Group targets teens in new anti-HIV crusade

MUHANGA – The Rwanda Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) has launched a new programme to tackle HIV/Aids and child abuse, by embarking on an early childhood education among teenagers. The programme was kicked off, on Friday, in Muhanga District, and attracted over 200 participants, aged between 13 and 15, from various sectors. The teens were trained on reproductive health, rights, and HIV/Aids prevention. Ernestine Kaligirwa, the YWCA president, noted that programme is a follow-up on the outcomes of a YWCA Power to Change project, where youth forums have continuously recommended that child sex education be carried out at early stages. Kaligirwa said that the programme aims at empowering teens with awareness, build hope and enable them to make the right decisions for their future, and to restore the essence of virginity among the youths. “This education needs to start at an early age, so that the child is mentally prepared, gets a sense of responsibility and becomes sexually aware of self so that they are not lured into premature sex,” Kaligirwa said. Muhanga Youth representative, Marcelle Hodari, stated that the programme will boost the national youth campaign against HIV/Aids. He asked that such training sessions be extended to all parts of the country. Pastor Maurice Klébert Rukimbira, a guest speaker at the forum, insisted that the success of early childhood education must be simultaneous with spiritual development of a child, so as to groom an upright generation of citizens. Ends