Sports to Promote Women's Rights in Rwanda

On 29^th-30^th November 2011, AKWOS organized a football competition and Women bicycle riders marking the word AIDS’ Day in Eastern Province, Ngoma District. They were 4 teams each composed of 25 players and 20 women riding bicycles.

Testimonies were given to prove to the public that people living with HIV/AIDS are people like any other. They said, one cannot tell that someone is infected by just looking at the outside appearance.

A call was made by MUKAMABANO   to go for free testing so as to know the status of each individual. She said that if you feel that you were infected not to lose hope, what you need to do is to seek medical advice, counseling department for healthy Living.

If one is found not infected, he should be careful, have protected sex and avoid unsterilized sharp instruments. Many questions were posed by the youth who were given true and correct information.

This message attracted about 2000 people and about 50 girls went for free testing. Another exciting moment was the competition of women riding bicycles, some were breastfeeding, but were excited during the cheering up of the gathering.

After the competition, AKWOS supported the Cyclists with Medical Insurance, football balls to Girls who participated in the tournaments and T-shirts for all the participants.

The local Administrator asked AKWOS to keep coming to sensitize women on the role of sports and messages on HIV/AIDS.

AKWOS Representative sensitized the public that some women get infected due to Gender Based Violence, such as forced sex. She gave them a hotline to call in case their rights are not respected. She again insisted that it is right time to end GBV and we are the very first people to sensitize other women, parents, schools, so as to be aware of the children & women rights for the quick development of our country.

On 22nd November, 2011

AKWOS organized a one day workshop in collaboration with ASHOKA, the Innovators for the public presents “everyone a Changemaker.”

This workshop involved 300 youths both men, women of the age between 18-35 young entrepreneurs.

The presenter that addressed the big audience came from Uganda; Mr. Nassir Katuramu who is an Ashoka fellow. He talked about what it means to become a Changemaker, what it takes, the change it brings and what it means for an Individual. The workshop attracted many Applications for representing Ashoka in Rwanda.

We are eagerly waiting to know who became the eligible candidates for Rwanda  from ASHOKA Representative.

 On 29th November 2011,

AKWOS in partnership with Right to Play, Women National Council and the Ministry of Gender promotion organized a football Competition in the campaign against Gender Based Violence to launch the 16 days of ending GBV.

The above are examples of what we have been doing in 2011. So we hope that with the ongoing kind support and help from our donors we shall achieve more and more in the upcoming days. We are so grateful to them and may God bless all of you.

Links:

• Our website

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.

Links:

• Search for us also on Facebook/rwema/akwos