STDs: Singing, Testing, and Dancing

Today marked my first real Saturday in Kampala without any other Volunteers around.

Correction.  Peace Corps Volunteers always seem to be in the capital but being that I live outskirts of town, I rarely see anyone anymore.

Cue sappy music.

In order to keep myself busy and engaged in a city that is quite easy to feel lost in, I decided to venture out to a health outreach today in one of the slums.  I headed out with some of the youth I had previously worked in during the 2013 South by Southwest Camp.

Hands For Hope and Marie Stopes in partnership with BPU: Breakdance Project Uganda organized the days event, filled with HIV testing and counseling, blood donations, STD screening, and vaccinations for young babies.

BPU was responsible for the entertainment with songs and dances that they taught the greater Namuwongo community.  The familiar faces I saw once I arrived made me feel much more at peace in the big city that for the first year and a half of my service I feared. 

To see the youth that were at the empowerment camp just over a year ago leading their own sessions and facilitating a group of 60 children made me so proud. 

It made me excited for the next four months and how I can continue to build up the potential that these young adults have.

The event was incredibly successful with what looked like hundreds and hundreds of tests being administered and counseling that took place in private spaces allowing for confidential and candid conversations to be held.

The dancing led by BPU was not just a way to get people moving but also was talked about how we could use this art form for positive behavior and social change. 

As I left the event to head to In Movement to do some arts and crafts with the youth, I felt warmth at the fact that this is exactly what I have wanted to do and where I want to go.

Feels good to head down the right path.