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STORY
5 Ways Young People in Uganda Use U-Report to Create Positive Impact in their Communities.

What is U-Report?

 

U-Report is UNICEF’s digital community for young people, by young people, where they can raise their voices and share opinions on topics that matter to them. Across more than 90 countries, we empower young people to find out about issues that affect them, take action, and become part of the change they want to see. Using real-time insights and solutions, U-Report shapes policies and decisions in communities, countries and around the world, working side-by-side with young people. Your voice matters.

 

How can a Young Person Use U-Report to Create a Positive Impact on their community?

 

  1. Polls.

Your Voice matters and it will be heard through U-Report Polls. U-Report sends out period messages via SMS, WhatsApp and Facebook where they ask willing participants to share their anonymous views about various social topics. This information is analyzed, compiled, and taken to decision-makers to inform and shape their decision. The information is also used by UNICEF, the government of Uganda and other organizations to inform their policies especially those that affect young people. For example, in 2023, the Uganda National Youth Council conducted a U-Report poll on what young people in Uganda are doing to realize Sustainable development goals and those results were presented to the president of Uganda at the International Youth Skills Day.


Photo credit: Maria Wamala

  1. Chatbots

Young people can also use U-Report Chatbots to access information, learn and be referred to various services. Chatbots are interactive messaging tools accessible on the U-Report channels like SMS, WhatsApp, and Facebook where young people can access information about topics like Skills, Mental health, and HIV and even be referred to where they can access such services within their communities. For example, following the 2020 Covid19 pandemic, there were high levels of mental health challenges faced by young people, the U-Report mental health chatbot was consequently created to help young people navigate mental health challenges and equip them with information about different mental health problems and how they can deal with them. It also offers referral services to the SAUTI 116 national helpline where one can speak to a professional counsellor.

 

“I and other U-reporters have carried out sanitation campaigns in Kampala Where we carry out community cleaning and sensitization of people about their health. I usually use information from the mental health chatbot to teach people about mental health and how they can deal with it.” Namara Rhynet (22)