STF has a specialized niche with young people, and a comparative advantage on communication for social and behavior change. Its radio and print materials are trusted household names. It is a best practice: proven, documented and replicable.
STF’s behaviour change communication model combines a range of mass media and face-to-face community outreach & mobilization programs. Though STF’s specialty is adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH), the STF model has proven successful in conveying messages related to a host of health and development-based topics—such as HIV, family planning, children’s rights, climate change, agriculture, livelihoods, control and prevention of malaria as an essential health concern.
Health Facilities Supported To Provide Quality SRHR Information And Services
Young People Reached Through Multi-media Campaigns On Sexual Reproductive Health
Engagement On Social Media
Young Talk Newsletters Produced And Distributed
Straight Talk Newsletters Produced And Distributed
Primary Schools Reached With SRHR Information
Secondary Schools Reached With SRHR Information
Adolescents Girls And Boys Reached With Skills For Personal Empowerment
Local Language Newsletters Produced
Farm Talk Newsletters Produced
Tree Talk Newsletters Produced
Parent Talk Newsletters Produced
Young People Reached With SRHR, HIV, GBV, Services
Seedlings Distributed To Communities And Schools
Teachers’ Capacity Built To Empower Adolescent Girls And Boys.
Parents’ Capacity Built On Parent Child Communication
Health Workers Trained On Youth Friendly Service Provision
Radio Talk Shows Broadcast On A Range Of SRHR Issues
Scholarships Awarded To Vulnerable Adolescents In Secondary And University Level
Straight Talk and Young Talk newspapers: These have been present in Secondary and primary schools in Uganda since 1993 and 1997 respectively. Every school term STF produces and distributes Straight Talk (for ages 15-19) and Young Talk (for 10-14 year olds). STF has previously produced and distributed Teacher Talk targeting teachers in Primary and secondary schools; and these were produced three times a year. They both addressed sexuality information needs for teachers, additionally they provided fora for exchange of experiences and testimonies by teachers. Teacher Talk was first produced in 2006.
These have been in existence since 1998. To date, STF produces and distributes these issues in Ugandan languages and they target adolescents who are literate in their mother tongue. They address sexual and reproductive health issues such as HIV, contraception, sexually transmitted infections, to mention but a few.
Two newspapers addressing livelihood and environmental issues. These are produced three times a year. Periodically, thematic brochures on a range of SRH issues are produced. STF’s publications are distributed to over 10,000 destinations.
STF has had experience working through radio since 1999. STF has produced and broadcast radio programs in atleast 13 languages (including English). The radio programs have addressed topics and issues such as abstinence, HIV/AIDs, STDs, condoms, delaying sex, early unwanted pregnancy, relationships, sexual feelings, menstruation, forced marriages, family planning, defilement, Anti-Retroviral Treatment, faithfulness, poverty and sex, sexual feelings, virginity, drugs and alcohol, condoms, finding a partner, to mention but a few.
STF’s face to face work includes advocacy among local government leadership in Uganda, Sexual and Reproductive Health sensitizations, outreach to teachers and student clubs through trainings, workshops and diverse activities. STF provides support to over 1000 youth led Straight Talk clubs. STF also conducts community health fairs, fora in which services are made known and available to local communicates in various rural districts of Uganda. STF started implementing training and community mobilisation initiatives in 1998 and these are still ongoing as STF core work.
STF established Gulu Youth Center (GYC) in 2004 and Kitgum Youth Centre (KYC) in 2007. The services provided by GYC and KYC include HIV Counselling and testing, STI diagnosis and treatment, contraceptive services and counselling. The Centers provide SRH information through peer education activities with youth peer educators, print communication materials distribution, radio programs and health talks with young people at the centres and in the communities.
In 2009, STF received funding support to implement programs for adolescents with special needs and disability. Initiatives that have been supported to date and still ongoing are the production and distribution of Braille versions of Young Talk and Straight Talk targeting visually impaired learners with sexual and reproductive health information.
STF works to a great extent with the public sector through three main government ministries: Ministry of Education and Sports, Ministry of Gender, Labor and social Development and the Ministry of Health. At district level, STF collaborates with the key government departments aligned to these ministries. STF is member to several working groups in government sectors such as the groups on maternal health, adolescent heath, youth and gender; to mention but a few. The programs of STF target both the private and public sector.
