Youth Mobilisation

Sexual Reproductive health and HIV

Young people’s vulnerability to diseases and other risky behaviors is a serious concern. Reproductive health and HIV prevention programs specifically targeting youth are being enhanced to save the future of our country. Strategies have been developed to ; increase reproductive health services to fight STI including HIV and AIDS and teenage pregnancy through increased access to youth friendly health services. In partnership with other institutions such as CNLS, TRACT Plus, the Ministry is promoting interventions targeting commercial sex workers and fight drug and subsistence abuse especially among young people. As one of the HIV prevention measures adapted by the government of Rwanda, male circumcision is also being promoted among young men. The ministry has made significant strides in improving coordination of activities geared toward enhancing the health of youth.

Major achievements

10,481 youth have been mobilized and sensitized on HIV AIDS and Reproductive Health Issues. This was done through competitions in various sporting activities, conferences and seminars. As a result of the sensitization campaign 381 youth have participated in voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) in Nyagatare and Karongi Districts.

Civic Education

Civic engagement is one of the ways through which youth are mobilized to own their development path and to actively participate in the development processes. The government of Rwanda has established ITORERO to inspire positive values among Rwandan youth and to instill Rwandan a sense of patriotism, a culture of volunteerism, responsibility that contribute to accelerating progress, promote social cohesion, peace and reconciliation and democratic governance.

The Ministry of youth culture and sports in collaboration with Itorero Task force has been taking the lead in training the youth through “ITORERO” – ITORERO was a channel through which the nation could convey the messages to the people regarding national culture in different areas such as language, patriotism, social relations, sports, dance, songs and the defense of the nation. The total number of Intore of the year 2009 and 2010 is Seventy six thousand, Eight hundred and Forty 76,840. More still, another youth volunteerism program called National service is soon starting.

Anti drug abuse campaign

More than 610,000 youth were mobilized against drug abuse where the youth volunteered in different activities such elimination of grass thatched houses in the program initiated by the Ministry called “one cell one house”. Youth have already built 388 houses for the vulnerable households and still continuing this activity. They have also made 57,667 bricks for construction of more houses for vulnerable families still leaving in grass thatched houses.

Environmental protection program

The youth totaling to 800 were trained in environmental protection approaches and during the environmental protection week they played an important role in tree planting activity in Rusizi, Karongi and Nyagatare districts. During the International volunteers’ day the youth planted more 3,000 trees in Huye District.