Category: Lifestyle

Four international organisations have come together with a treatment plan they believe will inspire and help the youth of Rwanda to open up to talking about school related gender based violence through the film script competition for young Rwandan film makers that was launched on the 15th of march 2012 up to November 30th.

The competition aims at encouraging young Rwandans to come up with a sample treatment or idea on script that focuses on zero tolerance to gender based violence.

The organisation consisting of GIZ, Plan Rwanda, KFM and Jumelage Rhinaninie Platinat which are German organisations, will givse 10,000 Euros to the winners of the short films that will be presented at the gala to be held on November the 30th of 2012.

There will be three awards, the first is for the 20 minutes film that goes for 2,500 EUR, the second is the 15minute film that goes for 20,000 Euro, and the last will be special award prize of 5.360 Euros for the best short film on school related gender based violence in Rwanda.

“Many girls and boys in rural districts across Rwanda are dealing with gender based violence, But the fear and lack of who to turn to has led these children to drop out of school.”

“We need to assist, these children, to step forward and speak out so we can help prevent this from continuing today,” says Katherine Nicol, a gender specialist working for Plan international Rwanda told.

In the district of Gatsibo 13 year old Uwimana Kayetsi says she hated school due to the constant bullying she would receive from the elder boys who would taunt her and tease her.

She says. “I could not complain at home for I was scared they would take me out of school.”

I could not talk about it in school because the boys would find out and would probably hurt me, so I was stuck until some people came to our school and spoke about gender based violence and soon afterward the bullying stopped.”

This film script competition will not only benefit the young filmmakers in receiving recognition and a large sum of money but most importantly the films that will be screened at a gala concluding the festival which will celebrate the international day for the elimination of violence against women.

Hospitalised Rwandan artist, Athanase Sentore 77 is reportedly able to play Rwandan traditional musical instrument Inanga while on his hospital bed.

His son also a popular local musician Masamba Intore wrote on his Facebook Wall that even though he wished his father could be home in Rwanda with them he wishes his father Sentore to get better.

He said that his father is feeling much better at Fortis Hospital in Mumbai-India.

Masamba had gone to visit his father in india where he is being treated. He said his father Sentore goes about his business while still playing the Inanga on his hospital bed. His doctors are very fond of him and deal with him seriously

Masamba thanked those who supported him in prayer and recognises that God answered their prayers.

Masamba hurriedly left India on March 6 when he had learnt that his father’s health was deteriorating.

Sentore flew to India for treatment on January 7 this year. He suffers from nervous related conditions other ailments mainly due to age.

The 2012 Miss and Mr – Rwanda tourism university college pageant is on again this 9th March. The last beauty contest at RTUC was held in 2009.

The crowning event shall be conducted at Sports View Hotel at 5pm. Rehearsals have been ongoing at Alpha palace hotel.

The tight competition comprises of seventeen contestants- nine males and eight females between the ages of 17 and 25years with a minimum height of 1,65m and all are students at RTUC.

The competition is based on the theme- building successful skill customer service to boost business in Rwanda.

IGIHE talked to some of the contestants; Maxime uwishema a second year student says he is ready for anything that comes out of the competition but has high hopes of winning. “My biggest threat is Mugwaneza Raoul, I see him as potential winner. I’m confidence though sometimes scared,” he said.

We are being trained by professionals. I know what is expected of me and ready for Friday competition he added. My parents have built my confidence and raised my hopes of winning; I know I can beat anyone in this competition.

Murenzi Michael a first year student says Sandra a former second runner-up at the School of Finance and Banking is one of the trainers teaching contestants about public speaking and presentation and facial expression has prepared the whole team for the day and he too is ready.

“I am going to walk in the clouds on Friday’’ I do not wish to lose but if I do I will get a chance of learning from my mistakes. We have been trained to catwalk and about fashion. The competition increases students’ chances of working with RwandAir. Participants will get more opportunities from other organisations.

Milleye a female contestant says she’s under tension about the whole competition, “I have never been before a big crowd and that makes me lose confidence but I know I will win.”

“The youth in Rwanda are not only here to prepare for the future” say’s Carine Uwera 20–student at Adventist University of Rwanda, “we are also here to change it.”

Uwera is a confident Rwandan, tall, beautiful, short natural hair and brown skin. She walks toward me with her head down, as though she is shy to be seen. She takes her seat and orders for a soft drink.

She shares with IGIHE.com the discussions she and other students from various primary and secondary schools and universities have commenced. Her team of four, plans to go to different schools and discuss issues the youth are afraid of discussing with their parents or community leaders.

