AfriYAN Rwanda Annual Report 2020-2021

” Achieve friendly access to sexual and reproductive health, realize reproductive rights, accelerate the achievement of Commitments of Rwanda to the International Conference on Population and Development agenda, to improve the lives of adolescents and youth enabled by human rights, and gender justice.”

General Report

General Report 2020-21

AfriYAN Rwanda

From 3rd to 8th May 2021 Kigali, June 2021

Table of Content Foreword and Acknowledgements

a

Acronyms

b

Part 1: Who we are

1

Part 2: AfriYAN Rwanda Annual Retreat and Capacity building for Youth led Organizations

2

Part 3: Generation Gender (Generation G) Programme §3.1. About Generation G §3.2. Main Activities for AfriYAN within Generation G §3.3. Generation G Rwanda Team

3

Part 4: Consultation Meeting with Youth-led Organizations §4.1. Introduction §4.2. List of Participants §4.3. Program covered §4.3.1 AfriYAN Rwanda Strategic Plan 2021-2024 development §4.2.1 Election of the AfriYAN Rwanda Youth Board (July 2021 – June 2023)

5

Part 5: Turinde Nyampinga campaign 2021 §5.1. Introduction §5.2. Objectives summary of the campaign §5.3. Outcomes of the campaign §5.4. Identified challenges

8

Part 6: Menstrual Hygienne Management Campaign 2021 §6.1. Introduction §6.2. Implemented Activities and Key Achievements

11

Conclusion

15

Appendix 1: AfriYAN Rwanda Structure Appendix 2: AfriYAN Youth Board 2021-2023 Appendix 3: Our partners

i ii iii

Foreword & Acknowledgements

AfriYAN Rwanda would like to express its deep appreciation to everyone who contributed in its continued growth towards its vision of: “A country where adolescents and youth leave a quality life with dignity, capacity and opportunities to realize their full potential”.

The Current milestone of AfriYAN Rwanda would not be possible without a tremendous support from our member youth-led organizations, stakeholders and CSOs partners at the national and regional level.

We appreciate the strong collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Youth and the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) through its MCCH Division.

We warmly thank UNFPA Rwanda, to which AfriYAN Rwanda is affiliated, for providing the best support to the growth of the network, Imbuto Foundation Team and iAccelerator Project Team and Partners, the AfriYAN ESA and all its country chapters for great partnership and collaboration. We also extend individual appreciations to: Mr. Mark Bryan Schreiner, UNFPA Country Representative; Mercy Mungai, UNFPA Deputy Country Representative, Dr. Joseph Nkurunziza Ryarasa, Chairperson of RCSP and our Regular Advisor, Dr. Aphlodis Kagaba, ED HDI; Fidele RUTAYISIRE, ED RWAMREC; Hellen Nomugisha, AfriYAN President 2016-2019, Dr. Magnifique IRAKOZE; AfriYAN V.P. 2016-2019; the whole Committee 20162019 and the current Committee; your respective contributions and supports will always be of a great value to AfriYAN Rwanda.

Naberwe Fileille President|AfriYAN Rwanda

a

Acronyms: CHB: Community Health Boosters UNFPA: United Nations Population Fund AfriYAN: African Youth and Adolescents Network on Population and Development MHM: Menstrual Hygiene Management MHDay: Menstrual Hygiene Day WHO: World Health Organization UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UKAID: United Kingdom Agency for International Development UNICEF: United Nations Children's Fund

b

Part 1: Who we are: Africa Youth and Adolescents Network on Population and Development (AfriYAN), is a regional network in East and Southern Africa; and a platform that aims to promote meaningful youth participation at the national, regional and global level in advocacy and policy dialogue on population/sustainable development, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), Gender Promotion and Justice and general health and wellbeing of young people with the aim of strengthening political accountability and mobilizing of young people for engagement in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Vision

A country where young people live a quality life with the dignity, capacity, and opportunity to realize their full potential.

Mandate

Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Gender Justice for adolescents and young people

Mission

Create an enabling environment for the promotion of meaningful participation of adolescents and young people in the fight against issues related to their sexual reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, gender related inequalities and inequities and violence mainly gender based violence.

