Teenage centre promotes rights

 

A peer counsellor speaking with youth at

Naguru Teenage Centre

 

By Fred Ouma

The Day of the African Child draws attention to the lives of African children today. As Uganda joins the rest of the world to observe the day, many children under 18 years old, spend it as mere recipients of programmes and interventions orchestrated by adults.

However, such days of designing and handing over a destiny to children could soon be gone as Naguru Teenage Information and Health Centre strives to fulfill its promise of finding children a “place of their own.” A place where the children’s voice can influence policy and programming.
“We as adults owe it to children to help build a better world,” says Rebecca Nabbosa, the centre’s advocacy assistant manager.

“It is our duty to promote and protect children’s right to speak their minds and freely seek, receive and impart information and ideas relevant for them to make informed decisions.”

Renee Nyange, the centre’s administrative assistant, adds: “We owe them this, not only as a matter of morality, but of law.
“It is a cause for rejoicing that everyday, children are exercising their right to participate and to speak freely, in big and small ways.”

The right to participation and free expression are essential ingredients of democracy and as such, they are vital to the realisation of all human rights.

Founded by a group of professional volunteers 14 years ago, Naguru Teenage Centre, now considered a model on how to promote best youth-friendly practices, uses a participatory approach to offer adolescent sexual reproductive health services.

The main activities at the centre include toll free help line (042-2222), teen and parental radio programmes, outreaches, teenage club, medical, counselling, HIV testing and antenatal services.

Equipped with 33 well-trained personnel including doctors, nurses, peer educators and counsellors, youth are sensitised, motivated to freely share information and experiences about safe adolescent reproductive health behaviour and practices.

But with increasing number of youth coming from as far as Masaka, Kayunga and Jinja to seek services, the task is becoming bigger for the centre to handle alone. The Government, civil society, media and individuals must build constructive relationships with children.

“Everyone of us has the power to change the world for and with children. That’s why, as a teenage centre, we continue to work with all partners, teachers, parents and community leaders to build a shared sense of responsibility for the well-being of every child in Uganda,” says Nabbosa.

Every child deserves a good future, in a world where all children can grow to adulthood in health, peace and dignity and where they are loved. They should learn in safe and enabling environments, where their gender is not a liability and where they can express themselves freely and participate in matters that affect them.

You can do it by exercising your influence. Together we owe it to ourselves to build a better future for every child knowing that in serving the best interests of children, we will serve the best interests of all humanity.