Teens urged to fight domestic violence in homes, communities

Teens have been urged to play their role in a bid to fight violence both at home and the community at large. This was said at the fourth teens conference under the theme ‘BENT BUT NOT BROKEN’ which took place at the sharing hall centre in Nsambya, Kampala district.

The conference, aimed at helping teens identify, manage, and overcome challenges around them hosted different young talent from the different centres under the umbrella of their organisation, the Kids Club Kampala.

Over 600 teens aged 13 to 22 from around Kampala showed their talents through reciting poems, different dancing techniques and singing that got the guests that attended gaping at them.

The teens came from different Kids Club centres that include; Namuwongo, Katanga, Kasangati, Mulago among others. All these centres had representatives showing off their talents.

A number of issues were laid down, the major being violence, which they said starts at home, spreading to the whole community.

Barbara Kemigisa, an HIV activist and victim used her example to tell a story of what violence in homes can lead to. She revealed she noticed her HIV status when she got pregnant in 2008, which culminated from her abusive relatives that would use her.

Kemigisa continued on the same lane jumping into beds of any man that crossed her path.

She had to come to terms with her situation by taking ARVs herself and taking care of her young one since she had no place with her relatives.

This come down to her child who was born HIV negative but later got the virus since the mother had nothing to feed her, and support from her uncles that led her to this demise.

“I had issues with my family but because I was not staying with my family, it was kind of like I knew I had to struggle on my own all the way.” Kemigisa said.

 

By Promise Tinamukye