“Sports tournament, an effective tool for the prevention of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections among youth.”
As part of a project implemented by the Organization of Kigali Women in Sports (AKWOS) in partnership with the “Association Internationale de Maires Francophones” (AIMF), and the city of Kigali, a sports tournament was held between September 2022 and January 2023. The theme of this project being “Prevention of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections among youth through sports and leisure in the city of Kigali”, the tournament was used as a tool to achieve the success of the project.
The project took place in the three districts that make up the city of Kigali: Gasabo, Kicukiro and Nyarugenge, particularly in the sectors of Ndera, Rusororo, Gatenga, Kigarama, Gikondo, Muhima and Kimisagara. And the following three Youth Sports Centers at the level of the three districts were the participants of this tournament. “Centre des Jeunes de Kimisagara” (District of Nyarugenge), “Centre des Jeunes de Gikondo” (District of Kicukiro) and “Centre des Jeunes de Kabuga” (District of Gasabo).
On January 13, 2023, the tournament entered the elimination phase, and different sports including Football, Basketball, and Volleyball were played by the project beneficiaries. The tournament went well and was successful. Kabuga’s team emerged as champions in volleyball and basketball, and they also qualified for the final soccer match against the girls from Kimisagara.
On January 13, 2023, the tournament entered the elimination phase, and different sports including Football, Basketball, and Volleyball were played by the project beneficiaries. The tournament went well and was successful. Kabuga’s team emerged as champions in volleyball and basketball, and they also qualified for the final soccer match against the girls from Kimisagara.
After this elimination match, the final match took place at the youth center of Kimisagara on January 27, 2023. The match was attended by many people as expected, including the local authorities, as well as the administration of the city of Kigali, and at the end of the match.
That day, the team of Kabuga came out as the winner of this tournament against the team of Kimisagara.
Afterwards, a ceremony to award the trophies (cups, medals, and funds to start their projects) was held, which was supported by awareness raising on the prevention of unplanned teenage pregnancies. A theater prepared by the organizing team was used to convey the message, and at the end of the event, the Executive Director of AKWOS spoke and addressed the young beneficiaries of the project.
Felicite Rwemarika, the Executive Director of AKWOS said that there are joint efforts to help adolescent girls rejected by their families through Sport and Recreation in the City of Kigali.
During her speech, she affirmed her gratitude to AIMF and the City of Kigali for choosing AKWOS as a partner in the fight against unplanned teenage pregnancies. She also thanked other colleagues such as RBC, My Culture, agents of the three (3) Districts of the city of Kigali in charge of sexual health as well as the coordinators of the youth centres.
The big event was closed by the speech of Mukundente Marie Claire, a teenage mother (a 3 year old child) from the youth centre of Kimisagara.
She shared her testimony about her pregnancy journey during which she talked about the difficulty of this moment. She ended her speech by giving advice to other young girls to avoid unplanned pregnancies so that they can have a better future, help their families and the country in general.