Activities of the organization

• Promote meaningful engagement approaches of adolescents and young people in advancing their sexual reproductive health and ending gender related issues and gender based violence ; • Promote adolescents and young peoples positive attitudes and behaviors towards non-violence and gender equalities practices ; • Empowering adolescents and young people with essential skills and information to be able to make informed decisions on their lives ; • Building synergies and strong partnership between youth-led organisations working on sexual reproductive health and gender to advance adolescents and young people’s health.

• Promote youth-led advocacy for their sexual reproductive health and gender related issues.

• National and regional representation of adolescents and youth voices for effective and inclusive policy and decision making.

1

Part 2: AfriYAN Rwanda Annual Retreat and Capacity building for Youth led Organizations

Overal Summary of the Agenda Days

4

Hours

26

sessions

16

Major

Sessions

2

National Legal Framework on SRHRs and link to international and regional instruments.

Led by Me. Christian GARUKA

Summary:

The session highlightied what the law says in regards to sexual reproductive health rights. Me Garuka explained the interlinkages between the national international legal frameworks such as CEDAW, and Maputo declaration.

Key Discussions/Recommendations: 1. The Rwandan law has provisions that integrate the international laws on sexual reproductive health matters.

2. Some African countries are still hesitant on committing to some articles within the Maputo declaration. The article on authorizing medical abortion on cases of sexual assault, rape, incest and where pregnancy endangers the physical and mental health of the mother or the fetus.

3. Women and girls have the final say when it comes to their sexual and reproductive health such as giving birth or not.

3. The Reproductive health law of Rwanda and the medical insurance liability law should enable accessibility to everyone who need SRHR services without age barrier, discrimination and/or parental/guardian consent to ensure early service seeking and reduce preventable consequences/complications among adolescents and other affected victims.

SRHR information & services and Ministerial order on access to safe abortion (Mapping main challenges and barriers for young people’s SRHR. Led by Dr. Anicet Nzabonimpa

Summary:

The session covered an overview on SRH in Rwanda and related topics such as GBV, sexual reproductive health and rights for adolescents, and menstrual health management.

Key Discussions/Recommendations: 1. Men’s reporoductive health and their behaviors have an impact on women’s reproductive health and children’s wellbeing and the society as well. There is a need to increase men engagement to become more supportive when it comes to women’s needs, choices, and rights to sexual and reproductive health.

2. Providing access to comprehensive SRHR information is essential to protect women’s health by enabling them to make informed decisions for the wellbeing of their lives.

3. Young people have to be offered the opportunity to participate in Peer Education from districts youth friendly centers, health centers youth corners, schools youth clubs, comprehensive sexuality education, Community +12 program and community forums on dialogue between parents and children on AYSRHR like Umgoroba w’ababyeyi, inteko z’ abaturage, umuganda) and then by the use of technologies; Smartphone’s App for AYSRH education.

4. Increased funds allocation in youth-led initiatives/innovations aiming at advancing AYSRHR as one of the youth friendly approach to AYSRH pressing issues.

5. Meaningful youth engagement in AYSRHR policy and decision making, programs, projects and initiatives designing and implementation in all public and private entities should be mandatory.

2

Part 3 Generation Gender (Generation G) Programme 3.1 About Generation G Generation G is a five years programme (2021-2025) implemented within seven countries around the World namely: Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa, Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan and Indonesia. It is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and led by the Global Consortium made up by: Rutgers Netherland, Promundo US, Sonke Gender Justice SA and ABAAD Lebanon.

The Rwanda Consortium is made up by:

RWAMREC (the Lead Partner of Rwanda Consortium)

AfriYAN Rwanda

HDI

The main objective of Generation G is to create societies that are gender just and violence free, with and for young people in their full diversity. By saying gender just, we imply systemic change at the level of root causes of discrimination, sexism and harmful norms that impede full access to rights for young people on the mere basis of their gender. By violence free, we imply our ambition to actively contribute to a decrease in gender-based violence in the countries where this programme will be active.

