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[Music] Uganda has one of the highest school
Uganda has one of the highest school
Uganda has one of the highest school dropout rates in sub-saharan Africa the
dropout rates in sub-saharan Africa the
dropout rates in sub-saharan Africa the 2012 UNESCO report put it at 68 percent
2012 UNESCO report put it at 68 percent
2012 UNESCO report put it at 68 percent just second behind Chad at 72% and
just second behind Chad at 72% and
just second behind Chad at 72% and Mauritius and Botswana returned the
Mauritius and Botswana returned the
Mauritius and Botswana returned the lowest percentages at 2 and 7%
lowest percentages at 2 and 7%
lowest percentages at 2 and 7% respectively studies conducted in Uganda
respectively studies conducted in Uganda
respectively studies conducted in Uganda show that pregnancy is one of the major
show that pregnancy is one of the major
show that pregnancy is one of the major causes of school girl dropouts some of
causes of school girl dropouts some of
causes of school girl dropouts some of these studies include grant and homeland
these studies include grant and homeland
these studies include grant and homeland 2008 ahi Chile and Madonna 2011 but MBA
2008 ahi Chile and Madonna 2011 but MBA
2008 ahi Chile and Madonna 2011 but MBA al 2014
al 2014
al 2014 stable nor a all 2015 and the Ministry
stable nor a all 2015 and the Ministry
stable nor a all 2015 and the Ministry of Education and sports in Uganda 2015
of Education and sports in Uganda 2015
of Education and sports in Uganda 2015 and a study commissioned by Farah Uganda
and a study commissioned by Farah Uganda
and a study commissioned by Farah Uganda that is forum for African women
that is forum for African women
that is forum for African women educationalists in 2011 in that study 34
educationalists in 2011 in that study 34
educationalists in 2011 in that study 34 percent of the teachers and 65% of the
percent of the teachers and 65% of the
percent of the teachers and 65% of the students said that pregnancy is the
students said that pregnancy is the
students said that pregnancy is the major cause of dropout on a national
major cause of dropout on a national
major cause of dropout on a national scale their Uganda health and the group
scale their Uganda health and the group
scale their Uganda health and the group demographic survey of 2012 showed that
demographic survey of 2012 showed that
demographic survey of 2012 showed that 13 to 19 year olds 24% of them at that
13 to 19 year olds 24% of them at that
13 to 19 year olds 24% of them at that time of the survey were either pregnant
time of the survey were either pregnant
time of the survey were either pregnant or had had their first bath and of these
or had had their first bath and of these
or had had their first bath and of these the highest prevalences were in Karamoja
the highest prevalences were in Karamoja
the highest prevalences were in Karamoja in the northeastern part of Uganda and
in the northeastern part of Uganda and
in the northeastern part of Uganda and in Eastern Europe
in Eastern Europe
in Eastern Europe and in the central eastern part of
and in the central eastern part of
and in the central eastern part of Uganda here we had percentages as high
Uganda here we had percentages as high
Uganda here we had percentages as high as twenty nine point seven to thirty
as twenty nine point seven to thirty
as twenty nine point seven to thirty point six percent now of these girls who
point six percent now of these girls who
point six percent now of these girls who were found pregnant in that study or at
were found pregnant in that study or at
were found pregnant in that study or at the time of that survey it was also
the time of that survey it was also
the time of that survey it was also noted that the girls from the poorer
noted that the girls from the poorer
noted that the girls from the poorer households were more likely to be
households were more likely to be
households were more likely to be pregnant as opposed to those from the
pregnant as opposed to those from the
pregnant as opposed to those from the wealthier households and these were in
wealthier households and these were in
wealthier households and these were in percentages of 36 to 16 percent then the
percentages of 36 to 16 percent then the
percentages of 36 to 16 percent then the same survey also noted that for the
same survey also noted that for the
same survey also noted that for the girls who are in a marriage relationship
girls who are in a marriage relationship
girls who are in a marriage relationship there were twenty percent girls as
there were twenty percent girls as
there were twenty percent girls as opposed to two percent boys now these
opposed to two percent boys now these
opposed to two percent boys now these statistics are alarming because fourteen
statistics are alarming because fourteen
statistics are alarming because fourteen to nineteen year olds are supposed to be
to nineteen year olds are supposed to be
to nineteen year olds are supposed to be in school and that stat get me
in school and that stat get me
in school and that stat get me questioning what happens to these girls
questioning what happens to these girls
questioning what happens to these girls we all never dividends that come with
we all never dividends that come with
we all never dividends that come with every Australia that you send a girl to
every Australia that you send a girl to
every Australia that you send a girl to school their dividends for the girl for
school their dividends for the girl for
school their dividends for the girl for her family in future for her children
her family in future for her children
her family in future for her children for the economy for the environment the
for the economy for the environment the
for the economy for the environment the patient get her self-esteem the list is
