The Rwandan government has invested heavily in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) programs in high schools to prevent teenage pregnancies. However, these programs have not been as effective as expected. One major challenge is the discomfort and taboo surrounding SRH among teachers and students, making it difficult to address the issue. As a result, adolescents often turn to their peers for information, but this approach is unreliable since peers are often misinformed about SRH. Furthermore, not all adolescents have easy access to peers, leaving some needs unmet.
To address these issues, a sexual and reproductive health peer education program (SRHPEP) was created in collaboration with the University of Rwanda and the University Colleges Leuven-Limburg in Belgium.
In this talk, we will discuss our experiences in implementing the SRHPEP in Rwandan high schools as a strategy to prevent teenage pregnancies.
Partners
University of Rwanda
University Colleges Leuven-Limburg
Speakers
Aimable Nkurunziza, PhD Assistant Lecturer at the University of Rwanda
Olive Tengera, Lecturer at the University of Rwanda
Jean Bosco Henri Hitayzeu, Assistant Lecturer at the University of Rwanda
Justine Bagirasono, Assistant Lecturer at the University of Rwanda
In Peru, as well as in other Latin American countries, the challenge of balancing the goals of nature conservation with those of sustainable socio-economic development remains a topic of intense and passionate debate. Fervent calls for socio-environmental justice oppose a long history in which modernization has been associated with extractivist logics and practices that have irreversibly damaged nature and the peasant and indigenous world. Protected areas, alongside various other approaches and instruments for nature conservation, are at the heart of a complex debate in which the contemporary human-nature relationship is questioned.
In this community talk, we will delve into the multifaceted aspects of the Chaparri Ecological Reserve, which stands out as the first private protected area established and governed by a peasant community in northern Peru. We will explore significant landmarks, achievements, challenges, and social innovations that have made Chaparri a symbol of inspiration for activists, conservationists, academics, and other actors involved in the intersection of social and environmental issues. From our participatory action research project, carried out in partnership with the local community and other relevant actors, we highlight the pressing need for increased awareness and knowledge regarding the complex dilemmas and critical junctures faced by protected areas, such as Chaparri. Furthermore, during this community talk, we will engage in critical reflection on the need for socially sensitive cooperation and solidarity networks with vulnerable territories and communities. However, it is crucial to acknowledge the inherent limitations, constraints, and challenges associated with establishing and maintaining such multi-actor international collaborations.
Website of the project: https://ees.kuleuven.be/project/chaparri
Speakers
Vera Flores-Fernández, PhD researcher, Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Division of Geography & Tourism, KU Leuven
Prof. Dr. Constanza Parra, Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Division of Geography & Tourism, KU Leuven
Prof. Dr. Elke Hermans, School of Transportation Science, UHasselt
Prof. Dr. Pieter Van den Broeck, Department of Architecture, Planning & Development Unit, KU Leuven
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Olive Tengera, University of Rwanda
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Leo Van Audenhove (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)
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