Isenkati Oraha!
Reviving Cultural Mentorship
Reviving the traditional role of the paternal aunt in providing guidance and reproductive health education to youth.
About This Program
"Isenkati" is a term in Bunyoro used to refer to the paternal aunt or the sister of one's father, the male version being "Isento," the brother of one's father. Isenkati plays a major role in the family especially in raising and grooming children at different stages of life.
The revival of the concept of Isenkati emerged out of the current challenges of child upbringing amidst erosion of cultural norms and values that was exacerbated by the extended period that children spent out of school during COVID-19 lockdowns and the longstanding changes in family roles and order.
ODF has started a soul-searching initiative to remind the community of the important role of Isenkati especially in terms of providing sex and reproductive health education to girls and boys entering puberty in order to raise responsible citizens.
Program Objectives
- Revive the traditional role of Isenkati in family guidance
- Provide sex and reproductive health education to youth
- Combat teenage pregnancies and early marriages
- Restore cultural values in child upbringing
- Create safe spaces for youth to learn about puberty
Key Impact
- Youth mentored on reproductive health
- Communities across Bunyoro reached
- Cultural values restored in families