Early and unintended pregnancy has a severely negative impact on girls’ education. With the majority of teenage mothers never completing school, our girls are prevented from reaching their full potential and an intergenerational cycle of poverty often prevails.

Evidence shows that for each additional year of education, there is a 10 percent reduction in fertility, which in turn will accelerate the pace of a fertility transition contributing to a favorable age structure for harnessing a demographic dividend. 

Rwanda has taken significant steps to improve the legal and institutional framework for the protection of children’s and adolescents’ rights.  Significant efforts remain to raise awareness and knowledge on Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health, and the prevention of Gender-Based Violence. 

In partnership with KOICA, UNFPA is implementing the “Health & Empowered Youth” project that aims at empowering adolescents and young people in Rwanda to realize their human right to equality, sexual and reproductive health, and freedom from violence and discrimination project.  From April 2021, diverse campaign activities were conducted across Nyamasheke, Rusizi, and Karongi Districts of the Western Province of Rwanda, with a focus on the fight against teenage pregnancy and Gender-Based Violence in schools and local communities. 

“There are various forms of violence in our area such as child rape, teen pregnancies, gender-based violence. We’re trying to stop it because it is actually damaging the families’ well-being. We appreciate our partners’ commitment; we all work together to protect our young people.” Said Mukamana Claudette, Vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs in Nyamasheke District. 

Pregnant adolescents and young mothers suffer from stigmatization, rejection by and violence from family members and the community, which leads to double victimization and exacerbates their vulnerability. It is very important that parents assist adolescents in accessing comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) information and services to minimize the risk of early and unintended pregnancy

“Parents need to take care of their children's education. They also need to be their friends and spend quality time with them, build a strong bond and trust. Everyone should be the other parent’s eye and protect not only our children but every child. We are urging everyone to report any violence and abuse in a timely manner to local authorities. That will be a very big step in protecting our children.” Mukamana added. 

As part of the campaign, an interactive radio talk show discussed Gender-Based Violence and teenage pregnancy in Nyamasheke. Mrs. Mukamana highlighted there some steps that have already been taken, in collaboration with different partners, to address these issues, including awareness-raising around reporting the perpetrators to local authorities. 

“Many things are being done to fight and prevent GBV in Nyamasheke, including awareness-raising and basing care for the victims. Now the community is informed that in the case of violence, the victim should rush to a nearby clinic for treatment within 72 hours so that the evidence can be collected. We are also sensitizing the communities to have a culture of reporting such incidents to the local authorities” Said Mukamana.

To engage more with young people and assess their understanding of SRH issues, the challenges faced, and identifying their role in preventing Gender-Based Violence and teenage pregnancy, a writing competition was organized in 670 schools in Nyamasheke, Karongi, and Rusizi. The activity aimed at fostering creative solutions for youth in schools to adopt healthy and safe attitudes & behaviors. 

"We have had a rising number of teenage pregnancy cases in Rusizi. With UNFPA and KOICA, we organized a writing competition on SRH issues including teen pregnancies and GBV by high school students because girls from 13 years old and older are the most targeted. Through this activity, we hope that young people will understand more their role in preventing and fighting these issues." Said NTEZIYAREMYE Jean Pierre, in charge of secondary school and TVET in Rusizi District.

Students submitted articles, poems, stories, and two schools per district with the best pieces were awarded school materials to support their quest for accurate ASRH information and facilitate them to share this information with their peers.  

The Winning Schools included Rubengera Teacher Training Center and College Sainte Marie in Karongi District; Ecole Secondaire de TYAZO and GS YOVE in Nyamasheke; as well as Groupe Scolaire Bugarama Cité and Groupe Scolaire St Pierre Nkombo in Rusizi District.

“We commend the Government of Rwanda’s efforts to put young people at the center of development. With valued partners’ support, this project is empowering vulnerable adolescents and young people to access education and socio-economic opportunities and to realize their sexual and reproductive health & rights” said Mark Bryan Schreiner, UNFPA Representative in Rwanda.

Launched in July 2020 by KOICA, UNFPA, and the Ministry of Youth and Culture, the “Health & Empowered Youth” project will be implemented over three years 2020 – 2023 in the districts of Rusizi, Karongi, Nyamasheke; and across six refugee camps and host communities of Mahama, Kigeme, Mugombwa, Kiziba, Gihembe, Nyabiheke.