Three non-governmental organisations conducted a ‘street theatre’ in Mahama Refugee Camp on Thursday with the aim of curbing gender-based violence through educational theatre. 

The camp, based in Kirehe District, Eastern Province, is home to nearly 45,000 Burundian refugees.

The theatre pieces dubbed, "Mwiterwa Ngo Mwitere” (literally translated to ‘don’t create additional trouble while in trouble’), and performed by both Rwandan artistes and Burundian refugees, were followed by some of the 45,000 refugees at the camp.

Plan International Rwanda, Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) Rwanda and Church World Service say they decided on the idea as one of the ways to create awareness among refugees in camps.

According to Pudencienne Uzamukunda, the executive secretary of YWCA Rwanda, a survey conducted in partnership with Church World Services in the camp found many cases of gender-based violence.

"Most of the GBV cases were as a result of poverty and ignorance about GBV. The theater piece gave them a rich knowledge about GBV, its effects and possible ways of avoiding it,” she said.

Officials said they received and responded to more than 262 GBV cases since Mahama camp was set up early this year, adding that some cases remain unreported due to cultural barriers and limited knowledge.

"Sexual and GBV disrupt family well-being. Children are the ones who suffer more when there is a misunderstanding in a family. That’s why fighting GBV and having a harmonious family is a big step in protecting children’s rights,” said Eleazar Mugarira, Plan International Rwanda’s senior child protection manager at Mahama Refugee Camp.

The Ministry of Disaster Preparedness and Refugee Affairs’ assistant camp manager in Mahama, Pascasie Mukansonera, commended the street theatre initiative while urging the refugees to use the knowledge they acquired to fight GBV.

"We thank our partners for coming up with such an initiative to educate the refugee community, thus contributing to the Government of Rwanda’s efforts to allow and facilitate refugees to live and lead a decent life free from any kind of violence,” she said.

After the theatre, 5,034 pieces of kitenge cloth, worth Rwf14 million, was donated to refugees.

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