patient get her self-esteem the list is
patient get her self-esteem the list is numerous and yet here are these girls
numerous and yet here are these girls
numerous and yet here are these girls dropping out of school so I asked what
dropping out of school so I asked what
dropping out of school so I asked what happens next and in asking these
happens next and in asking these
happens next and in asking these questions in trying to find an answer
questions in trying to find an answer
questions in trying to find an answer that is how in 2012 I got to learn about
that is how in 2012 I got to learn about
that is how in 2012 I got to learn about a Lisa Chan and pa’dar girls Academy
a Lisa Chan and pa’dar girls Academy
a Lisa Chan and pa’dar girls Academy paddy girls Academy is perhaps the only
paddy girls Academy is perhaps the only
paddy girls Academy is perhaps the only school in Uganda and East Africa where
school in Uganda and East Africa where
school in Uganda and East Africa where pregnant girls cherried mothers and
pregnant girls cherried mothers and
pregnant girls cherried mothers and their children study in the same
their children study in the same
their children study in the same environment so in 2012 I set off
environment so in 2012 I set off
environment so in 2012 I set off but industry pada district is 407
but industry pada district is 407
but industry pada district is 407 kilometers from the capital city Kampala
kilometers from the capital city Kampala
kilometers from the capital city Kampala and it’s one of the districts that was
and it’s one of the districts that was
and it’s one of the districts that was hardest hit by the lives Resistance Army
hardest hit by the lives Resistance Army
hardest hit by the lives Resistance Army War of Joseph Kony so we went traveled
War of Joseph Kony so we went traveled
War of Joseph Kony so we went traveled two and a half hours into that journey
two and a half hours into that journey
two and a half hours into that journey we stopped at a place called Madeira had
we stopped at a place called Madeira had
we stopped at a place called Madeira had a health break had something to eat and
a health break had something to eat and
a health break had something to eat and we continued on our journey and about to
we continued on our journey and about to
we continued on our journey and about to health breaks later and many many
health breaks later and many many
health breaks later and many many kilometres later we arrived in paddy
kilometres later we arrived in paddy
kilometres later we arrived in paddy when it was getting dark the following
when it was getting dark the following
when it was getting dark the following day in the morning I got to meet my host
day in the morning I got to meet my host
day in the morning I got to meet my host ELISA Chan and she took me to her
ELISA Chan and she took me to her
ELISA Chan and she took me to her organization Christian counseling
organization Christian counseling
organization Christian counseling fellowship CCF and we met under a tree
fellowship CCF and we met under a tree
fellowship CCF and we met under a tree why under a tree she told me that this
why under a tree she told me that this
why under a tree she told me that this is where it all began
is where it all began
is where it all began in 2002 a group of Christian women in
in 2002 a group of Christian women in
in 2002 a group of Christian women in padilla district had got together and
padilla district had got together and
padilla district had got together and they had formed the Christian counseling
they had formed the Christian counseling
they had formed the Christian counseling fellowship CCF and in 2003 right under
fellowship CCF and in 2003 right under
fellowship CCF and in 2003 right under that mango tree young girls returning
that mango tree young girls returning
that mango tree young girls returning from captivity came to this tree as a
from captivity came to this tree as a
from captivity came to this tree as a place of Solace they would come many of
place of Solace they would come many of
place of Solace they would come many of them with babies or pregnant some of
them with babies or pregnant some of
them with babies or pregnant some of them as young as twelve years old and
them as young as twelve years old and
them as young as twelve years old and under this tree they would be given
under this tree they would be given
under this tree they would be given small things to help them through life
small things to help them through life
small things to help them through life baby shows pieces of soap that many of
baby shows pieces of soap that many of
baby shows pieces of soap that many of these girls were traumatized because
these girls were traumatized because
these girls were traumatized because many of them had become so sex slaves to
many of them had become so sex slaves to
many of them had become so sex slaves to the LRA rebels many of them had become
the LRA rebels many of them had become
the LRA rebels many of them had become combatants and they were not being
combatants and they were not being
combatants and they were not being accepted in the community so between
accepted in the community so between
accepted in the community so between 2003 and 2006 CCF started psychosocial
2003 and 2006 CCF started psychosocial
2003 and 2006 CCF started psychosocial support for these girls
support for these girls
support for these girls and when they realize that even in the
and when they realize that even in the
and when they realize that even in the community people are not willing to help
community people are not willing to help
community people are not willing to help these girls because many of them say
these girls because many of them say
these girls because many of them say that you are associated with the rebels
that you are associated with the rebels
