Plan Rwanda uses drama to fight AIDS

GATSIBO – Plan International-Rwanda, has resorted to the use of music, dance and drama in schools as part of AIDS awareness campaigns. On Thursday, students drawn from different schools in Gatsibo District participated in the drama competition at the district headquarters supported by the International NGO, in which winners walked away with various forms of cash prizes. The participating schools included; Rwimbogo, Munini, Rwikiniro, Bihinga, and Ruhuha secondary schools, where the Nine–year Basic Education programme is being implemented.Rwimbogo emerged the best in poetry and drama having scored 80.5 % and 78.4% respectively, while Munini got 84.8%. The overall winner got Rwf30,000 while the runners up and third position received Rwf20, 000 and Rwf10, 000 respectively. In an interview, Alfred Mupenzi, the head of education in Plan Rwanda, explained that the competition was aimed at creating awareness about AIDS among students. This will help them live longer and achieve their education goals, he noted. “The aim of such competition is to create school-child friendly environment… where by we encourage students to stick to their education goals by avoiding contracting diseases like HIV/AIDS,” he said. The district’s director of education, Grégoire Kanyemera, says Plan Rwanda has done a commendable job of creating and promoting quality education in the district. “Apart from such competition, Plan Rwanda, has also helped us to train teachers and other education officials which we undoubtedly think promotes quality education in the district,” he said. Ends