ABOUT RASYN

Angelica Jopson with the Little one of RASYN June 28th  2013 

The name of the organization is  Rwenzori Abstinence and Scripture Union Youth Network (RASYN), whose address is 1063 Tanaga primary school, Kyenjojo District, Telephone +256-779266967.

The Headquarters

The headquarters of the organization shall be in Kyenjojo, district at Tanaga primary school shall be the primary target area. 

Specific Objectives

1.                   To preach gospel to the youths and form  Scripture Unions in  church primary and secondary schools, higher institutions of learning and communities, to  teach, equip and empower the youths with Biblical  principles of God in the districts of Kabarole and Kyenjojo

2.                  To Preach and sing about abstinence to the  youths both in school, out of school and rural areas will be empowering  and informed about abstinence as the best way to control HIV/AIDS and abstinence clubs shall be formed in different learning institution.

3.                   To actively engage and involve youths  in the entrepreneurial skills development and training as the best way to acquire skills and experience to fight poverty and unemployment

4.                  To support vulnerable groups of youths with school fees, scholastic materials and basic needs to enable them attain education and keep in school.

BACKGROUND OF RASYN

Sheila Amanya and Angelica Jopson in Fort-portal June 28th 2013

Back ground  of  RASYN.

Rwenzori abstinence and scripture union youth network (RASYN) is a community based organization working in the districts of Kyenjojo and Kabarole.  It was founded by Miss Amanya Sheila (Vision Bearer) after the Lord spoke to her in 2011 to share the message of hope to the youths who were hopeless and weary in Kyenjojo and Kabarole districts in Western Uganda.

 RASYN was founded in 2012 with an aim of preaching the gospel of Lord Jesus and singing and preaching abstinence to the youths in and out schools to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and other STD’s.

Also to provide entrepreneurial skills to the youths as a way of fighting poverty amongst the youths and provide school fees, scholastic materials and basic needs to the youths so that they are not pushed bank into Sex. RASYN is non -Governmental organization, non-political and non-dominion organization.

RAYSN operates in Kabarole and Kyenjojo Districts and works with higher learning institutions, secondary, primary schools.

 Orphans and youths are supported with scholastic materials and basic needs, sponsored and those who dropped are trained in entrepreneurship skills. The Vision bearer of RASYN started providing fees, scholastic materials and basic needs to the orphans and youths while she was in secondary school. She started using her pocket money to at least buy a book and a pen to 3 children and pay fees of 10000/= to one orphan every term. While at Makerere University she used her pocket money to pay fees for 3 orphans in secondary school and she kept with this heart until she finished her studies in 2010 and got a job in 2011.

The vision Bearer is now Sponsoring 10 orphans from her monthly earning, and provides scholastic materials and basic needs to 20 orphans the vision Bearer lobbied for support from Friends and family members.  Her best friend is now paying fees of four orphans and my sister to pays fees for 2 orphans and provides basic needs for 5 orphans.

 Speaking without action is a bad. Telling a youth to abstain from SEX and evil things without solving the problem that forces Him /her into sex is like writing on water RASYN is using both words and actions to see a better and happy youth and orphan. Youths need training, knowledge and  skills in entrepreneurship and  developmental ideas , they need to be supported with fees and scholastic materials so that they will not look for money from men and women through sex and this shall  go hand in hand with abstinence hence reduction of HIV/AIDS Spread.

Cost of Education

http://intuthuko.com/the-cost-of-an-education/ by  Angelica Jopson

The global cost of education is rising. But, according to Shelia Amanya, for the girls in Kabarole District, Uganda, the price is more than just financial.

Shelia is Ugandan. She grew up in Fort Portal and works as part of RASYN (Rwenzori Abstinence and Scripture Union Youth Network).

She explains that in high poverty areas many students drop out of school and higher education due to lack of fees. Those that stay often don’t have money to pay for books and materials, so, they turn to sex.

“You find a student will have sex with a man maybe because she is lacking a book, she is lacking a pen or a uniform”, Shelia says.

This is not unique to Kabarole District.

A study published by Makerere Univeristy School of Public Health last year reported that 15.4% of sexually active secondary school pupils in the country’s capital, Kampala, said the reason for their first time was money and other favours from their partners.

This practice is particularly common amongst girls as there are less opportunities for them to earn money than their male counterparts.

“What I’ve seen with men is they can find work”, Shelia says. “They can garden, they can fetch water for other people.”

A 2012 government report shows that since 1992 poverty in the country has been declining year on year, with the exception of 2002/2003. While indicators paint a brighter picture, those not yet in reach of the fabled middle-class status still find themselves vulnerable.

Shelia’s approach is to educate youth about faith, HIV/AIDS and to promote abstinence as well as teach them entrepreneurial skills.

The abstinence part of Uganda’s ABC (Abstinence, Be faithful, use a Condom) approach to HIV/AIDS prevention was initially credited with the successful drop in infections between the early 1990′s and 2005, but since 2006 numbers have again been climbing.

While the debate on which approach to HIV/AIDS prevention yields the most favourable long-term results continues when it comes to giving a young girl an alternative to having sex for school books the answer seems simple; financial opportunity.

Shelia agrees that without offering youth an alternative way to get what they need, any message is futile.

“Telling a youth to abstain from sex without supporting and empowering them with the skills to be economically and financially stable is like forcing a hungry dog to sleep on an empty stomach”, she says, “it will break the kennel to go and steal.”

RASYN have recently bought a piece of land in Fort Portal which will be turned into a agricultural project giving youth in the area the opportunity to learn practical skills and earn money from the produce they sell.

Currently they’re waiting for a soil assessment to reveal which vegetables will yield the best results.

Once the project kicks off Shelia hopes it will provide a practical alternative for young people and will give them the financial freedom to complete their education without having to swap sex for gifts or money.

“When I speak to the youth I really want them to understand that if you are poor or an orphan it doesn’t mean that you have to go sleep with men and women,” she says.