GlobalGiving.org: Sports to Promote Women's Rights in Rwanda

Competition of Women riding bicycles

RWEMARIKA FELICITE — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:25:24 GMT

Women in riding bicycles

AKWOS encouraged women in western province that ride bycles,by organising competition for the campain against HIV and AIDS during the week of the world AIDS day and a tournament of 4 girls football teams aged 15 to 18 coming 100 in number.

This attracted a very big gathering of about 2000 people as it was the first time it happened to see women from the age of 18to 30 competing in such unusual sports .

This gave us an occasion of passing a message on the awareness of HIV and AIDS ,prevention,how to live positively ,support of people living with HIV and AIDS and sensitizing the public to go for voluntary testing.100 people believed and went for free testing .

Mukamabano Valentine who is HIV positive gave a testimony of how she is self confident,overcame the shame now looking after he 4 children who are not infected when she was ignorant about the infection.She made a call to the public and the youth to go for testing so that they get to know their status and move forward.

She ended up asking several questions to the public and the public asking many questions that she answered according to her experience warning people never to judge someone according from outside appearance and to use condon whenever substance fails and to be faithful to their partners.

After the bicycle competition and the football tournament ,rewards were given,such as football balls, t-shirts and medical insurance for 20 participants was assisted by AKWOS for 1 year .

Another activity that was done, one day workshop on social entrepreneurship that was facilitated by an ASHOKA fellow from Uganda Nassir Katuramu,which attracted 300 Social and Business Entrepreneurs.

They were encouraged that everyone can become a changemaker, the topics were , what it takes ,the change it brings and what it means for an individual.The workshop ended by many candidates applying to become ASHOKA fellows Representatives in Rwanda.We are now waiting for the qualifiers

AKWOS again in partnership with Right To Play ,Women National Council,ministry of family and Gender promotion organized a football match between Women in Civil Society and the Government in the campaign to begin the 16 days to end Gender Based Violence.

The match ended with 2 goals for civil society and 1 goal for government.

Different speeches about what is GBV and the strategies that should be used to fight GBV.

This also attracted the Police and the Army.

Mukamabano Valentine giving testimony

Women football team

ASHOKA ChangeMaker workshop

Football match to campaign against GBV

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Competition of Women riding bicycles

RWEMARIKA FELICITE — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:03:54 GMT

Women in riding bicycles

AKWOS sensitized women that joined the Competition of bicycle riding in the campaign to end G.B.V, awareness of H.I.V/AIDS and encouraging Voluntary Testing.

This activity It attracted 50 women and the gathering of 2000 people both men and women.

40 people participated in Voluntary Testing after a testimony from MUKAMABANO Valentine who is seropositive.

She expressed her gratitude to AKWOS that came over to sensitize the public for Voluntary Testing as it is the only way to know the HIV status.

She mentioned again that someone may not tell that he/she is HIV positive by the outside appearance. If one is found positive she should follow properly the medical instructions and have hope to live long and get encouraged that she is of value to the Development of the Country.

She said if one is found negative, she should avoid unprotected sex, using unsterilized instruments and untested blood transfusion. People living with HIV/AIDS should not be looked down upon, because they are people like any other. She ended by asking questions to the big gathering that followed Voluntary Testing.

Four(4) women/girls teams competed for 2 days and were given prizes of football balls, while women participating in bicycle riding were given medical insurance for 12 months. This encouraged many people that even if you are seropositive you can still do sports.

Dear Donors, thanks for your contribution to support empowering women through sports. We need more advice from you to help the sustainability of our organization.

Mukamabano Valentine testimony

Links:

akwos

CONFERENCE ON GENDER EQUITY..... REPORT

Felicite RWEMALIKA — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 07:29:26 GMT

Guests of Honor

The 2003 Magglingen Declaration recommended the inclusion of women, girls and other marginalized groups in sports initiatives as a priority. In 1998 the 2nd World Conference on Women and Sport in Windhoek, Namibia made a “Call to Action” for increased cooperation between women’s organizations and recognized the role of sport in the advancement of girls and women.

Visit of genocide memorial site

Links:

AKWOS website

Attachments:

Report (DOC)