Young people in all their diversity are the group that we want to create this impact for – and with. As this is a youth-focused programme, young people are at the core of our programme design and execution. The diversity in this strategic objective refers to the fact that, although we do recognize the need to amplify voices of women and the need to actively engage men, we live in a world where youth have intersecting identities that influence their position in society and access to rights and power. As such, an intersectional feminist approach to gender justice is strongly embedded in our programme.

We contribute to this objective through lobbying and advocacy and strengthening civil society. Our key approach is a gender-transformative approach (GTA), which we will apply to both these strategies. We focus on the following key elements of a gender-transformative approach: Investing in the amplifying of young feminist voices.

Strengthenin g the role of young men as allies.

Focusing on human rights and youth agency.

Analyzing and addressing harmful norms and unequal power relations.

Embracing sexual and gender diversity.

3

3.2 Main activities for AfriYAN within Generation G The activities of AfriYAN Rwanda in Generation G implementation fall under the following two outcomes:

Outcome 1: A growing number of young men and women mobilized to promote gender justice and prevent GBV on and offline.

Outcome 2: Civil Society for gender justice is increasingly resilient, effective, gender transformative and youth inclusive.

Organize debates of young people in schools and universities on promotion of Gender Justice and Violence free society.

Organize Biannual mentorship meeting to provide technical capacity to youth-led and feminists organizations.

Organize Biannual dialogues targeting out-of-schools youth clubs and community.

Conduct bimonthly radio/TV shows to provide spaces for youth in Gender Promotion.

Training of youth/social media influencers on Gender Transformative Approach.

Organize training of youth and adolescents on gender policy analysis and youth-led advocacy.

3.3. Generation G Rwanda Team Generation G in Rwanda has a National Programme Team from their respective Country partner organizations with AfriYAN Rwanda having 3 sits in the national programme team:

#

Position

Appointment

1

Programmes Manager for AfriYAN Rwanda & Member of Generation G Global Youth Board

Evode Niyibizi

2

Generation G Communications Specialist

Aimé Gentil Kwizera

3

Finance Officer

Brendah UWASE

4

Part 4 Consultation Meeting with Youth-led Organizations Wednesday, 5th May 2021

4.1. Introduction This one full day event took place at Olympic Hotel located in Kimironko, Gasabo District. With strong COVID-19 preventive measures, only 1 representative from member organizations were invited and everyone in the conference room was reminded on procedures to adhere to self-protection and people around him/her.

The main highlights of the meeting were the preparation of Strategic plan 20212014, presentation of the reviewed AfriYAN Statutes and the election of the Youth Board of AfriYAN for the team that will start from July 2021 to June 2023).

4.2. List of Participants #

Names

Institution

1

Fileille Naberwe

AfriYAN

2

Evode Niyibizi

AfriYAN

3

Aime Gentil Kwizera

AfriYAN

4

Fiona Niwowegusa

Dream Village

5

Marie Claire UMUHOZA

AfriYAN

6

NSENGIYUMVA Kwizera Bertrand

AfriYAN

7

Brandon Niyibizi

RVCP

8

Patience Iribagiza

Afro Ark

9

Mutoni Brendah

HDI

10 Nadine Tuyishime

Imbuto Foundation

11 MFURANZIMA Prince

CHB

12 Uwizeye Sibomana Denyse

IMRO

13 Marius Eustache Rusanganwa

SYFY

14 Eric Niyongira

MEDSAR

15 Irakiza Gervais

MEDSAR

16 Patrick Tuyishime

MEDSAR

17 Marie Ange Raissa UWAMUNGU

IGI

18 Divine Ingabire

iMatter Initiative

19 Alliance Ishimwe

FP2030

5

4.3. Program covered § Remark by AfriYAN President § Introduction to the AfriYAN SP 2021-2024 Design Process § Small Working Groups on AfriYAN Rwanda SP 2021-2024 § Presentation from Small Working Groups § Remark by Dr. Joseph Nkurunziza Ryarasa | Chairperson of RCSP § Presentation on the AfriYAN Statutes § Election of the AfriYAN Rwanda Board of Directors June 2021- May 2023

