Project Launch:

Groupe Scolaire Rango is a secondary school in the Bugesera district of Rwanda. The Youth Ambassadors are a performing arts group comprised of secondary students who meet weekly to create songs, dances, skits and messages for their peers. They perform monthly at their school and, with a grant from World Connect’s Kids to Kids Program in 2011, expand their performances to the local community during school vacation periods. Youth Ambassadors promote important messages about HIV/AIDS prevention, gender equality, peace and reconciliation, and child rights. In Rwanda, peace and reconciliation are important topics for youth to address to help the country heal from its recent history of war and genocide. Youth Ambassadors also teach their peers about healthy relationships to protect themselves against “sugar daddies” and “sugar mommies” and to choose monogamy over polygamy. The support provided to the “Youth Ambassadors” helped stimulate creativity, teach important health and social lessons and promote cultural appreciation.