Exposure important for student growth and positive living

LILLIAN NAKAYIMA explores how exposure to sex education helps youth stay safe especially from HIV/Aids Jacqueline Mukansangiza had no confidence in her poorly shaped body because she still had second thoughts on having sex. According to her peers’ advice, the 19 year old would blossom, develop shapely hips, a perfect waist line, after first engaging in sexual intercourse. Being part of a three-day training organised by the Imbuto Foundation, disbanded several myths for Mukansangiza. Imbuto Foundation is an organisation which was founded by the First Lady Jeannette Kagame to help Rwandan youth have a bright future. Some of the roles of the Imbuto Foundation include, empowering Rwandan women, campaigning against HIV/Aids among the youth and sponsoring youth education. 415 youths (sponsored by Imbuto Foundation) report to have become enlightened on the myths and disinformation that have been lingering amongst them to do with sex related issues. “I now appreciate my skin texture, I don’t need sex to make it better,” said Mukansangiza. As Rwanda fights against the spread of the HIV/Aids infection, many youth have fallen victim of infection without their knowledge. Due to peer pressure, many youths’ lives have been ruined. “I had been persuaded that by having sex I would put on weight,” says Karine Mutoni, a participant at the training. With the theme “empower, educate and engage”, the youths were informed that HIV/Aids was the biggest hindrance to development, while being taught on preventive measures and the basics of how to lead good lives. “The key factor in the war against HIV/Aids is self confidence,” said Mutoni. To her, appreciating her physical appearance is a weapon that shields her from negative influence. “I have come to discover that hating our physical appearance is part of the adolescent stage,” Mutoni proudly explains. On several occasions, youths need consolation about their looks; facts have it that some youths have unexpectedly fallen into cross generation relationships because the partners have flattered them about their beauty. “I don’t mind my pimples, when time comes they will be no more,” says J.Claude Niyonzima. He had this lesson just in time when he was about to take to drugs since he thought it was stylish. Like other youths in the training, Mutoni believes that adolescence is just a stage a youth goes through. Yes, adolescence is a dangerous stage and in case parents are not that careful about their children, they will end up losing them to the Aids pandemic or to bad habits that will ruin their lives forever. Most addicted smokers started way back in secondary school and they are not ready to quit. As the saying goes “an empty mind is the devil’s workshop.” Youths should take a participatory role in developing the country, this will keep them busy. In Rwanda, bad politics from past regimes brought about divisionism that culminated in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. “Sharing the same language makes us one, and the only outstanding challenges are fighting HIV/Aids, poverty, and other problems,” said Mukansangiza. Addressing the seminar, the First Lady, Mrs Kagame, reminded the youths that with life, all other things are possible. She said that it was all about creativity and having a positive attitude. “Take an example of a person with a fracture. The person is given crutches in order to walk again, but that person too has to make an effort to use the crutches so that the bones can get firm so as to move again,” she said. As many holiday makers loiter around in their home areas, it’s vital that such training are held since they educate and change the youths. “We shall work hard and be whatever we want to be without being deceived by anyone, especially sexually,” said Niyonzima citing the example of sugar mummies. Sugar mummies are older women who lure youth into sexual relations with the promise of some material returns. The sky will be our limit, was the last promise the youths made. Ends