4.3.1. AfriYAN Rwanda Strategic Plan 2021-2024 Development kickoff Overview

Thematic

Impact

Outcomes

Programme Coordination AYSRHR, HIV/AIDS & STIs

GENDER MAINSTREAMING

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT

Achieve friendly access to sexual and reproductive health, realize reproductive rights, accelerate the achievement of Commitments of Rwanda to the International Conference on Population and Development agenda, to improve the lives of adolescents and youth enabled by human rights, and gender justice.

OUTCOME 1: Adolescents and youth in Rwanda have utilized integrated sexual and reproductive health services and exercised reproductive rights, free of stigma and discrimination.

OUTCOME 2: Every adolescent and youth, in particular adolescent girls, is empowered to have access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, in all contexts.

OUTCOME 3: Gender just society and social norms change through the empowered adolescents, young women and men.

OUTCOME 4: Adolescents and youth who are impowered to become young leaders, innovators, accelerators and advocates in/of sustainable development.

Outputs

Activities

6

4.3.2. Election of the AfriYAN Rwanda Youth Board ( July 2021- June 2023) Position

Chairperson

Vice-Chairperson

Candidates

Elected

Niyibizi Asuman Brandon

Niyibizi Asuman Brandon

Iribagiza Patience

Iribagiza Patience

Niwowegusa Fiona

Board Secretariat

Not Elected

Programmes Manager | AfriYAN Rwanda

Board Treasurer

Niwowegusa Fiona

Niwowegusa Fiona

Eric Mandela Niyongira Board Advisors (3)

Mutoni Brendah Rusanganwa Marius Marie Ange Uwamungu

Mutoni Brendah Rusanganwa Marius Marie Ange Uwamungu

The Board Secretariat shall be occupied by the actual Programmes Manager for AfriYAN Rwanda who is also the Technical lead for AfriYAN Rwanda reporting to the Youth Board.

7

Part 5: Turinde Nyampinga campaign 2021 From 3rd until 8th May 2021

5.1. Introduction The campaign was conducted by AfriYAN Rwanda together with MEDSAR, Afroark, Impanuro Girls initiative and Community health Boosters with the main goal to raise awareness on the prevalence of the teenage pregnancy in Rwanda and to highlight the role of different stakeholders towards eradicating these pressing issues.

Following the kick off of the campaign that took place on 3rd May 2021, a press release and key messages on different days were shared via various social media platform targeting adolescents and the young generation as well as parents as a reminder that they are the first to educate their children about reproductive health to avoid the risk of letting children get information from unreliable sources which usually comes with negative consequences.

Young girls and boys were encouraged to feel free to seek information about reproductive health and to take advantage of available friendly programmes and channels created.

Through engagement with the public one of the questions to the public was: “Which should be every Rwandan’s Role in preventing child defilement and teen pregnancy?”. We received many reactions including the following: “We should educate children about reproductive health, including everything about pregnancy by focusing on sexual behavior limits as it is the trigger which may lead to pregnancy”. Another response was: “Everyone should treat children as their own and parents should strengthen the bond they have with their kids so that they are the first to be informed about everything that happens to them and seek appropriate advice directly from them which will prevent child defilement”, and these are few from many we received.

8

9

5.2. Objectives summary of the campaign § To contribute in the implementation of the National ICPD25 commitments regarding Universal access to ASRHR services. § Raising awareness about prevalence of unwanted pregnancy in the Rwandan youth. § Encourage, advocate for improvement of implementation of comprehensive sexuality education in Rwanda schools. § Public mobilization on prevention of teenage pregnancies. § Advocate for early youth engagement in contraceptive use. § Empowering Youth to speak out and break silence around ASRH challenges. § Promote self-awareness and equitable social norms for behavior change.

