All types of violence, especially sexual violence, were used as systematic weapons of Rwandan 1994 genocide and its aftermath. Youth were the main perpetrators of both genocide and violence. Despite the engagement of Rwandan society in the issue of violence since the genocide, it is continuosly emerging and involving youth especially those living in rural communities. The use of music and drama in the prevention of youth violence has significant outcomes.

1. Harnessing the power of
music and drama to end
youth violence in rural
communities of Rwanda.
Méthode Nezerwa
CJCP International Conference on Youth Violence Prevention , 6-8 November 2012 ,Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

2. Presentation Outlines
 Introduction
 Issues
 Needs Adressed
 Target Area
 What Do We Do?
 Current Achievements
 Lessons Learned
 Recommendations
 Acknowledgements

3. Introduction
 Youth Arts for Health and Environment Care(YAHEC)
is an initiative of the Rwanda Village Concept(RVCP)
which aims at harnessing the power of arts and
youth potentials for various global issues.
 In 2009 ,YAHEC started addressing Violence through
drama, dance and music.
 The programme fully embraces the educative
power of drama and music to raise awareness about
basic rights and draw attention to the pervasiveness
of youth violence.

4. Issues
 Violence was a systematic weapon of the
Rwandan 1994 genocide and its aftermath.
 Youth were the main perpetrators of both
genocide and violence.
 Despite the engagement of Rwandan society in
the issue of violence since the genocide, it is
still involving youth especially those living in
rural communities .

5. Need Adressed
 Basic Human Rights Education
 Domestic violence prevention
 Gender based violence prevention
 Psychosocial support

6. Target Area
Three Districts in Southern
Province of Rwanda:
 Huye (2)
 Nyanza(6)
 Gisagara (1)
Huye sector,
Villages:
 Nyakagezi
Rukira
Muyogoro
Sovu

7. What Do We Do?
The LLCCM orphan center
 To preserve the rights of
children.
 The center is currently
supporting 109 kids,
mostly HIV/AIDS and
genocide orphans
 Performance is used
as teaching method

8. What Do We Do?
Others:
 Good hygiene practices,
 Malaria and HIV/AIDS
awareness,
 English lessons and others.
 Civic education,
 Children rights
education .

9. What Do We Do?
Using Drama to raise rural communities’
awareness of :
 Basic Human Rights
 Gender and GBV

10. What Do We Do?
Women/Girls Empowerment
Program (Pyramid project)
Pyramid workshops to
empower and educate young
girls from the secondary
schools.
 Formation of Gender Clubs
 Education clubs with performances of song, dance and
poetry in their free time.
 Seminars on topics related to sexual health and
empowerment of women.

11. Achievements
Note:Basic human 's
rights and violence
prevention strategies
Education:
66 persons
18males
46 females

12. Lessons Learned:
 Music and drama are the most efficient
approaches to make youth draw attention
to the pervasiveness of violence .
 They create youth-friendly spaces which
allow an easy transmission of information.
 Music and drama , also help relief trauma
and reduce discrimination associated with
violence.

13. Recommendations
 Youth and child violence prevention
approaches should emphasize on the
creation of youth-friendly services.
 Music and drama , and art in general ,
should be integrated in the violence
and crime prevention , especially
those involving youth.

14. Acknowledgements
 National University of Rwanda
 Society for the Arts in Healthcare
 Huye District ,Southern Province of Rwanda
 Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention

15. Contact Information
Youth Arts for Health and Environment
Care(YAHEC)
P.O Box 30 Butare,Rwanda
 Email: methojinsi@gmail.com
 Web. www.yahec.org (under constraction)
www.rwanda-vcp.org

16. ASANTE SANA!
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