Power To You(th) Uganda is excited to bring to you one of the country’s biggest SRHR sports events, dubbed “Power To Youth Gender Stereo-Bursting Sports Gala,” happening on September 26th and 29th in Busia and Kalangala districts, respectively. The event has been organized by one of our consortium partners, the Uganda Youth and Adolescent Health Forum (UYAHF), under the theme: “Accelerating Recovery from COVID-19 and Full Implementation of the 2030 Agenda: The Role of Youth.”
The first case of COVID-19 in Uganda was confirmed on March 21, 2020. Since then, the Government of Uganda implemented strict measures to control the spread of the virus and to manage its impact on public health and the economy. These measures included closing borders, implementing travel restrictions, suspending public transportation, enforcing a nationwide lockdown, and shutting down non-essential businesses. Sectors engaging young people; tourism, transportation, education, healthcare, manufacturing, trade, and construction. were adversely affected.
The youth were faced with education disruptions, health services access disruption and economic downturns, resulting in job losses, loss of income, and limited access to resources and opportunities. Limited access to health and social services impacts their ability to participate in sports and other recreational activities which are essential for their development, well-being, and social connections. Gender-based Violence increased during the pandemic, heightened risks, including increased rates of early marriages, unintended pregnancies, and reduced access to reproductive health services. All these disruptions of routines, limitations, and concerns about the future, contributed to mental health challenges, increased stress, and anxiety, hence resulting in increased financial burdens on young people and increased poverty rates.
Given the chance, young people could assert their rights and use civic engagement to improve their lives as well as those of others. Their participation can be an empowering process for them. The Power To Youth Sports gala will bring hundreds of young people and draw the attention of key stakeholders to the critical need to address the SRHR challenges and challenge the existing harmful practices that deprive young people of their health rights and hinder their access to SRHR.
Objectives of the event
Our overarching aim for this initiative is to unravel the deeply ingrained myths and misconceptions surrounding critical issues such as harmful practices, teenage pregnancies, child marriage, and gender-based violence. Our team also aims to:
- Illuminate the path to informed sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) decision-making for young people.
- Enhance engagement with youth leaders who play a pivotal role in catalyzing positive change within their communities.
- Catalyze the formulation of actionable strategies for more effective coordination among youth leaders, ensuring that their collective efforts drive substantial progress in addressing these pressing challenges.
The Sports gala will draw participants across all walks of life in the respective districts, including adolescent girls and boys both in and out of school, young women, PTY youth advocates, CSOs, district luminaries, religious and cultural leaders, media persons, local artists, and dance groups, among others.
FOLLOW THE EVENT LIVE ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS
Twitter: @uyahf1, @powertoyouthug, @RHUganda.
Youtube: @uyahfchannel6321
Facebook: Power To Youth Ug, Uyahf
Be an exemplary online contributor by amplifying the event through the hashtag: #PTYSportsGala23
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