5.3. Outcomes of the campaign § Through social media platforms: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, we had a reach of around 12,000 people based on the views, likes, comments, shares, retweets and reposts. § Sensitization around the prevalence of teenage pregnancies, available services and support for victims § Increased awareness on family planning and sexual reproductive health through mass media campaigns § involvement of parents to help educate children on different SRHR topics. § increased youth engagement in prevention of child defilement and teen pregnancy.

5.4. Identified challenges § Limited access to SRH information. § Teachers don’t provide adequate SRH information. § Lack of SRH materials nearby. § Innovation in our campaign that is differ from the other related campaign happened. § Parents do not educate their children efficiently about SRH topics

10

Part 6: Menstrual Hygiene Management Campaign 2021 Supported by AfriYAN-RWANDA and UNFPA Rwanda, this event was implement by Community Health Boosters. The campaign aimed at breaking the silence around menstrual hygiene management in order to build a Rwandan community where women and girls are no longer limited by their periods.

Young girls often grow up with limited knowledge of menstruation because their mothers and other women shy away from discussing this issue with them (UKAID 2014). Some girls believe that menstruation is a disease. According to UNICEF Menstrual hygiene report 2015, only 13% of the girls are aware of menstruation before their first period. 56% of the girls in and out of school did not receive any information about menstruation. 47% of the women and girls are completely unaware about menstruation and do not have any knowledge about the purpose of menstruation as a biological process.

The majority of them have no access to clean and safe sanitary products. Lack of facilities and appropriate sanitary products can push menstruating girls out of school. High costs and unavailability of sanitary pads is the prime reason for women and girls not to use sanitary pads (WaterAid 2017). Poor menstrual hygiene not only affects physical health, but also social mental wellbeing, thus is a violation of the human right to health (menstrual hygiene day.org).

Considering the issue of awareness around menstrual hygiene management, and issue of hygiene and access to products, the below approaches were used; Empowering and Training MHM Peer educators: 20 youth and adolescent peer ambassadors (boys and girls) were trained on menstruation and its linkage to sexual and reproductive health, harmful social culture norms on individual, community, systematic and institutional level as well as stigma and taboos that affect women and girl’s menstrual health and their participation in public daily life. These ambassadors were for giving back to their respective communities through training their colleagues, Community outreaches in 1 secondary school, Virtual campaign through social media: we have conducted an online campaign on different social medias (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, YouTube) in order to raise awareness about menstrual health and hygiene management and distributing the related educative materials, Training the adolescents on management of menstrual hygiene using the Self-made Reusable Menstrual Pads. Recording and publishing a Demo Video guide on self-made reusable menstruation pads, and releasing and availing it to the YouTube.

11

IMPLEMENTED ACTIVITIES & KEY ACHIEVEMENTS Menstrual Hygiene Management Campaign, is a one-week campaign conducted from 24th to 27th May 2021 and its end was marked was marked by the celebration of Menstrual Hygiene Day (MHDay2021). The campaign aimed at breaking the silence around menstrual hygiene management in order to build a community where women and girls are no longer limited by their periods.

Figure 2; Both Boys and Girls being trained on Self-made Reusable Menstruation Pads

CHB through AfriYAN-RWANDA, under the theme “It’s Time for Action” has conducted this campaign by training the 20 Youth and Adolescent (girls & boys) peer educators from different schools and communities on Menstruation Hygiene Management, conducting community outreach in 1 secondary school, and on social media through different platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and WhatsApp.

1. Training on Menstruation and Hygiene Management Young girls often grow up with limited knowledge of menstruation because their mothers and other women shy away from discussing this issue with them (UKAID 2014).

Some girls believe that menstruation is a disease. According to UNICEF Menstrual hygiene report 2015, only 13% of the girls are aware of menstruation before their first period.

56% of the girls in and out of school did not receive any information about menstruation.

47% of the women and girls are completely

Figure 3; Session on Menstrual Hygiene Management

unaware about menstruation and do not have any knowledge about the purpose of menstruation as a biological process.

In this regards, 20 youth and adolescent peer ambassadors (boys and girls) were trained on menstruation and its linkage to sexual and reproductive health, harmful social culture norms on individual, community, systematic and institutional level as well as stigma and taboos that affect women and girl’s menstrual health and their participation in public daily life.

