They agreed to encourage parents to work together to achieve development aspirations where they donated goats to women’s groups through “TUREMERANE BIRASHOBOKA” project and motivated children to go to school through donations of essential kits including notebooks, sanitary pads and supporting them to run income-generating activities through rabbits raising among others.
They also encouraged both parents to secure time to interact with children, and educate them on reproductive health through ‘Menya wirinde na kirazira’ program.
AWDO urges the youth to understand these lessons to usher themselves into a better future to build a prosperous Rwanda.
The Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF) recently announced that 13,000 girls aged below 19 were impregnated in Rwanda from July to December 2022.
Such alarming figures prompted AWDO to conduct a probe on causes of unwanted pregnancies to intervene in finding a solution and develop proactive responses.
Some of issues reported to be exacerbating the situation, include lack of means to buy sanitary pads which might push children to be seduced by those catering for their cost, lacking information on reproductive health and family disputes.
After realizing lack of means to buy sanitary pads, AWDO started training girls to sew reusable sanitary pads called ‘MAHUMBEZI’.
MAHUMBEZI can be washed and dried or ironed and kept in clean places. It can be used for at least three years.
Statistics from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) indicate that Rwanda’s population is estimated at 13 million of whom 51.5% (6,695,000) are females.
However, not everyone has means to afford the cost for the sanitary pad with a cost estimated between Rwf1000 and 1200.
In collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) which funded the project, AWDO recently donated reusable pads to 150 girls from Saint Elizabeth School in Nyamiyaga of Kamonyi District, Southern Province.
During the event held on 4th May 2023, each beneficiary received a bag made by AWDO containing ten reusable pads.
Theodette Muteteshe, the Chairperson of AWDO said that producing reusable pads is among promising solutions to address issues facing girls.
“It becomes a burden for some mothers with three girls to access sanitary pads for her and children. We thought of MAHUMBEZI as a durable solution for people with inadequate means,” she said.
The sanitary pads can last for three years when maintained properly. The pads given to schoolchildren were estimated at a cost of Rwf4,540,050 under a project worth Rwf15, 133,500.
They were donated to girls after talks delivered to over 500 young boys and girls on reproductive health during which children with correct answers walked away with gifts. MAHUMBEZI pads are expected to be given to 500 girls.
The gesture was done to help girls learn without disruptions even during their periods.
“In collaboration with UNESCO and potential partners, we plan to extend the sensitization to other districts, donate MAHUMBEZI pads to girls and provide training to sew them where it is possible. We will also continue to conduct advocacy to extend the support to more girls as beneficiaries have told us that they came in handy,” added Muteteshe.
Valentine Nishimwe, a senior two student welcomed the donation noting that she will no longer use pieces of clothes during her period.
“My mother had advised to use pieces of clothes because she would not afford the cost of standard pads every month. I am grateful for the donation,” she noted.
He colleague from senior 1, Sylvie Umukundwa highlighted that reusable pads will help them maintain hygiene and continue studies in comfort.
G.S Saint Elizabeth Nyamiyaga already has girls’ safe room built by another partner.
The Head Teacher of the school, Philbert Turabayo said that girls’ performance have been outperforming boys since the inauguration of the room.
Dr. Ben Alexandre Mpozembizi, National project officer at UNESCO said that they are working with AWDO through ‘Our Right, Our Lives, Our Future’ (O3) project to educate children on reproductive health.
He explained that, though the project that aims to fight gender-based violence, unexpected pregnancies and HIV/AIDS; they want to sensitize parents on taking the lead to educate children on reproductive health.
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