Bora Subiri Youth Programme

An overview of the Bora Subiri project

What is ‘Bora Subiri ’ Youth Program?
‘Better wait’ is slogan of our program designed to motivate, encourage and influence the youth to practice ‘Sexual Abstinence’ as the only effective method to prevent HIV infection. In our program, the meaning of ‘sexual abstinence’ is not having sexual intercourse, vaginal or anal. However, we always insists that to be more secure, the definition of ‘sexual abstinence’ should include abstaining from the expressions of love and sexuality that are commonly acceptable to many such as; holding hands, dancing, and kissing.

Findings related to adolescents on sexual abstinence
In the United States, since 1993, in response to a movement sponsored by the Southern Baptist Convention, over 2.5 million adolescents have taken public virginity pledges, in which they promise to abstain from sex until marriage.

It has been discovered that adolescents who pledged were much less likely to have intercourse than adolescents who did not pledge. Social science data show that teens who abstained from sex were:

1. less likely to be depressed and to attempt suicide
   
2. more likely to have stable and enduring marriages as adults

Even the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), a national survey funded by more than 17 federal agencies that teens who abstain from sex during high school years are:

• 60 percent less likely to be expelled from school;
  
• 50 percent less likely to drop out of high school;
  
• Almost twice as likely to graduate from college

The linkage between academic achievement and teen abstinence has two primary explanations.

1. Teens who abstain will be subject to less emotional turmoil and fewer psychological distractions; this will enable them to better focus on schoolwork.
   
2. Teens who abstain are likely to have greater future orientation, greater impulse control, greater perseverance, greater resistance to peer pressure, and more respect for parental and societal values. These traits are likely to contribute to higher academic achievement.

In Uganda where the program started in the late 1980s, the number of pregnant women infected with HIV was 21.2 percent. By 2001, the number was 6.2 percent. Even the Harvard study also reported Ugandan adults are not having as much risky sex: of women 15 and older, those reporting many sexual partners dropped from 18.4 percent in 1989 to 2.5 percent in 2000.

Who should practice abstinence?

1. Those who are not married yet
   
2. Pupils and students in primary, secondary and high schools
   
3. Widows and single parents
   
4. Those who are committed to their religious beliefs
   
5. People living with HIV/AIDS

12 reasons why people choose abstinence?
People choose to be abstinent for many reasons:

1. Not being ready for sexual involvement
   
2. Waiting for the right person
   
3. Supporting personal or religious beliefs
   
4. Focusing on school or career activities
   
5. Prevent sexually transmitted infections (STDs or HIV/AIDS)
   
6. Prevent pregnancy
   
7. Deal with separation from a partner
   
8. Get over a break-up
   
9. Heal from the death of a partner
   
10. have fun with friends without sexual involvement
    
11. Personal integrity and an expression of strong self-esteem
    
12. Avoid painful emotional situations for which you may not yet be prepared

10 reasons why people reject abstinence?

1. Ignorance
   
2. Negative attitude
   
3. Getting false information
   
4. Lack of proper personal goals for future success
   
5. Violation of religious morals
   
6. Addicted to luxurious lifestyle
   
7. Involving in the things that motivate sexual activities
   
8. Bad company with those despise abstinence
   
9. Forced to give sexual bribe by the people in the authority
   
10. Rape

6 steps to start and maintain abstinence

1. Get proper information on abstinence
   
2. Have a burning desire to achieve goals for your future success
   
3. Attend educational seminars and conferences on abstinence
   
4. When you are ready make a strong commitment to become abstinent
   
5. Relate more to those who have chosen abstinence
   
6. Disassociate yourself from any environment that attracts sexual situations

What to do when you are tempted?
When abstinence become difficult, especially in a sexual situation think the followings:

1. Remind yourself why you chose to be abstinent.
   
2. Think about the consequences.
   
3. Don't re-evaluate your decision to stay abstinent during sexual situations
   
4. Stick with your decision until you can think about it with a clear head.