SCOUTS VOICE . March 2007...........................................................................................................................................................................................................

What makes people powerful?

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What can make
you fail to have
power?
Melissa Namiti, 11, P6, Kayunga
Girls PS says: Boys and girls cannot
do the same work equally because
they are not the same. The reason
why girls are not in leadership is
because boys can command respect.
When they see the girl commanding,
they say eh, a girl cannot command
me.

Musisi F of Kayunga PS says: Boys

can be digging while girls are washing Vincet Amanya, a pupil of Masindi
things used in the kitchen. That is PS writing his story
their work. Interview by Lawrence
A group of SV journalist during a workshop at Kaazi in December last year Amanya
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Wrong beliefs
Power is the ability to do things that make other people respect you. It Wrong beliefs are some of the reasons
also refers to your ability to get what you want in life without anybody why girls are not given equal chances
or anything stopping you. Boys and girls can get power in similar or with boys. When girls fail to compete,
different ways. SV journalists who met at Kaazi, identified things that make they are said to be weak. In some
people powerful. homes, girls are given domestic work
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while boys are studying.

Sources of power This makes girls do poorly in school

Meles Namiti, a pupil
of Kayunga Girls PS
Talent gave me power
Namakula Jackline, 14, P6, Kayunga Girls PS says: I was selected because I
am the best in sports. I play netball and I’m a shooter. Sometimes when the visiting
team scares the girls, I encourage them and we end up winning the match.
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Teacher’s word:
In our school, we give girls and boys equal
opportunities. A few years ago we had a female
head prefect. All the pupils respected her.
Sometimes boys do not respect female prefects
because of lack of support from the school
administration.
In our school, we give full support to girls. We
make sure girls are respected. If boys become
stubborn, we punish them. Boys here know that
they have to respect girls. Mr Kitakule Wilber,
Kayunga Girls PS
Education: It gives us knowledge while boys do better. In the end girls
Physical appearance: Our appearance can make us fit are blamed for being dull. This is not
easily among others fair. We should change this!
Title: It can make us feel great among other people
Wealth: This makes us get what we want SV readers identified reasons why Ivan Agaba and Moses Banura
Beauty: Everyone is beautiful in his or her own ways young people fail to have power in their during an interview at St Agnes
First born: It comes with responsibility communities: PS in Kayunga
Discipline: This makes people respect us • School drop out
Culture: This gives us a sense of belonging • Lack of money
Experience: Improves our knowledge • Boys insulting big girls by calling
Humour:
T Improves our communication with them 'mama'
others.There are many ways in which we get power. • Teasing during menstruation
But it is important that we use power well. What • Male teachers touch girls' breasts
lessons do you learn? What else can you add on the and girls fear to report such
list of sources of power? Discuss with your friends. teachers
• Being the last in class
• Girls believe they will get husbands
so they need not to work hard
To improve this:
• Boys should support girls. For
example, during menstruation, boys
need to respect girls if they realise
they are in their periods.
• Boys and girls should advise each
other
• When laughed at, older girls should
Amanya Lawrence, a Scouts Voice
report to teachers instead of running journalist from Masindi during a
away from school training at Kazi .
• Sisters and brothers should respect
one another
• Both boys and girls should read hard
because they are all bright
Mr Kitakule Wilber, • Teachers should treat boys and girls
teacher, at Kayunga PS equally

Club activity
Imagine there is a head prefect in your school. He comes from a poor family, he cannot afford
to carry food to school. But three of your classmates agree to share their food with him.
However, in return, he has to remove their names from the list of people supposed to sweep the
classroom. He also has to make sure they do not line up for food for a term. He accepts their
conditions, but after two weeks, he changes his mind.
What kind of power does he have as head prefect? What leadership qualities
does he have? What if the students reported him? Discuss these questions in
your clubs or groups. Share with your friends how you would deal with the
situation. SV Journalists at work: Florence
Kia, interviews , Amanya Lawrence
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.............................................................................................................................................................................................................SCOUTS VOICE . March 2007

