In Nyarugenge District, the Director of Health took a bold initiative to strengthen family protection by integrating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and HIV awareness into monthly community gatherings known as Inteko z’Abaturage.
This effort followed the Consultative Meeting organized by Happy Family Rwanda Organization (HFRO), which brought together religious and political leaders to discuss ways of addressing early and unwanted pregnancy (EUP), GBV, and HIV/AIDS through collaborative community action.
Motivated by the discussions, the Health Director recognized that many families were still living with fear and silence caused by stigma and lack of awareness. Determined to act, he partnered with HFRO to design a community education plan that used existing local structures to reach people where they are in their homes, villages, and community meetings.
With HFRO’s technical support, community facilitators were trained to identify victims, provide counseling and referral services, and deliver key messages on health, rights, and family welfare. As a result, hundreds of families became more informed about available services and the importance of early reporting of GBV cases.
“We realized that community health is not just about hospitals and medicine it’s about families feeling safe, informed, and supported,” said the Director of Health. “Working with HFRO helped us connect health, protection, and education in a powerful way.”
The initiative has already reached more than 500 households across Nyarugenge District, empowering survivors to seek help and encouraging parents and youth to engage in open conversations about health and relationships.