The AYSRH&R and HIV programme promotes positive behaviour among adolescents aged 10 to 24 years old. The programme targets adolescents both in and out of school, pairing schools and out of school clubs with youth organisations and health centres to provide youth-friendly services.
The programme also trains peer educators to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and teaches adolescents to reduce the risks of unplanned pregnancies.
My name is Sandrine Mutuyimana and I live in Rubavu District. At 17, I had an unexpected pregnancy that could have derailed my dreams. My father abandoned us, and my then boyfriend pressured me to get an abortion, but I chose to keep my child. I hid my pregnancy and kept going to school until the school leadership found out and I was expelled.
I enrolled in a technical school for plumbing, despite my mother’s initial resistance. Balancing school and pregnancy was tough, but I persevered. Just two days after giving birth.
I took my final exam and did well, which later allowed me to secure temporary jobs that helped me provide for my child and the rest of my
family.
Through Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle (with the support of Imbuto Foundation), I joined Baho Neza and participated in Parent-Adolescent Communication Forums (PAC), which helped mend my relationship with my mother. With her support, I have returned to vocational school to pursue plumbing.
My journey with Imbuto Foundation taught me that with resilience, determination, and the necessary support, success is achievable even in the face of adversity.
