Last week, Esther Awor, represented the team at the Mama Tendo Symposium on Parental Involvement, Sex Education, and Children’s Wellbeing.
The event opened with a powerful keynote address by Dr. Ruth Ssenyonyi, who urged parents and caregivers to consider the emotional worlds of children. She posed a critical question: What happens to children when they are emotionally hurt and cannot speak, or when their parents are unapproachable?
Dr. Ssenyonyi emphasized that emotional neglect can leave deep, invisible scars. When children feel silenced or dismissed, they may internalize their pain, often resulting in isolation or harmful behaviors. She called on families and communities to break this culture of silence and to cultivate emotionally safe environments where children feel seen, heard, and supported.
The symposium’s Chief Guest, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni—Uganda’s First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports—underscored the role of parents in leading early conversations about sex education. Reading Sarah Escapes from the House of Danger to the children and audience, she highlighted the importance of equipping children with the language and confidence to protect themselves from abuse.
Her message was clear: meaningful sex education must begin at home. It should be age-appropriate, grounded in trust, and delivered in a language children understand.
The symposium served as a timely reminder that the wellbeing of children depends not only on policy, but on the everyday choices parents and communities make to engage, educate, and empower the young.
