CVT, Club Rafiki Nyamirambo celebrate Christmas with children, urging them to avoid temptations in the holidays

Elias Hakizimana Dec 28, 2022Dec 28, 2022 0 Comments

By Elias Hakizimana.

Children from various areas in Nyarugenge district have celebrated the 2022 Christmas with Children Voice Today (CVT) and Club Rafiki Nyamirambo, local organizations that promotes the rights of the child.

Innocent Ntakirutimana, Child Protection and Participation Programme Coordinator at CVT said that they have conducted this activity in partnership with Club Rafiki Nyamirambo, under the support of Kinder Not Hilfe (KNH) through the campaign dubbed ‘Dialogue Works’ that aims at finding solutions to different problems of children.

“We have met various children to be able to socialize and it gives confidence to vulnerable children who have different problems to feel like other children. They play together, socialize together, entertain together and share food and drinks. It is also a good moment for them to wish each other the good celebration of the festive season,” Ntakirutimana said.

In his message to these children, Innocent advised them to avoid lures that can expose them to defilement and teen pregnancies as well as drug abuse during this end of the year and the holidays as well.

In CVT areas of interventions especially during the year 2022, this organization has learnt that there are still threats that undermine children’s welfare, including defilement.

Innocent warns parents and communities to not harass the victims with bad talks, as it can be double violence.

“The child who was defiled needs our close support and care as the community instead of abandoning her. We should comfort her and give her the hope that the future will be good,” Ntakirutimana said.

He said that child defilement is still around following the recent outreach campaign they conducted in Nyarugenge, Ruhango and Burera districts.

Children enjoy the ceremony

Furaha Deborah, 19, said that gathering together as children from different communities to celebrate Christmas is a good initiative that boosts sociability.

“This is a good activity to celebrate, here we manage to enjoy different games and to share food and drinks, thanks to Children’s Voice Today’ to make this happen,” Furaha said, advising her peers to stay away from the holiday’s temptations.

“I know that we, as children and especially adolescents may face Gender Based Violence (GBV) during these days, and it has many consequences on child girls including premature pregnancies, sexually transmitted illnesses (STIs), school dropouts and a burden to the family. I can advise my peers to prevent themselves by staying far from the lures,” she said.

Elizabeth Muyinganyiki, 16, is another child and CVT beneficiary. she said that gender-based violence may occur in various life circumstances and can affect child growth due to lack of information on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).

Do children know how and where to seek support from?

Sallah Iradukunda, 17 studies at G.S Kivugiza, S3, in Nyarugenge District. At her age, she advises children who can be facing defilement to “find someone to tell what happens (report the case/heal trauma), jump to the nearest health center to check if no Sexual Transmitted Illnesses (STIs) or pregnancy in just few hours after the incident happended,”.