Sexual health education for Rwandan youth
Even though sexual transmitted infections (STIs) have reduced remarkably in Rwanda, the prevalence of STIs remains high among youth aged 15-24, as young people still face difficulties obtaining contraceptives and sexual and reproductive health information. Our sexual health education program aims to increase secondary school students' access to quality information on reproductive health, and to advocate for easier access to sexual and reproductive health care and contraceptives.
Students getting ready for an education session on sexual health
The program will train university students as peer educators who will run bi-weekly health education sessions, organizing discussions on reproductive health and rights, and answering students' questions. The program will also advocate for improved access to sexual and reproductive health care for youths. The main objective of our advocacy component is to empower young people with more skills and opportunities to exercise, know and advocate for their sexual and reproductive health needs and rights. The aim of the project is to lower the rate of early and unwanted pregnancies, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, as well as to boost the use of contraceptive methods among the most sexually active population, teenagers.
An education session on AIDS at a secondary school in Kigali
Our partner organization Health Development Initiative has been running the project since 2007 in ten secondary schools around the capital city of Kigali. Our partnership will expand the project into a number of secondary schools in more rural districts of Rwanda with higher numbers of teenage pregnancies and STIs. With the help of the HDI, teaching professionals and volunteers, the project is set to start in summer 2015.
Our partner organization HDI has worked with youth sexual and reproductive rights since 2007