that you are associated with the rebels you have children of the rebels
you have children of the rebels
you have children of the rebels supposing they come after us others
supposing they come after us others
supposing they come after us others failed that you have him evil spirits we
failed that you have him evil spirits we
failed that you have him evil spirits we don’t want anything to do with you yet
don’t want anything to do with you yet
don’t want anything to do with you yet they had children to look after
they had children to look after
they had children to look after themselves children and so at that time
themselves children and so at that time
themselves children and so at that time our vocational section was started by
our vocational section was started by
our vocational section was started by CCF but as they took these girls through
CCF but as they took these girls through
CCF but as they took these girls through the vocational training they also
the vocational training they also
the vocational training they also realized that some of them were bright
realized that some of them were bright
realized that some of them were bright and were willing to go back to school so
and were willing to go back to school so
and were willing to go back to school so in 2008 Padilla girls Academy was born
in 2008 Padilla girls Academy was born
in 2008 Padilla girls Academy was born and after giving me this background to
and after giving me this background to
and after giving me this background to the Academy Alice took me to the school
the Academy Alice took me to the school
the Academy Alice took me to the school we started off by going to the dormitory
we started off by going to the dormitory
we started off by going to the dormitory where the girls sleep and in the
where the girls sleep and in the
where the girls sleep and in the dormitory we found a girl with a baby
dormitory we found a girl with a baby
dormitory we found a girl with a baby the rest of the girls had gone to class
the rest of the girls had gone to class
the rest of the girls had gone to class and understand me that the girls sleep
and understand me that the girls sleep
and understand me that the girls sleep with their babies so that they can
with their babies so that they can
with their babies so that they can breastfeed them and they can’t born and
breastfeed them and they can’t born and
breastfeed them and they can’t born and if a baby’s done well a girl can stay
if a baby’s done well a girl can stay
if a baby’s done well a girl can stay with hi in the dormitory she told me
with hi in the dormitory she told me
with hi in the dormitory she told me that when the girls wake up they cleaned
that when the girls wake up they cleaned
that when the girls wake up they cleaned the babies the girls head for the
the babies the girls head for the
the babies the girls head for the classroom and they take the girls they
classroom and they take the girls they
classroom and they take the girls they take their babies to the Early Childhood
take their babies to the Early Childhood
take their babies to the Early Childhood Development Center so from the dormitory
Development Center so from the dormitory
Development Center so from the dormitory we’ll move to the Early Childhood
we’ll move to the Early Childhood
we’ll move to the Early Childhood Development Center and here I found
Development Center and here I found
Development Center and here I found babies between six months and two year
babies between six months and two year
babies between six months and two year olds being looked after
olds being looked after
olds being looked after they were caregivers there and from the
they were caregivers there and from the
they were caregivers there and from the Early Childhood Development Center we
Early Childhood Development Center we
Early Childhood Development Center we moved to the classroom in between I was
moved to the classroom in between I was
moved to the classroom in between I was told that when the girls bring the
told that when the girls bring the
told that when the girls bring the babies to the center if a baby cries oh
babies to the center if a baby cries oh
babies to the center if a baby cries oh is upset they can get the baby to go to
is upset they can get the baby to go to
is upset they can get the baby to go to the classroom say that she’s oozed and
the classroom say that she’s oozed and
the classroom say that she’s oozed and she’s with the mother and there you can
she’s with the mother and there you can
she’s with the mother and there you can see some of the girls with their babies
see some of the girls with their babies
see some of the girls with their babies so the guys are always given their
so the guys are always given their
so the guys are always given their babies that was at one of the functions
babies that was at one of the functions
babies that was at one of the functions where the girls came to bad school girls
where the girls came to bad school girls
where the girls came to bad school girls allowed to look after their babies and
allowed to look after their babies and
allowed to look after their babies and on this particular visit in 2012 we
on this particular visit in 2012 we
on this particular visit in 2012 we found one of the girls in the classroom
found one of the girls in the classroom
found one of the girls in the classroom with her baby and there were no more
with her baby and there were no more
with her baby and there were no more girls
girls
girls like you can see young girls in their
like you can see young girls in their
like you can see young girls in their school uniforms but with babies and back
school uniforms but with babies and back
school uniforms but with babies and back from the war then when the classroom
from the war then when the classroom
from the war then when the classroom move move down and we went to the
