A group of YALI Alumni from Cohort 47 and Cohort 44, along with the alumni-led organization “Grown to Help” led by Denyse Mugabekazi from Cohort 47, collaborated on a mission to empower adolescents. They held an event at Gitega Primary School in Nyarugenge District, where they provided essential education and support to young individuals during the challenging transition of adolescence. The training sessions focused on various subjects, including understanding and embracing change during adolescence, demystifying the menstrual cycle, promoting hygiene practices, and fostering positive masculinity. The YALI Alumni and Grown to Help volunteers educated both girls and boys, emphasizing the significance of supporting one another and eliminating the stigma associated with menstruation.
The team showed their commitment to promoting menstrual health by donating pads to adolescent attendees. These essential supplies not only met a practical need, but also showed care, solidarity, and support for the young girls in attendance. The joy on their faces and the gratitude in their eyes were a testament to the impact of this thoughtful gesture.
In addition to the educational sessions and donations, the YALI Alumni and Grown to Help organization arranged period games created by SAYE COMPANY Dukataze, another Alumni Led Social Enterprise dedicated to fighting unintended pregnancies in young Rwandan Women. These interactive activities provided a fun and engaging way for the adolescents to reinforce their knowledge and build camaraderie with their peers. Through these games, the young participants gained a deeper understanding of menstruation, fostering empathy and compassion.
The girls’ room has been equipped with pads and toilet paper. The Health & Hygiene Club, which is managed by a teacher and two young children (a boy & a girl) and created by Grown to Help, is in charge of the room. The YALI Alumni & Grown to Help volunteers worked together to fully equip the girls’ room with underwear, pads, a well-equipped bed, soaps, and other hygienic supplies. As the event concluded, the air was filled with echoes of gratitude and newfound confidence. This collective endeavor will have a lasting impact on the lives of the adolescents, their families, and the community at large. It serves as a reminder that when passionate individuals come together to make a difference, transformative change is not only possible but achievable.
Woowww! That’s Good my fellow YALI Alumni. The whole family is proud