Stay Safe is a programme run by Joy for Children to sensitize young people mainly in secondary schools about living responsible lives, sexual reproductive health, advocating for their rights and how they can help create better schools/ communities in which they live.

Following an intensive advocacy campaign in secondary schools in 2009 that aimed at creating awareness about HIV, Stay Safe Clubs were formed in Victory Senior Secondary School, Kampala High School, Makerere Highway College, Our Lady of Fatima Senior Secondary School and Kasubi Senior Secondary School with 150 registered members. The issues to address mainly are centered on Violence Against Children (VAC), Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights.

Stay Safe is about meaningful participation and sustained involvement for young people in activities that help create better schools/ communities that are free from abuse and violence against children and adolescents.

 

Student’s executive committees are elected with the responsibility of administering the clubs as well as initiating activities within each school. Each club has a Patron, who is a responsible teacher from the school who has genuine interest in activities of young people that aim at addressing Violence Against Children and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights.  Feedback is sent to Joy for Children regarding the activities of the club and a summarized handout is then-after sent to each school for review and further discussion.

 

Latest Issue

• Have  a Stay Safe Club notice boards in each school where information will be posted regularly
• Have at least one meeting for all the leaders of the Stay Safe Clubs each term to help discuss, exchange ideas, experiences and challenges they are facing but also to help create dialogue and understanding among all the clubs. This will be in a Stay Safe Club leader’s seminar.
• Have schools visit each other to discuss, debate and plan for what the clubs can do together as a group with a common cause. This will be in an annual event involving music, dance, drama, and sports among others.
• Hold one get-together party at the end of each year where all subscribed members from all schools will have a day out together to know each other, play games and outgoing committee members will be awarded with certificates in recognition of their contribution.
• Expand the programme to more five secondary schools in Kawempe Division.
• Production of quarterly Newsletters contributed to by young people where they can give views and exchange ideas.