move move down and we went to the
move move down and we went to the vocational section the vocational
vocational section the vocational
vocational section the vocational section had been started mainly to help
section had been started mainly to help
section had been started mainly to help girls who had dropped out at a very low
girls who had dropped out at a very low
girls who had dropped out at a very low level because the hands who dropped out
level because the hands who dropped out
level because the hands who dropped out at the secondary school level we are
at the secondary school level we are
at the secondary school level we are taken through an accelerated learning
taken through an accelerated learning
taken through an accelerated learning program it’s like a bridging program
program it’s like a bridging program
program it’s like a bridging program which enables them to catch up and then
which enables them to catch up and then
which enables them to catch up and then they can go and rejoin the class where
they can go and rejoin the class where
they can go and rejoin the class where they dropped out but those ones who are
they dropped out but those ones who are
they dropped out but those ones who are at a very low level are taken into that
at a very low level are taken into that
at a very low level are taken into that vocational section so that they’re able
vocational section so that they’re able
vocational section so that they’re able to learn a skill and to look after their
to learn a skill and to look after their
to learn a skill and to look after their babies and here we found girls who are
babies and here we found girls who are
babies and here we found girls who are bilking we found girls who were sailing
bilking we found girls who were sailing
bilking we found girls who were sailing and there was one girl in particular
and there was one girl in particular
and there was one girl in particular Jane who had completed her vocational
Jane who had completed her vocational
Jane who had completed her vocational studies and Jane – ended us that she
studies and Jane – ended us that she
studies and Jane – ended us that she supplies bread to Paddy Tao she’s able
supplies bread to Paddy Tao she’s able
supplies bread to Paddy Tao she’s able to live a life of dignity to look after
to live a life of dignity to look after
to live a life of dignity to look after her baby
her baby
her baby but what really touched me was that Jane
but what really touched me was that Jane
but what really touched me was that Jane has become a change agent she goes out
has become a change agent she goes out
has become a change agent she goes out into the communities and talks to the
into the communities and talks to the
into the communities and talks to the other girls and tells them that don’t
other girls and tells them that don’t
other girls and tells them that don’t get pregnant it’s not an easy road to
get pregnant it’s not an easy road to
get pregnant it’s not an easy road to get pregnant at an early age to drop out
get pregnant at an early age to drop out
get pregnant at an early age to drop out of school so despite the trauma she went
of school so despite the trauma she went
of school so despite the trauma she went through she is able to go and talk to
through she is able to go and talk to
through she is able to go and talk to other girls she also takes two guys with
other girls she also takes two guys with
other girls she also takes two guys with India Academy as a peer educator telling
India Academy as a peer educator telling
India Academy as a peer educator telling them that do not get a second pregnancy
them that do not get a second pregnancy
them that do not get a second pregnancy complete your education and see how to
complete your education and see how to
complete your education and see how to look after yourself and your children
look after yourself and your children
look after yourself and your children and from the classroom the vocational
and from the classroom the vocational
and from the classroom the vocational section we went to the head teachers
section we went to the head teachers
section we went to the head teachers office and they and the whales were
office and they and the whales were
office and they and the whales were photographs of the petite girls with
photographs of the petite girls with
photographs of the petite girls with trophies they’d won in sports they were
trophies they’d won in sports they were
trophies they’d won in sports they were performing well academically and Alice
performing well academically and Alice
performing well academically and Alice told me that these girls were actually
told me that these girls were actually
told me that these girls were actually performing some of the best performance
performing some of the best performance
performing some of the best performance in paddy districts the school was doing
in paddy districts the school was doing
in paddy districts the school was doing very well so as I went back I thought
very well so as I went back I thought
very well so as I went back I thought what can I do to be a small piece of
what can I do to be a small piece of
what can I do to be a small piece of this change to help bring down the
this change to help bring down the
this change to help bring down the statistics that 24% of the 14 to the 19
statistics that 24% of the 14 to the 19
statistics that 24% of the 14 to the 19 year olds and I practiced that each time
year olds and I practiced that each time
year olds and I practiced that each time I get an opportunity to speak at a forum
I get an opportunity to speak at a forum
I get an opportunity to speak at a forum like this one each time I get a platform
like this one each time I get a platform
like this one each time I get a platform I talk about this good model
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