Reach a Hand Uganda

Reach A Hand, Uganda (RAHU) is a youth-led nonprofit organization based in Uganda. It advocates for Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) of young people between the ages of 12–24 years including HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.[1] RAHU works with the goal of increasing access to information and services relating to SRHR for young people so as to empower them live healthy, focused and productive lives.[2]

Reach A Hand, Uganda
AbbreviationRAHU
FounderHumphrey Nabimanya
TypeNon-Profit Organisation
FocusLivelihoods and Skills Development, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), HIV/AIDS Awareness and Prevention
Websitereachahand.org

Overview

Reach A Hand Uganda was established in 2011, drawing inspiration from the personal life of Humphrey Nabimanya who is the Team Leader and the founder[3] of the organization. Having been raised by HIV positive guardians, Humphrey was exposed to discrimination and stigma at a very early age by his fellow students and school staff who assumed he was HIV positive like his guardians. Through this struggle, he visualized the urgency to address the misconceptions that were caused by the information gap that was existing. Humphrey was compelled to educate not only his peers but also other young people about HIV/AIDS. Because of the great conviction and the activities he had engaged in, Humphrey conceptualized the idea of Reach A Hand Uganda, then, as a weekend outreach program to interact and inform other young people about HIV/AIDS.[4] With the increasing need to inform young people about HIV/AIDS, Humphrey expanded RAHU to an officially registered organization in July 2011 as a fully youth immersed organization. Reach A Hand Uganda today, is still a youth fronted and youth concentrated organization focusing on youth empowerment programs with an emphasis on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.[5]

Initiatives

The Peer Educators Academy

The Peer Educators academy is an initiative organized annually by RAHU. It serves as a platform to train and equip young people not only with comprehensive information about Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights but also life and Entrepreneurship skills as well.[6]

The Young Achievers Awards

The Young Achievers Awards look to recognize and celebrate outstanding youth who have greatly impacted on the Ugandan society positively.[7] The Awards inspire individual initiative and competitiveness among young people in various realms such as the Arts, Entrepreneurship, Media and Journalism, Philanthropy, Innovation, Sports among others.[8]

SAUTIplus

The SAUTIplus initiative is an information channel created by RAHU that combines an interactive web portal and various social media platforms to enlighten youth on information regarding Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights. It provides content about HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, relationships, life skills, teenage pregnancy, child marriages and sexuality among others.[9]

Empowerment through Music

The initiative seeks to inspire young people through music and songs laced with SRHR information. The songs and performances under this initiative are carried out by RAHU cultural icons like Geosteady, Mun G, Allan Toniks and Nutty Neithan among others in an effort to inspire and motivate the young people through familiar avenues like music.[10]

Partners

RAHU works in partnership with the Ministry of Health Uganda and various international organizations and foundations on various youth empowerment programs.[11] Some of RAHU's global partners include UNFPA Uganda, UNESCO, Rutgers, Segal Family Foundation and MTV Staying Alive Foundation among others.[12]

References
  1. "Youth use community service to promote peer education". www.newvision.co.ug. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  2. "Uganda doing well in HIV/AIDS fight - UNAIDS boss". www.newvision.co.ug. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  3. "Dynamic, vibrant and purpose-led". Reach A Hand Uganda. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  4. "Ugandan youth activist gets international recognition". www.newvision.co.ug. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  5. "INTERVIEW: NBS' Humphrey Nabimanya Started His HIV/AIDS Activism At 13 – Red Pepper Uganda". redpepper.co.ug. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  6. "Uganda doing well in HIV/AIDS fight - UNAIDS boss". www.newvision.co.ug. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  7. "Young Achievers Awards to link youth innovators with funders". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  8. "2017 young achievers awards nominees unveiled". www.newvision.co.ug. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  9. "UNFPA launches website for teenage information". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  10. Alex. "Musicians thrill at HIV/AIDS awareness concert in Mbarara | Kampala Sun". kampalasun.co.ug. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  11. "Youth want more interactive patient-doctor engagement". www.newvision.co.ug. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  12. "Youth use community service to promote peer education". www.newvision.co.ug. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
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