Muhanga Community Leaders Tackle SRHR Myths While Promoting Positive Cultural Values
MUHANGA, Rwanda – Community leaders in Muhanga District have reaffirmed that preserving Rwanda’s positive cultural values can go hand in hand with promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), following an interactive myths-busting workshop held in Nyarusange Sector.
The workshop, organized under the Beyond Boundaries Project by the Rwanda Union of the Blind (RUB) in consortium with NUDOR and with financial support from AmplifyChange, brought together Community Health Workers, Inshuti z’Umuryango (IZU), youth representatives, youth champions, and the National Child Development Programme (NCDP) Coordinator.
The activity focused on addressing widespread misconceptions surrounding SRHR while encouraging positive parenting and strengthening communication between parents and adolescents.
Participants explored the relationship between rapidly changing social realities and traditional cultural values, discussing how misinformation, stigma, harmful gender norms, and cultural beliefs often shape people’s understanding of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.
The discussions concluded that rights and responsibilities are interconnected and that positive cultural principles such as respect, responsibility, solidarity, and human dignity remain essential in building healthy and informed communities.
Community leaders emphasized that providing young people with accurate SRHR information does not undermine cultural values but rather equips them to make informed decisions and lead healthier lives.
At the end of the workshop, participants committed to using community platforms to challenge stigma, combat misinformation, promote positive social norms, and support vulnerable young people, ensuring that no one is left behind.
The Muhanga workshop demonstrated that through open and respectful dialogue, communities can successfully balance cultural traditions with the need to advance Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, creating a more inclusive environment where every young person has the opportunity to thrive.
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