TINYUKA!
About the Project
RWAMREC (Rwanda Men's Resource Center) is proud to lead the Tinyuka! (Ose!) project, a socio-economic reintegration initiative for teenage mothers in the Remera and Rwimbogo sectors of Gatsibo District, Eastern Province of Rwanda. This project aligns with RWAMREC’s mission to engage men to promote gender equality, eradicate gender-based violence, foster positive masculinity, and empower women and girls.
Despite national efforts to reduce teenage pregnancies, the rates remain concerning, especially in Gatsibo, which records the highest prevalence in the country. Teenage mothers often face health risks, social stigma, school dropout, exclusion from their families, and economic dependency. Tinyuka! (Ose!) directly addresses these challenges by empowering teenage mothers to rebuild their lives with dignity and independence.
Our Approach
The project focuses on a holistic and transformative approach, strengthening teenage mothers' social and economic integration while also addressing broader community attitudes. Key pillars of the project include:
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Capacity building on gender equality, sexual and reproductive health, mental health, and entrepreneurship.
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Support for income-generating activities (IGAs) to enable young mothers to move from informal to formal sectors.
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Formation of savings and credit groups (Ibimina) to build solidarity and financial resilience.
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Engagement of fathers and adolescent fathers through positive masculinity workshops to create a supportive environment.
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Community sensitization to challenge harmful gender norms and promote sustainable change.
Our Impact
Through Tinyuka! (Ose!), RWAMREC works to:
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Train 60 teenage mothers aged 12–19, including young mothers living with disabilities, in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and business development.
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Provide start-up capital and kits to support their small businesses, primarily in the sale of fruits and vegetables.
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Facilitate psychosocial support and mental health services through partnerships with professional counselors.
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Train 60 fathers of teenage mothers and 60 adolescent fathers on gender equality, violence prevention, and positive masculinity.
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Mobilize local leaders, families, and the wider community to foster an environment of acceptance, support, and opportunity for teenage mothers.
Why Gatsibo?
Gatsibo District has the highest recorded teenage pregnancy rates nationally, fueled by poverty, limited access to reproductive health services, and prevailing gender inequalities. Tinyuka! (Ose!) is a timely and critical intervention to help break this cycle and offer a brighter future for teenage mothers and their children.
Sustainability
RWAMREC ensures sustainability by:
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Strengthening existing community structures and partnerships with local government, women’s organizations, and youth groups.
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Actively involving beneficiaries in project monitoring and evaluation.
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Promoting positive masculinities to shift social norms and guarantee longer-term community transformation.
The project builds on RWAMREC’s proven success in similar initiatives, such as the Huye District project, and is expected to deliver lasting change for beneficiaries and the community at large.