{{Imbuto Foundation, through its “Family Package Project”, last Friday held an Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (ASRH&R) Day at Rubavu Stadium (Rubavu district).}}
The event was organized under the theme “Rubyiruko! Kugira Ubumenyi ku buzima bw’Imyororokere ni uburenganzira bwanyu”.
The target is the population of the whole district. Various artists such as Knowless, Kamishi, Urban Boys, Mani Martin, Tom Close, Fireman took part in the campaign.
This ASRH & R Day aims at ensuring that beneficiaries understand their roles, responsibilities and rights, and all stakeholders understand and implement results-oriented interventions.
In order to reach these goals, Imbuto Foundation focused on the following objectives on ASRH Day:
-Empower all youth with knowledge on ASRH & R services, unwanted and early pregnancies;
-Raise awareness on access to youth friendly ASRH & R services available at the nearest health centre;
3-Advocate for youth-friendly services within health facilities;
4- encourage parents, authorities and communities to provide a supportive environment to the youth on these issues.
Key messages were delivered by the Guest of Honour Honourable Minister of Health Agnes Binagwaho; as well as the UNICEF country representative Noala Skinner; Director General of Imbuto Foundation Radegonde Ndejuru; and the Mayor of Rubavu District Hassan Bahame.
In their speeches, Noala Skinner and Minister Binagwaho urged the youth to use the youth-friendly centres and get the right information about their health, while Radegonde Ndejuru reminded parents that they are the first responsible for communicating with their children about those important issues.
These messages were echoed by the testimony of Furaha, a young woman of 25 years old who was abused and consequently got pregnant at 13 years old.
Her foster family rejected her. She therefore urged the audience to take advantage of the youth-friendly centres, as she didn’t have the chance to have a safe space, to turn to for advice and comfort.
A group performed a sketch where they portrayed a young girl who was seeking for advice from her father; after being dismissed by him, she turned to a neighbour who tried to abuse her.
This showed how important it is for the youth to get information on ASRH & R and the responsibility that parents have in informing their children. Approximately 3000 people attended, mainly young people aged 10 – 24 years. More than 600 got tested.
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