KIGALI, RWANDA — In a decisive move to address a pressing public health and social crisis, Rwanda has officially launched a new national guide designed to equip parents with the tools to have open, honest conversations with their children about sexual and reproductive health. The initiative arrives as the country aggressively intensifies its efforts to tackle an alarming rate of teenage pregnancies, which currently affect more than 23,000 young girls every year.
The Parent–Adolescent Communication (PAC) Training Guide was unveiled on Friday during the massive National Youth Forum held at the Kigali Convention Centre. The landmark event drew a diverse crowd of nearly 2,000 attendees, including young people, parents, policymakers, artists, community leaders, and development partners. Organized by the Imbuto Foundation under the patronage of First Lady Mrs. Jeannette Kagame, the forum operated under the urgent theme, “Accelerating Actions to Prevent and Eradicate Teenage Pregnancies,” serving as a key pillar of the broader “Empowering Youth, Strengthening Families” campaign.
Building upon the Imbuto Foundation’s successful, long-running Tuganire Mwana Wanjye (“Let’s Talk, My Child”) initiative, the new PAC guide provides practical frameworks for parents, community facilitators, and trainers. It aims to dismantle the cultural taboos surrounding discussions on values, healthy decision-making, sexual health, and risk prevention within the home.
Speaking passionately at the forum, Imbuto Foundation Executive Director Elodie Shami highlighted the wide-reaching macroeconomic and social impacts of the crisis. “When a girl becomes pregnant as a teenager, it is not only a problem for her and the child she will give birth to, but also a burden on the nation,” Shami stated. She strongly urged families to abandon the pervasive culture of silence, emphasizing that topics once deemed taboo must become a normal part of everyday parenting if the nation hopes to turn the tide.
The sheer scale of the issue was detailed by Minister of Health Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, who noted that the nation is recording an average of more than 60 teenage pregnancy cases every single day. He warned of the severe ripple effects, including increased school dropouts, higher risks of maternal mortality among adolescent mothers, and long-term health consequences for their children, such as stunting. Dr. Nsanzimana pointed to poverty, a lack of accurate information, peer pressure, harmful myths, and sexual violence as the primary drivers fueling this trend.
Crucially, the Health Minister called for a compassionate shift in societal attitudes toward young mothers. “No child should drop out of school before completing secondary education,” he urged the audience. “You face it together. It is not a time to insult them.” He advocated for improved, youth-friendly health services, comprehensive sexuality education, and a collective approach to responsibility involving parents, schools, and the youth themselves.
The forum, which also featured insights from Consolée Uwimana, the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion (Migeprof), was marked by powerful, emotional testimonies. Families who had navigated the complex challenges of teenage pregnancy shared how open communication shielded them from isolation and stigma, fostering resilience instead.
International development partners, including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), were present to reaffirm their steadfast support for Rwanda’s adolescent health programs, pledging continued collaboration on youth empowerment.
As the event concluded, a sea of participants wearing bright orange “Agaciro Kanjye” (“My Dignity”) shirts stood united. Together, they issued a resounding call to replace societal blame with education and prevention, positioning the family unit as the first and most vital line of defense in safeguarding the future of Rwanda’s youth.
Photo:RBA Rwanda
