Kirehe District, Rwanda. In a powerful conversation held at the Yego Center in Kirehe District, members of the Umubyeyi Initiative gathered with local parents and youth advocates to stress the critical role families play in educating children about reproductive health.

The panel discussion, moderated by Marie Claire Isingizwe and Jean Aime Muhawenayo, focused on removing stigma around sexual and reproductive health conversations within families particularly between parents and their children.

“It is always a parent’s responsibility to guide their children, not just in school or life choices, but also in understanding their bodies, their health, and their rights,” said Marie Claire Isingizwe, urging openness and trust in the home.

Participants including Nyirabashyitsi Emeritha and Gihana Sylver shared their experiences and challenges, highlighting how cultural taboos and silence often leave young people vulnerable to misinformation, unintended pregnancies, or sexual exploitation.

This message is especially critical in Rwanda, where despite significant progress in health education, teenage pregnancy remains a pressing issue. According to the latest Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey about 5% of girls aged 15–19 were already mothers or pregnant with their first child. Many of these pregnancies result from lack of access to accurate reproductive health information or open communication within families.

“When children are not given space to ask questions at home, they will seek answers elsewhere sometimes in the wrong places,” warned Jean Aime Muhawenayo reminding the participants.

The government has implemented school-based comprehensive sexuality education, but experts and activists argue that schools alone cannot shoulder the responsibility. Home environments must reinforce these efforts. “Reproductive health education starts at home, not at the clinic or in the classroom,” noted Akimana Hassina, a community health worker attending the session.

The Umubyeyi Initiative, whose name translates to “parent,” continues to work with families, schools, and youth centers across Rwanda to promote age-appropriate, culturally sensitive reproductive health education, aiming to empower both parents and children. As the panel concluded, the message was clear: creating a safe space for dialogue within families is the first and most important step in ensuring a healthier, more informed generation