Voices for Health and Development organized its first SRHR Bonfire Talks session with young people from Nkumba University at the organization’s offices located in Kawafu, Entebbe Municipality.
The initiative was introduced following the launch of the My Choice Campaign as one of the approaches to continue empowering young people with information and conversations around sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). While the campaign already engages young people through digital media platforms and information cafés, the SRHR Bonfire Talks were designed to create a more personal, confidential, and youth-friendly environment where young people can openly engage in conversations about their wellbeing.
The bonfire sessions specifically aim to bring together young people who commute from their homes to school and those who may not always have safe or comfortable spaces within their halls of residence to openly discuss sensitive SRHR topics. Through these gatherings, Voices hopes to create an atmosphere where young people feel free to learn, share experiences, ask questions, and support one another without fear of judgment.
The recent session brought together 30 young people who sat around the flames of the bonfire, learning and sharing experiences related to their sexual and reproductive health while roasting corn, laughing, and bonding with one another. For many participants, the experience felt both new and deeply personal. Some joked about how the gathering reminded them of stories their parents often tell about traditional evenings spent around the fire sharing wisdom and life lessons.
The conversations, led by the Voices nurses, focused on sexual pleasure and bodily autonomy, topics that are often overlooked despite their importance in young people’s lives. To build trust and comfort among participants, the session began with an interactive icebreaker where everyone was invited to voluntarily share what they considered some of their most pleasurable life experiences. This activity helped create a safe and non-judgmental environment where participants felt comfortable speaking openly, asking questions, and learning from one another without fear or shame.
A major part of the discussion centered on bodily autonomy and the importance of individuals having control over their own bodies, decisions, and boundaries. Participants explored conversations around consent, respecting personal choices, communicating desires with partners, and understanding that pleasure should always be consensual, safe, respectful, and comfortable for everyone involved.
The session encouraged young people to appreciate that healthy sexual experiences are built on mutual respect, communication, trust, and informed decision-making. Students also freely asked questions such as, “How can partners communicate better about what they enjoy?”, “How do you maintain pleasure while still practicing safe sex?”, and “What should someone do if they feel uncomfortable discussing sex with their partner?”
A key highlight of the session was the discussion on condom use and safer sexual practices. Concerns surrounding condom use were openly addressed, with participants learning the correct way to use condoms and discussing common misconceptions associated with them. Students were also encouraged to integrate the use of lubricants into their sexual lives to increase comfort, safety, and overall sexual satisfaction.
The SRHR Bonfire Talks highlighted the importance of creating youth-friendly spaces where young people can openly discuss sexuality, pleasure, consent, and bodily autonomy without fear of stigma or judgment. Through honest conversations and peer engagement, participants left the session feeling informed, empowered, and more confident in making decisions regarding their sexual and reproductive health and wellbeing.
