By Isaac Lema, Iringa, Tanzania (April 2013)- In January 2013, graduates of the UCE Club at Njombe High School planned to deliver the UCE message to various schools in Njombe town, after they finished their February exams. They planned to stay at school an extra week, so that they could share the UCE message with other youth before they went home for the holiday. The club members identified seven schools that they wanted to reach: Joseph Mbeyela, Mabatini, Mpechi, Mbogamo, Wende, Ruhuji and Hagafilo Secondary Schools. While planning their outreach, they kept in close contact with UCE headquarters in Iringa, Tanzania. The club members built a volunteer team to deliver the UCE message. The team included a total of 10 people: Gregory Ndeshilo (team leader), Agustino John, Ekarist Kanuth, Umbira Pastor, Epifania Mtati, and Menhard Mkoka, all in their last year of high school. The team also invited the Njombe UCE club patron Mr. Brown Kiswaga, and club leaders Fredrick Godfrey (Chairperson) and Shadrack Kamenya (General Secretary). Isaac Lema, the UCE programs officer from UCE headquarters joined the team to support them, and give oversight. On 19th February 2013 the team mobilized for the outreaches, and the work started on the 20th of February 2013. The team was full of energy and motivated. They devoted their time and energy to delivering an abstinence message to their fellow students.
Joseph Mbeyela Secondary School was the first school to receive the UCE message on the 20th February 2013. It is a government, day, coeducation school situated in Njombe town. Many teachers were wondering if the students would respond positively to the UCE message, after they were informed about UCE message prior to the outreach. They explained that they had concerns about how to deal with issues of sexuality. After the teachers heard the UCE message of abstinence, why to wait, self-control and true love waits, they reported a great relief as they know knew how to best continue to support and teach the students in the area of sexuality. The students had a great response to the message, of the approximately 450 students in attendance, 363 committed themselves that day to abstain until a faithful marriage. They also expressed interest in reaching out to their fellow students the way the club from Njombe had done for them.
Mabatini Secondary School was the second school to receive the UCE message on the 21st of February 2013. Mabatini is a government, day and coeducation school situated in Njombe town. Here we were received very well. The head mistress said that UCE team came at the right since she saw that her students needed to be taught about behavior change. The UCE team delivered the message to both students and teachers in spite of the rain, which fell during the middle of the outreach. The team managed to shift to a small hall and continued to deliver the UCE message. About 400 students received the message, and 325 signed commitment cards.
From Mabatini, the UCE team moved to Mpechi Secondary School. Mpechi is also a government, day and coeducation school situated in Njombe town. Here we were received very well. We were given enough time in the morning to deliver the UCE message to more than 500 students. This school is few meters from Njombe High School. 451 students signed commitment cards.
After the Mpechi outreach the UCE team traveled to Mbegamo Secondary School, a private, day, coeducation school situated in Njombe town. We were received very well and the UCE message was delivered to the students. Though we ran out of commitment cards, students who wanted to make their commitment were given papers to write their names on and signed on that paper. After several days the team was able to deliver commitment cards to them, and they signed them. About 180 students received the message, and 141 signed commitment cards.
From Mbegamo, the UCE team moved to Wende, a private, boarding, coeducation secondary school. The school was located a few kilometers from Njombe town. In spite of working since morning, the UCE team was able to deliver the UCE message to 200 students. As it was in Mbegamo, students had to write their names on paper, and after few days they signed their commitment cards. 129 signed commitment cards
On 23rd February 2013, the Njombe UCE team conducted two outreaches. During the morning they started with Ruhuji, a private, boarding, coeducation secondary school. Students were happy to receive the UCE message. About 90 students received the UCE message, and 72 signed commitment cards.
During the afternoon, the UCE team continued to deliver the UCE message to the 120 students of Hagafilo, a private, boarding, and coeducation secondary school situated few kilometers from Njombe town. 105 students signed commitment cards.
Moreover, after every outreach the UCE team had an evaluation meeting and planned ahead for the next outreach. The next plan which is ahead of us is to mobilize a seminar for those students who signed commitment cards. This will be held in April of 2013. The UCE team at headquarters appreciated the hard work of the students of Njombe High School, in organizing their own outreach, and in delivering the great message of abstinence and faithful marriage to their peers. They changed the lives of 1,586 young people in those 4 days. It is wonderful to see the students grasp the message in such a way that they are then inspired to share it, and teach it to others!
