On 27 January 2022, UNFPA, in partnership with Representatives from the government of the Republic of Korea, and the aid agency of the government of the Republic of Korea, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), conducted the second high-level Joint Monitoring Visit to Kigeme Refugee Camp and Host Communities in Nyamagabe District. 

The visit is part of the Healthy & Empowered Youth Project that is implemented by UNFPA Rwanda in the three districts of Rusizi, Karongi, and Nyamasheke; as well as in the refugee camps of Mahama, Kigeme,  Mugombwa, Kiziba, Nyabiheke, and their host communities, with funding support from KOICA. UNFPA and KOICA conducted the first joint monitoring visit in September 2021 to Gihembe and Mahama Refugee Camps.

The three-year project started in July 2020 and is being implemented in partnership with Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), Imbuto Foundation (IF),  Good Neighbors International (GNI), ALIGHT, and African Humanitarian Action (AHA), and with ongoing cooperation with the Government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Youth and Culture,  Ministry of Education, Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, Ministry in Charge of Emergency  Management (MINEMA), National Commission for Children, and One UN in Rwanda to empower adolescents and young people in Rwanda to realize their human right to equality, sexual and reproductive health, and freedom from violence and discrimination.

In the first 18 months of implementation, the Healthy & Empowered Youth Project counts numerous achievements, including in Kigeme Refugee Camp and host communities around the camp. 56 First-Time Young Mothers (FTYMs) were trained on life skills and income generation. 26 FTYMs received loans to boost their businesses, and 30 were enrolled in a tailoring class at Kigeme TVET school. The 26 young mothers received loans ranging between 50,000 and 150,000 RWF. 

First Time Young Mothers from the host communities of Kigeme refugees camp receives life skill including tailoring at Kigeme TVET school 

Ayinkamiye Marie Chantal, 24, is a First Time Young mother from Gasaka sector. She got pregnant at age and dropped out of secondary school. As other First Time Young Mothers both in the Kigeme refugee camp and surrounding communities, the 9 months of pregnancy and after giving birth period was a long and tough journey to live. Her parents could not cope with their daughter dropping out of secondary school and they sent her away from home. Through counseling and economic empowerment support, Marie Chantal realized that she can revive and live a new life.

“After realizing that I was pregnant, I dropped out of school. I was studying in Senior 3. Life was tough throughout the 9 months and after giving birth. One day, I met a GNI peer who recommended me to join other FTYMs. They gave us counseling and trained us on how to grow our income and to prevent unintended pregnancy.I got a loan from the project and started a small business. It has been 6 months since then and the business is growing, to an extent that I can now feed myself and my child,.” Said Ayinkamiye

Inside Kigeme Camp, the Project support worked with AHA to identify and support  40 First Time Young Mothers to start hairdressing, livestock businesses.  The FTYMs were identified and selected in collaboration with Community Leaders. 

“I was selected by AHA to attend  a 35-days’ training in hairdressing, life skills, and sexual reproductive health Thanks to the hairdressing training, now I’m able to cover my basic needs, without begging any other person. ” Said Batamuliza Leonie, a 22 year-old FTYM from Kigeme Refugee camp.

“I extend my appreciation to AHA, UNFPA and KOICA Rwanda for giving us this opportunity that helped us to regain hope.“ She added.

 

Inside Kigeme Refugee Camp, The First Time Young Mothers were trained in hairdressing and given other life skills and income generation at Kigeme TVET School.

The Healthy & Empowered Youth project has also supported the establishment and ongoing functionality of the School Health Club at Groupe Scolaire Gasaka in Nyamagabe. The health club counts 30 students, and 10 Mentors who form the core group that educates their 2,300 peers. The Health Club ensures that adolescents have access to age-appropriate sexual and reproductive health information, including life skills education, teenage pregnancy prevention, and GBV prevention messages. The health club is one of 112 school clubs established through the efforts of this project.

“We learned many things in our club that we had not been taught before including how to produce our own menstrual hygiene products. It helps us especially when our parents do not have money for us to buy sanitary pads.” IGIRANEZA Marie Souvenir, a member of the School Health Club in Gasaka.

“Since joining the SchoolHealth Club, I have come to understand that the menstrual period is part of a girls’ life, and it is a normal thing to discuss like any other health issues. In our club we teach everyone, especially boys, to help our sisters feel welcomed in every activity even during the menstruation period” said Tuyishime.

School Health Club at Groupe Scolaire Gasaka in Nyamagabe ensures that adolescents have access to age-appropriate SRH information, including life skills education, teenage pregnancy prevention, GBV prevention messages.

Meeting the beneficiaries allowed the delegation to get first-hand accounts of the beneficiaries' testimonies on how the Project is impacting their lives, and to engage with project stakeholders and jointly discuss areas to improve and scale up the project.

 “It is crucial for Rwanda to take a socio-economic advantage from an abundant young population, and in this vein, sound integration of the young vulnerable into the economy and society is a key factor in promoting inclusive and sustainable growth. Korea is grateful to  partner with the UNFPA and appreciates its efforts to support the youth in vulnerable  situations to access decent education, health and economic opportunity.” Mr CHOI Jongyun Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Korea in Rwanda.

Mr CHOI Jongyun and the UNFPA Representative KWABENA  visiting the teen mothers of Kigeme refugee camp who have been supported in pig farming.

 “In only 18 months  of implementation, we see numerous achievements of the project. This joint monitoring visit was a good opportunity to witness how the projector is impacting the lives of young people,  the hard work of our partners, and  most importantly joy on the faces of teen mothers.  We will keep working together with the government of Rwanda to empower even more young people." KWABENA Asante-Ntiamoah, UNFPA Representative.

IGIRANEZA Marie Souvenir, 12 is a member of the School Health Club in Gasaka.

A First Time Young Mother from a host community of Kigeme Refugees camp holding her child in a tailoring class at TVET Kigeme School