Field Placement:  Uganda Youth Development Link (UYDEL)
Location: Uganda
Preceptor: Roger Kasirye
Student Name: Marcelle Little
Year: 2008

I achieved four objectives outlined below during my 10-week internship with Uganda Youth Development Link (UYDEL). From June 23 until September 5, 2008 the completion of (1) a literature review, (2) interview of key informants, (3) identification of program gaps and, (4) suggestions for a mentorship program on HIV/AIDS prevention, via a one-day exploratory workshop, occurred.

The first two weeks of this internship experience involved compiling a literature review on peer education and mentorship programs that focused on HIV/AIDS prevention. I investigated previous and current peer education programs at UYDEL, Makerere University, and I created a list of sister agencies to interview. By July 3, 2008 a completion of literature review indicated by reviews and report occurred.

The second objective involved interviewing key informants of UYDEL staff and UYDEL’s sister agencies. I wrote a letter approved and signed by Mr. Rogers Kasirye (Executive Director) stating the purpose and explanation of the interview for sister agencies. I also worked side-by-side Jacqueline and Juliet to complete a list of sister agencies to interview as well as a list of questions to use for the interview. After conducting face-to-face interviews with sister agencies, who had programs on HIV/AIDS prevention, I reviewed their literature on such programs and/or modules. By July 18, 2008 I completed a report on interviews with key informants.

Objective four included identification of program gaps of peer education programs and suggestions for a mentorship program on HIV/AIDS prevention for UYDEL. I presented my suggestions to UYDEL staff and completed a report on program suggestions on July 29, 2008.          

I completed the final objective, suggestion of a potential mentorship program on HIV/AIDS prevention for Kampala District, by hosting a one-day exploratory workshop on HIV/AIDS prevention. I wrote an outline for the workshop based on the literature review and key informant interviews. After recruiting workshop participants through networks created by key informant interviews in the second activity, such as involving Mr. Noah Ssenyondo from Radio One, to recruit previous guests that appeared on his radio programs, I coordinated the workshop. This included creating a PowerPoint presentation, workshop program, activities, and evaluation forms for participants. On August 20, 2008, the Exploratory Group Workshop on HIV/AIDS Prevention occurred and a total of 37 people participated.

The final week of my internship I wrote a report on the workshop findings, an analysis on the evaluation of the workshop, and suggestions with UYDEL staff on an action plan. On September 5, 2008 we wrote letters to the Ministry of Gender as part of “a way forward.”

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