SOUTHERN PROVINCE

MUHANGA -  Over 382 students drawn from different schools in the province affirmed last week during a holiday camp that they will fight HIV/Aids spread among youth. The camp held in Nyamabuye Sector from July 22-25 was organised by the Society for Women and Aids in Africa (SWAA- Rwanda) and it attracted students from Kamonyi, Ruhango and Muhanga districts.

The camp was aimed at addressing HIV/Aids related issues as well as coming up with responses on  career guidance, human rights and peace building, reproductive health and civil education, according to Dorcella Uwamungu, a SWAA-Rwanda official.

Uwamungu appealed to local leaders to have a daily follow up of students’ affairs in their respective communities so as to help youths develop and attain their set values and goals.

The participants, who included genocide survivors and orphans said that the camp was an arena for students to discuss various challenges facing students in the country.

"We have discovered that being idle and disorderly during vacation is one of the reasons why students engage in pre-marital sex, and thus get infected.

This workshop has helped us to take serious measures that will enable us to fight the scourge among youths,” said Eline Ukwibishaka, a student of ESAPAG Gitwe

The students also resolved to use similar gatherings to sensitize others to avoid drug abuse, and other illicit activities that prevent students from pursuing their life goals.

They also asked local leaders to be supportive in improvising youth livelihood programmes.

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