Entebbe, Uganda – Entebbe Ghetto Youth Festival 2025, an annual gathering that brings together young people from semi urban outskirts of Entebbe to celebrate culture, music, and empowerment, happened on Saturday 22nd February 2025.
Voices for health is one among three organizations that participated in the event, using this platform to educate attendees on contraception, HIV and condom use, with a special focus on teaching women and girls how to use female condoms.
The festival, held at Entebbe comprehensive school in Nakiwogo, attracted hundreds of youth eager to mix fun with learning and taking control of their health. Voices for Health and Development set up an interactive booth where trained health workers provided free HIV testing and counseling and staff distributed condoms after conducting hands-on demonstrations on proper condom use.
“The youth who are the future of our communities, are the most sexually active group of people, so, equipping them with accurate information about sexual and reproductive health is crucial,” said Voices’ Team Leader, Ms. Esther Juliet Apio. “We know that many ghetto youth lack access to reliable health information, so we’re here to ensure they can make informed decisions that protect their health and well-being.”
One of the highlights of the event was the practical one-on-one demonstrations on how to use both male and female condoms. While male condoms are more commonly known, female condoms remain underutilized due to lack of awareness and misconceptions. Voices’ team provided step-by-step guidance on how to use female condoms effectively, empowering young women with an alternative method of protection.
“Many girls have never seen or used a female condom before,” noted Tikila Ademun, one of Voices’ health educators. “By teaching them how to use it properly, we are giving them more autonomy over their sexual health and safety.”
Sharon Nakayenga, one of the youth who attended the Festival expressed appreciation for the informative sessions, acknowledging that she had never seen a female condom before.
“I’ve always heard about female condoms but never set my eyes on one. Today I have even learnt the correct way to use them,” said Nakayenga. “Now, I feel more confident in protecting myself.”
The success of Voices’ participation at the Entebbe Ghetto Youth Festival highlights the ongoing need for comprehensive sexual health awareness programs, especially in marginalized areas where misinformation and stigma often prevent young people from accessing life-saving knowledge and services.
Voices reaffirmed its commitment to empowering young people with the knowledge and resources they need to make safe, informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health.