The training covered the sessions on menstruation as a biological process and menstrual cycle tracking, Menstrual Hygiene Management, and Myths and Facts around Menstruation. In addition, 75 packs of disposable pads were given to the trainees.

12

2. Demonstration on Self-made Reusable Menstruation Pads Not every girl in the Rwandan community can afford the price of the disposable pads despite the need to properly manage hygiene during menstruation, but at least, they have the other traditional materials like pieces of closes and other resources that if modernized and made properly, can make good reusable materials that would contribute a lot to the agenda of ending periods poverty more so in rural areas. It is in this regard; the trainees were trained on Self-made Reusable Pads during the training sessions so that they may be able to help other youths and Figure 4; Demonstration Session on Self-made Reusable Menstruation Pads adolescents from their respective communities as well as themselves. In addition to this, the trainees were also taught how to keep these reusable pads hygienic so as to prevent different problems that could rise from poor hygiene including but no limited to genital infections and bad odors.

3. Online Awareness Raising During this whole week campaign, different educative materials were distributed via distinguished social media platforms (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp) in order to raise awareness on menstrual health and hygiene management and break the related stigma and myths.

Figures 5,6,7: Some of the Online Campaign materials

Knowing that some people are now very interested in and active on social medias, we found it the best occasion of educating people on menstrual hygiene management and breaking stigma and myths around menstruation.

4. Community Outreach During this outreach at G.S KIMIRONKO II, the same training package was delivered including training on menstruation as a biological process and menstrual cycle tracking, Menstrual Hygiene Management, Myths and Facts around Menstruation, and Self-made Reusable Menstruation Pads. After the outreach, 50 packs of disposable pads were donated to the school to be availed in the girls’ room and aid in management of menstrual hygiene at the school level.

13

Figure 8: Group Photo

Towards creating the world where everyone can access and afford the menstrual product of their choice, period stigma is history, everyone has basic information about menstruation (this also includes boys and men) and everyone can access period-friendly water, sanitation & hygiene facilities everywhere; there is a need of multi-stakeholders’ (non-profits, government agencies, individuals, the private sector and the media, etc.) efforts, and inclusion of both girls/women and boys/men.

Thence, there is a need of Increased investments in community awareness raising programs (to break the silence, and change negative social norms around MHM), sanitation facilities including availability of water, soaps, disposal places, private rooms for girls and women, and menstrual hygiene materials.

More Articles Related to the Campaign: https://inyarwanda.com/inkuru/106068/kigali-urubyiruko-rwahuguwe-ku-isuku-mu-gihecyimihango-ndetse-nuko-rushobora-kwikorera-im-106068.html https://www.thecampus.rw/post/view/its-time-for-action-end-stigma-to-menstruating-girlsand-women

14

Conclusion We appreciate the constant support from Partners in our operations. Over the years, it has sustained AfriYAN’s operations and continued impact amongst youth. Through our years of working together, our member youth-led organizations, stakeholders and CSOs partners at the national and regional level has played a significant role in our goal to promote meaningful youth participation in advocacy and policy dialogue on population/sustainable development, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and general health and wellbeing of young people.

15

Appendix 1: AfriYAN Rwanda Structure

Youth Board Chair Co-Chair Board Secretary Board Treasurer Advisors (3)

Advisory Board Alumni Body

Conflict Resolution committee Auditing Committee

Programmes Manager

Communications Department

AfrIYAN SRH Studio

AfriYAN-V Programme

AfriYAN Interns

Finance Department

AfriYAN Volunteers

i

Appendix 2: AfriYAN Youth Board 2021-2023

Niyibizi Asuman Brandon

Iribagiza Patience

Chair

Co-Chair

Evode Niyibizi Programmes Manager & Board Secretariat

Niwowegusa Fiona Board Treasurer

Brendah Mutoni

Marie Ange Uwamungu

Marius Rusanganwa

Advisor

Advisor

Advisor

ii

Appendix 3: Our partners

Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion

iii