I come from a simple family. My parents work very hard to support us. My father is a carpenter and my mother sells food in the market. I have five siblings, and all of us are in school. Some days my parents earn enough, but other days they earn very little. Because of this, providing food, school needs, and health care is not always easy. We live in Kazo Malakai in Kawempe, where living conditions are difficult. Sanitation is poor, and this affects our health and daily life.

Growing up in this environment has not been easy for me as a young person. One of the biggest challenges I face is poor access to quality education. In some schools, teachers are not able to teach well or attend lessons regularly. This affects how much students learn and makes it hard for young people like me to gain the knowledge we need for the future. Health care is also a big challenge. Because my family has a low income, we mostly depend on government health facilities. Many times, medicines are not available, and this pushes people to use local or unprescribed medicine, which is risky.

Social challenges also affect me. In my community, many young people are exposed to negative influences, and there is less guidance on values and morals. Parents are often very busy working, so they do not always have time to talk to us or guide us. This has affected many young people, including me.

All these challenges have affected me both mentally and physically. Sometimes I feel stressed and worried that I may not achieve my dreams or become a good example to my younger siblings. This stress has caused feelings of low self-esteem, anxiety, and fear of failure. At times, young people are pushed into bad peer groups just to survive or get money, which can lead to dangerous behaviour.

My life started to change when I met Jonathan Sserunjogi, a Tiko mobiliser. He talked to me and my friends and explained how Tiko works. He told us that through Tiko, we could access free health services at our local Health Centre. I was very happy to sign up because I wanted to get HIV testing and family planning services. I wanted to protect myself from unintended pregnancy and avoid falling deeper into poverty.

Through Tiko, I have been able to access HIV check-ups and family planning services. These services have helped me make informed decisions about my health. I have also gained other benefits from Tiko, like making good friends through the Tiko club, building my confidence and self-esteem, and earning Tiko miles. When I use Tiko services or take part in Tiko activities, I earn Tiko Miles. These miles may seem small, but to me they mean a lot. They motivate me to take care of my health and make positive choices for myself.

These services have had a big impact on my life. I feel more confident and I value myself more. I have been able to avoid unintended pregnancy and take control of my health.Looking to the future, my dream is to become a nurse. I want to help other people and make a difference in my community. I also want young people in my country to believe in themselves, stay positive, have high self-esteem, and respect their values and rights.

Tiko has played an important role in supporting my dreams. It has motivated me to work hard and given me support during difficult times. My experience with Tiko has been good, and I hope my story can inspire other young people to take charge of their health and believe in their future.

An 18-year-old girl living in Kazo Malakai, Kawempe, an urban area in Uganda shared this story with us. It was written up by a Tiko mobiliser, with full consent given to share her experience publicly.