“These debates all began when we first heard a story about a young female friend of ours that was H.I.V positive all because she was too shy to go and buy protection for fear of judgment.”

Uwera shared a story of a young lady resident at Kicukiro district. During courtship her male companion refused to use a condom. Instead he sent her to go get it, claiming she knew the area and he was a guest. However, she later gave in because she was more afraid of what the people would think of her if they saw her buying condoms, especially since some of them knew her.

“This was a while ago before we found out that she got infected with HIV and after that the discussions started”, “I felt there is a serious problem in our society, and I was glad to find I wasn’t the only one to think that.”

We are at a pool side, as the sun sets and the screaming voices of the children begin to disappear at the Novotel hotel in Kayciru, I notice four young and very hip people walking towards our table, 26 year old peter a student at KIST, Stephanie a 26 year old telephone operator, Patrick 19 years, a young shop vendor from Nyamirambo and Teresa 23 a waitress working at a pub in Remera. All these young minds have come with one thing on their mind, why the youth are choosing prevention over protection.

Carine begins the discussion with introductions and then hits straight into it as though we have been talking about it for hours; she goes around asking what they think about abstinence over protection.

“I believe to risk one’s life over a few moments of pleasure doesn’t seem worth it to me. So I understand those people who prefer to abstain than protect themselves. Abstinence is another sort of protection” says Teresa. It may seem a little extreme to some but I would do the same. I don’t think I could buy condoms in a small boutique where people know me, I would rather not have sex at all.”

Other ladies say it was unfair for women, because being seen buying condoms portrays them as prostitutes or loose women. However, they are simply trying to be safe. “Why can’t we walk in a shop and buy condoms without being judged. Isn’t that what all the sensitization on safe sex is about?”

“Any men or women that have plans to have sex, even if it was a spur of the moment, we should all be responsible for our partners and not those who aren’t. Women should know that if they don’t take the initiative to either say something or act, then the issue will stay a taboo forever.” Says one identified only as Peter.

After a lengthy discussion with this group i meet Damascene a local vendor whose shop is located near bars at Kacyiru. He says “I get a lot of men that buy protection but I would be very shocked to see a young woman buying Prudence (condoms), the man should be the one to buy it for her because it isn’t normal, but don’t care, it’s her business,”

Tony a customer purchasing phone credit was asked what he would do if he were to find that late at night he failed to find condom for protection. Would you have intercourse or not? He replied “I would firstly make sure that I have checked in all the shops, if they all don’t have then I guess it wasn’t meant to be.”

Another man disagreed with Tonys submission saying “you really believe that a young man who has spent hours picking up a girl, after all that trouble, she allows to go with him and he fails to find condoms will go home?” he laughs then say’s “maybe one out of a hundred”.

The cultural beliefs that prevents women from protecting themselves is Carine and her groups topic for this week and will be discussed around schools in Kigali starting this coming Monday.

Today is that time of the year once again, Valentines’ Day! To some it’s the most highly anticipated day, for those who believe in Love! The Manor Hotel, has organized a party entitled: “Come experience how love tastes” this Tuesday, 14th, February 2012.

As the whole world joins in celebration of this special day dedicated to the St. Valentine; lovers look for special things to give and do for their loved ones!

Some lovers opt to take their loved ones to a place of their choice; or some turn to the experts to determine a place worth the Valentines’ day status quo.

Then there comes in “Lovers Night” one of the parties that have been organized to facilitate all lovers in Rwanda to celebrate this special day.

This event will take place at the Manor Hotel, with entrance at 50,000 Rwf while a couple will part with 30.000 Rwf; inclusive is a buffet and a glass of wine.

The event starts at 18h00; and on the entertainment menu is a special live band performance of Zouk and Oldies music by one of Rwanda’s most popular band, Mico band. The will be supported by a performance from Rwandan starts such as Miss Shanel, Frank Johns and King James.

Kalaos Media Design, are the organizers of this special Valentines event that will bring together all lovers under one roof to celebrate the special occasion, Valentine’s Day!

Are you tight with the budget and not knowing what to get at affordable cost and the right Valentine’s Day Gift?

Valentine’s Day can be a complicated celebration for some people because you want to make sure that you do as much as necessary in order to be appreciated for your effort.

Valentine’s Day is such a lovable holiday especially if you have someone special in your life.

However, how do you pick out the right gift for your man? Often time’s men make more money than women, so that buying an expensive gift may not be as special than you think.

In fact, sometimes what you choose as valentine gift may have reflected his perception.

Making the minimum such as a creative valentine day card and favorite treat makes difference. Other than that you need to make sure to choose a gift that your valentine would feel happy about. That may not be what you would like to give!

