “Ending the HIV epidemic: Tearing down inequalities.”
36 ONLINE MEDIA ENGAGEMENTS AND BLOGS
37 SAUTI MEDIA HUB MILESTONES Websites RAHU communicates globally to various segmented users using the organization website and the SautiPlus website. WWW.REACHAHAND.ORGWWW.SAUTIPLUS.ORG Mobile Applications The application is on both the google play store and App store. The applications disseminate SRHR information to users in a fun and interactive way.VisitorsVisitorsSOURCE 15K37K 18K45K 82.23%6.9% 1m1.0m22s1521416SessionsSessions BounceBounceRateRate SessionINSTALLATIONSSessionTeamTeamQR CODE
REACH A HAND UGANDA38 The e-referral platform of the SautiPlus ecosystem was used by two projects in 2021, U-decide Hoima and Heroes for GTA, implemented in 5 districts; Hoima, Kween, Bukwo, Namayingo, Budaka in 18 health facilities across all districts. A total of 1,668 service referrals were made by the peer educators, 1,191 completed, 477 were incomplete by December 31st recording 71% completion rate with services spanning from ANC, FP and SGBV. E-REFERRAL PLATFORM
Contraceptives and Family Planning HIV Testing and Counseling GBV Psychosocial Support Post-Abortion Care ARV DeliveryDelivery 30% 7% 22% 8% 21% 11% CONTRIBUTIONPERCENTAGE OF THE SERVICESDIFFERENTTOTHESERVICEREQUESTS REACH A HAND UGANDA40 Another innovation under the SautiPlus Ecosystem is the USSD, accessible to all mobile networks in Uganda by simply dialing *284*15#. Mapped out in 277 health facilities, creating a referral linkage for ARV’s, HIV/AIDS, Family planning, Post abortion care, delivery and SGBV and Pyscho-social service. 15,769 people dialed the code, 2,069 subscribers, 1,532 service requests. HIV, Contraception and GBV psychosocial support contributed to the highest service requests through the USSD with 30%, 21% and 22% respectively. USSD
2021REPORTANNUAL 41 SautiPlus Television: In order to effectively change behaviors and mindset of young persons, RAHU launched a video on demand television in 2020, to offer edutainment through series, movies and concerts available 24/7. In 2021, there were 6 TV shows with 4,871 registered users. Plays 1241 Loads 1420 Finishes 102 Unique Viewers 183 Mean Percent 59
DONOR INCOME 83% LOCALLY FUNDRAISED INCOME TOTAL 17% 100% 854,390,4594,168,926,889 5,023,317,348 42 2021 RAHU INCOME RECOGNISED
Plot 7502, Block 244 - Kitaranga, Kansanga - Ggaba Road P.O. Box 21288, Kampala - Uganda Tel: +256 (0) 414 697 037 Email: info@reachahand.org LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PROJECTS
