From June 21 to 23, 2022, CARE International Burundi, through its Tubakarorero project implemented by Iprosarude in the provinces of Gitega, Kayanza and Bubanza, organized a training session on SRH/FP (Sexual and Reproductive Health / Family Planning) and the fight against GBV (Gender Based Violence) for young volunteers selected in all the intervention areas of Iprosarude. At least 163 young people, including 75 young volunteers who manage youth centers, 50 pillars and 38 focal points of AUXFIN, benefited from a training on the SASA and CVC (Life Skills) module. This training enabled participants to maximize the impact of youth volunteers as partners for positive change in communities.
“In a country where more than 60% of the population is under the age of 30, it is critical to engage youth in sustainable development. “Today, more than ever, young women and men are the agents of change, building new realities for themselves and their communities. All over the world, young people are the drivers of social change and innovation, asserting respect for their fundamental human rights and freedoms, seeking new opportunities to learn and work together for a better future. Recalled Mr. Thierry Nimpagaritse, trainer and in charge of operations and monitoring within Care International Burundi, during the training of young people organized from 21 to 23 June 2022, throughout the intervention area of Iprosarude in the framework of the Tubakarorero project.
He added that Care International Burundi and its implementing partners (Iprosarude) recognize this reality, and prioritize their work with and for youth throughout their programs.
According to Jean Rumbira, Tubakarorero project manager at IPROSARUDE, the three days of training allowed for the exchange of information and best practices among participants from 11 communes of Gitega province, 9 communes of Kayanza province and 5 communes of Bubanza province. It also allowed to strengthen the inclusion of youth in sustainable development, and especially to be well equipped to help other youth who attend the youth centers because all the trained intervene in the management of youth centers under the Tubakarorero project,
The trained youth volunteers committed themselves to improve their intervention strategies in order to prevent and fight against sexual and gender-based violence in their communities. This commitment was made following the training on the SASA approach and its communication tools.
During this training, they learned about four phases of SASA, including start-up, awareness, support, and taking action for positive change.
These community activists specify that this approach helps them to work together in the fight against all harmful practices that block the development of women and girls. They promise to involve all influential actors in the fight to reach the ideal situation where sexual violence will no longer be reported in their respective communities.
As for the CVC module, Monsignor André Florian Ndabarushimana, Kayanza provincial coach, within the framework of the Tubakarorero project at IPROSARUDE, specifies that it is of paramount importance because young people learn good manners in order to grow up responsible in society. “Life skills programs are the programs that try to strengthen people’s abilities to make decisions and act in a positive way that will benefit them and those around them. Their primary goal is to promote psychological and physical well-being. A popular example of intervention in this area is the establishment of programs that seek to empower youth to make healthy and responsible choices about their health. Life skills programs also hold promise as a strategy for preventing violence against women and girls, as life skills can address individual and interpersonal issues that contribute to violence,” said Bishop André Florian.
At the end of the training, the participants developed action plans for the accompaniment of the communities, especially to integrate the SASA and CVC approach within the youth centers.
It should be noted that Tubakarorero aims to motivate young people, couples and their families to use SRH information and services in a socio-economic environment that is conducive to SRH and gender equality, free of contradictions and supported by key influencers. It is funded by the Netherlands Embassy in Burundi and implemented by the consortium Care International Burundi – Cordaid and their local partners.
E.Allickan Niragira
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