{Four anti crimes clubs have been created in schools in Musanze and Rutsiro districts that would serve as forums for them to deliberate on how best they can contribute to public safety under the auspice of community policing.}
Two clubs for anti-gender based violence and drug abuse each, were formed in GS Rugali in Musanze while two others created in GS Kigarama and GS Rugamba in Rutsiro.
The occasion to create the clubs was also attended by Police officers in the two respective districts.
The clubs were formed shortly after separate awareness campaigns in the three schools on June 27 as part of the Rwanda National Police continuous sensitization activities in schools and communities to fight and prevent crimes.
Speaking at GS Rugali, the District Community Liaison Officer of Musanze, Inspector of Police (IP) Viateur Ntiyamira tutored students on effects of drug abuse and GBV and urged them to use the knowledge they acquired in transforming communities around the school.
Jean de Dieu Nsanzumuhire, who was elected as the coordinator of the anti-crime club against drug abuse at GS Rugali, said; “We constitute the most energetic section of the population, that’s why we much use our efforts in serving the society with an ultimate goal of enhancing public safety. This is why we have established this club so that we use it as a forum to fight against drug abuse.”
His colleague, Adeline Iradukunda who was also elected to head the anti-GBV club at the school, said, “We know the effects of GBV but there are people out there that do not know and we will use this forum to lead in sensitizing the public against GBV.”
Currently there are over 1000 anti-crime clubs across the country; among those, 90 percent are in schools.
At least 48 anti-crime clubs are in Musanze of which 30 are in 15 schools.
Students use song, poems and dramas in communicating to communities around the schools about major crimes and their role in preventing them.
The headmaster of GS Rugali, François Nsekarije thanked Rwanda National Police (RNP) for its efforts in using youngsters to enhance public safety and committed to follow up and support the clubs to achieve its targets.
At GS Kigarama and GS Rugamba in Rutsiro students were also tutored on human trafficking, the tricks traffickers use, targeted groups, common destinations and the kind of consequences endured by the victims.
“Fighting human trafficking required collective efforts mainly through reporting anyone you suspect to be a trafficker,” said the acting District Community Liaison Officer, Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP) Jean Bosco Mugenzi.
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