Using your power well

Sometimes people with power may also be people in leadership
positions. For example you may be chosen as a sports prefect because
Well behaved, strict
of your talent/skill or a head boy because of your good behaviour. Do and courageous
you know anyone who became a leader because of that? SV journalists Namyalo Florence, 13, P6,
interviewed pupils of Kayunga Girls PS and got these stories: Kayunga Girls P S says: I’m a
sanitation prefect with two assistants.
Both of them are boys. I was selected
Be kind and fair were a leader I would treat both boys
and girls equally because they are all
because I’m well behaved, strict and I
Muwonge F, Kayunga Girls PS don’t fear people. Sometimes pupils
pupils. Boy prefects are unfair. They can abuse me and roll their eyes
says: I like female prefects. They are
give their friends and classmates less saying look at this buffoon, maggot
not as harsh as boys. When male
tasks. They can even say their friends etc, but I forgive them. I know how
prefects misbehave I challenge them
have finished slashing the compound painful canes can be.
and say; “you are a prefect and you Florence Namyalo, prefect in
even when they have not. If I become a
are doing that? You should be a good charge of sanitation
prefect I will always be fair. But there are times when I report them
example!” Then they try to fight me. If I
to the teacher. Boys can be big
headed, especially if they have to
scrub their latrines. Some run away
and others try to box and kick me. But
I also tell them "try me, I will show you
even if you look stronger".

Treat boys and girls

equally
Nangoli Yowas, 12, P6, headboy,
Kayunga Girls PS says: I was
chosen because I respect teachers and
all the pupils no matter what their age
or sex . I do not favour anybody. I treat
all of them equally. I find girls easy to
lead. They do their tasks because they
fear canes. But boys are big headed.
When you tell them to do something,
they just walk away or sometimes
dodge work. Boys do not fear canes.
They wear three shorts. The big boys
disrespect me. They say how can a
small boy lead us? I cannot fight them, Nangoli Yowasi and Brain Nangoye
L-R. Musisi Frank, headboy, Nangoli Yowasi and head girl Rona Bonsuk but I report them to the teacher. reading SV newspaper
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Power misuse
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When a person is in power, he/ Relationships with girls

she has authority over other R S, Masindi says: I dislike male
people. But some of them leaders because they always think
misuse their power and hurt about relationships with girls.
others. How is power used by
boys and girls in your school? Female teachers support
How would you use power if you only girls
were a prefect? SV readers told R O, Masindi: Female teachers S Aramanzani (left) and Brian L-R: Namiti M and Bonsuk waiting
us how power is misused by give advice to both boys and girls. But Mucunguzi (right) interview to be interviwed by SV journalists
prefects in their schools: when there is a misunderstanding Katabazi Nagime
they support only girls.
Unkindness
A L, Masindi Says: Male prefects
misuse power. They beat even the very
Taking things by force
B L, a prefect says: HIV
young pupils. Our headboy never
forgives when you are late. He will
cane you straight, even if you have a
I treat all pupils well. I cooperate with
other prefects. But there are some
prefects who try to take pupils’ things Corner HIV
good reason for coming by force. It is shameful. When they fail
late. He cannot give they punish that pupil. Interview by The social differences society puts between
advice when you have a Opido Christopher boys and girls can expose them to HIV.
problem. He is a bully. Therefore, misuse of power by boys and girls
N F, 13, Kayunga says: can lead to HIV. For example if a boy uses his
Fighting prefect It is power misuse if position to have sex with girls, they can end up
K F, Lira tells of a prefects do not fulfill contracting HIV.
prefect at school who their promises. For
sends pupils to beat example one of my There are male prefects who force girls to have sex with them. This can lead
other pupils on their way assistants promised to to the spread of HIV. T S, Masindi
home. That prefect is work hard if elected.
If girls misused their beauty, they can get HIV. Namakula Jackline 14, P6,
selfish and does not But now he is shabby,
Kayunga Girls PS
share things with others. comes late and likes
fighting. He is not a
Fellow Scouts, abstain from sex in order to avoid HIV/AIDS and early
good example.
pregnancies. Let us avoid peer pressure and care for people with HIV and
............................................................................................................................... ................................. AIDS. HIV is a dangerous warrior. Baden Powel fought about 900 warriors. As
Dictionary: Baffoon; Funny person. Maggot; Young fly. Bully; A scouts, we have to fight HIV like Baden Powel, no retreat, no surrender.
person who uses his or her power to hurt other peopple. Scrub; Isabirye Isaac and Nkonte Eric, Busiro SS, Iganga
Clean something with water while rubbing it with brush
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