Youth swim to raise counselling awareness

NORTHERN PROVINCE MUSANZE — At least 20 youth last week participated in swimming competition at EER Shyira Guest house-swimming pool geared towards reminding parents of their role to shape children behaviour. The event dubbed ‘talk and counselling,’ sponsored by PSI-Rwanda and Musanze swimming club, was meant to remind parents to practice open dialogue with children on matters of sexuality, to combat Aids. Participants, who received school bags and other scholastic materials at the end of the exercise, were grouped into categories according to their ages and sex: below 8-years, 10-14 and 15-18. Christian Nshimwe emerged the best among boys while Phiona Akimana beat girls. Addressing the children, Rev. Joshua Masumbuko, one of the parents asked fellow parents to spare time for their children; to model their attitudes and influence their characters towards safer sexual behaviour. After the competitions, the youth and parents shared ideas on opening up parent-child communication on matters of sexuality. Parents admitted that preoccupation with work and cultural mentality have served to block free sharing of ideas with children.Ends