The Minister of Youth launches the first message of the

WITEGEREZA campaign: 

“WITEGEREZA. TALK TO ME ABOUT SEX”

In October 2007, the CNLS launched the WITEGEREZA campaign under a traditional Rwandan proverb, “IGITI KIGORORWA KIKIRI GITO,” or, “A tree is only straightened while it is still young.&rdquo This introductory proverb reminds us that if we want to achieve the ideal of “zero-incidence”; that is, the elimination of new HIV infections, we must educate our youth early, BEFORE they become sexually active. Starting early gives us the best chance of shaping the knowledge, attitudes and practices that will drive their sexual behaviour later in life.

WITEGEREZA. “Talk to me about sex.”
On November 15, the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture will launch the next phase of the WITEGEREZA campaign: “Talk to me about sex.”   This phase challenges the social norms that prevent parents and children from speaking openly about sexuality.  

When asked whether parents talk to young children about sex, we often answer, “It’s not our culture”.  We must therefore ask ourselves, “Is it our culture to stand back and put our children at risk?”  This is what we do when we leave young people to their own devices when it comes to sex.  

The fact is, young people are sexually active.  In fact, at least 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 4 boys between the ages of 15 and 24 had sex before they turned 181.  1 in 20 girls and 3 in 20 boys between the ages of 15 and 19 had sex before they turned 152.   But this is normal.  Young people are sexually curious, changing physically, exploring new emotions.  Historically, Rwandan culture relied on the extended family…aunties, uncles, grandparents…to educate youth about sexuality and to help youth to navigate this normal transition to adolescence.  With Rwanda’s loss of the extended family, it is more important than ever for parents to take on this responsibility directly.  If we don’t, our youth will be forced to deal in the many myths and misconceptions they learn from each other.  Myths like “It’s only by having sex that girls’ breasts and hips can grow”, or “Boys need to have sex so that their penises can grow”, or “You are not a man until you have sex”, or “You can’t get pregnant the first time you have sex”, or “You can’t get pregnant if you do it standing up”.

These myths and misconceptions increase sexual risk, by encouraging young people to explore sex for reasons they don’t really understand, and by keeping youth from the information they need about preventing HIV and unplanned pregnancies. 

 “Talk to me about sex” media schedule.
The WITEGEREZA campaign was designed under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and the CNLS, with technical support from PSI, and financial support from USAID, KfW, and DfID.  It contains three key messages, which will unfold successively over 6 months on a national scale, using a fully integrated multimedia approach.  With billboards and radio spots as a backdrop, the “Talk to me about sex” message will roll out under the leadership of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, through a series of interactive and challenging debates about the fundamental questions behind this key message, including:

• What are the myths and misconceptions about sex among youth?
• How do these myths and misconceptions put our youth at risk?
• Where do youth get their information about sex?
• Why don’t parents and youth speak openly about sex?
• How can parents and youth overcome “Cultural” barriers to speaking openly about sex?
• How can parents and youth learn to speak openly about sex?
• How can political and religious leaders create an environment of open communication about sex?

These debates among youth, parents, political and religious leaders will roll out according to the following media schedule.

The success of the WITEGEREZA campaign will depend upon the depth of the debate and discussion around the key campaign messages.  It will also depend upon our willingness as parents and leaders to rise to the challenge this campaign poses; that is, to ask ourselves whether we are really doing enough…early enough…to protect our youth.   On behalf of CNLS, we believe Rwanda is up to the challenge!

WITEGEREZA.  IGITI KIGORORWA KIKIRI GITO.
“TALK TO ME ABOUT SEX”.

1. 2005 Rwanda DHS+, TRAC, Table 14.14
2. 2005 Rwanda DHS+, TRAC,  Table 14.14

For more details, please contact:
Dr Binagwaho Agnès, tel: 503979,
Staci Leuschner, tel: 503481,
Nkurunziza Emery, tel: 08307957, email:enkurunziza@psirwanda.org
Kamali Fulgence, tel: 08510202

Copyright (C) 2007 PSI Rwanda | All rights reserved.