Know him before choosing a gift. For example, do not buy your favorite expensive cologne that your ex loves to use. In addition, you want to make sure you to choose a special gift that you are thoughtful about not just cheap. Your Valentine’s Day Gift should make him happy for whatever it is.

The most important thing is that you want to give him something thoughtful and most importantly appropriate for the level of your relationship such as how long you have been together and his personality.

You can buy a nice pair of jeans or a perfume would cost you average Frw 20,000.

If you don’t have money to splurge but you still want to make him feel special you can there you can buy a simple gadget for him.

If you can’t spend a lot of money, you can choose an original gift. Valentine’s gift can be a handmade card or a gift certificate for the movie that he would like to watch.

You can mix a music CD of all his favorite songs. Gifts can be inexpensive. The most important thing is he will be happy that you are thinking about him.

Every year February 6th is the birthday of reggae legend Robert Nesta Marley known by his millions of fans is as Bob Marley.

Marley wasn’t only known for his great music skills that bought reggae music to global recognition, but was instead respected for his work as one of the world’s greatest Human rights activist.

For reggae lovers and Bob Marley fans there is a sense of celebration across the streets of Rwanda, from the buses cruising the township as well as shops, homes and local pubs and restaurants from Kabuga to Nyamirambo there is reggae music blaring through streets and opened windows.

Walking through Kigali city streets towards Muhima district where I was on my way to interview some of ‘One Love’ employees and alongside some visitors, I decided to ask a few around what this day meant to them.

“It’s a day of love and peace, we are all supposed to help one another and have a good time” said one of the shopkeepers of a local boutique.

Various responces to my incquest seemed pretty similar to the first one. The spirit of Bob Marley songs has actually lived on. Several people I interacted with say Bob Marley is a hero and fought war with love, and that is why he is a great symbol of peace.

Others said they think this day is for people that love reggae to have fun. As I reached my destination I found that to some this day means much more.

The workshop for handicap people formally known as ‘One Love’ located at Muhima. This is a popular place for reggae lovers. A bonfire will be held at this place in memory of the late Bob Marley’s birthday. The bonfire holds great significance.

Great reggae music will be played at the bonfire. It’s a place where people of all races can converge and sit close together and communicate– this is the essence of what Bob’s message was all about.

The workshop bonfire also allows people get involved in a great way to help the handicapped children of Rwanda. Also the center welcomes volunteers willing to help fulfill the essential needs of the handicapped that aren’t able to buy prosthetics for themselves.

Tonight there will be music, food and dancing in the gardens as well as indoors and the gardens small but cozy stage room. The bonfire will be in the center of it all where chairs will be placed surrounding it where anyone can sit and enjoy the warmth of the fire while enjoying the cool breeze and the sweet sounds of the voices of various artists that will be singing renditions of Bob Marley’s songs.

Although anti-Nyakatsi-a campaign to eradicate grass thatched housing in the country has brought mass diginity, it is a different story for the family of Chrysostom Ntezimana.

During the anti-Nyakatsi campaign, Ntezimana of 50years migrated from his home where he had been living with his wife Peragia Ntakobatagira 28. They settled at a new place located close to the Rusumo Border in the Eastern Province.

They established a grass thatched house at their new found land at the banks of river Akagera. The piece of land is so steep such that chances are so high that the Ntezimana’s could easily slip off and drown into the river.

However, worse still, the Ntezimana’s have an immediate but dangerous neighbour.The Python. Just five meters away from their grass house. The Ntezimana’s could easily be mauled by the mega python or slip drown into the speedy deep Akagera river waters.

IGIHE.com reporter who feared to reach inside the Ntezimana’s grass house, managed to meet the wife Ntakobatagira.

She narrated to our reporter, “I asked my husband to shift from this risky area but he has insisted not to leave. Instead he says he would rather drown me into this river first and then escape if he no longer wants me.”

The couple has no children yet and sources say that the Ntezimana adopted Ntakobatagira from another man in Ruhengeri in Northern Rwanda.

When asked about the risk of living close to a python den, Ntakobatagira said that they are always careful. That they make sure the python doesn’t see them first but them seeing it first and running away. This has been the situation for the past two years.

Ntakobatagira adds that she is tired of risking her life staying with the snake and being harassed by her husband.

Efforts to speak to Ntezimana were futile. Also the Executive Secretary of sector in the area could not be reached by press time.

However, IGIHE.com learnt that Ntezimana has ignored invitations by area local authorities to pick iron sheets for roofing on new descent house.

One local official said,“no one can risk going there because not only fearing the snake but also the place itself is fearful.”