Gender Equity in Sports for Social Change & HIV/AIDS awareness raising
This entry has been selected as a finalist in the
Changing Lives Through Football competition.
The 1994 Rwandan Tutsi Genocide, left many women survivors traumatised, with no self confidence, no self esteem, and hopeless at the bedrock of the society.A good number of them stay in rural areas hopeless,where they lack information in different issues which can affect their lives. Taking into account the percentage and the increasing trend on the issues relating to HIV/AIDS spread, also taking into account how women are part of the less empowered portion of our society, due to lack of self confidence, esteem and hope for the future, we found it very important to organise different sports events, through which we can raise awareness on HIV/AIDS prevention and on behaviour change, after a self confidence and esteem spirit is created within them.
About You
Section 1: About You
First Name
UWITONZE
Last Name
Jean Pierre
Website
Organization
Association of Kigali Women in Sports (AKWOS)
Country
Rwanda, KV
Section 2: About Your Organization
Organization Name
Association of Kigali Women in Sports (AKWOS)
Organization Website
Organization Phone
250 788303398/ 250 788622823
Organization Address
Peace Avenue, Nyarugenge District, Po Box 3527 KIGALI
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
Organization Country
Rwanda, KV
Your idea
Name Your Project
Gender Equity in Sports for Social Change & HIV/AIDS awareness raising
Country your work focuses on
Rwanda, KV
Describe Your Idea
The 1994 Rwandan Tutsi Genocide, left many women survivors traumatised, with no self confidence, no self esteem, and hopeless at the bedrock of the society.A good number of them stay in rural areas hopeless,where they lack information in different issues which can affect their lives. Taking into account the percentage and the increasing trend on the issues relating to HIV/AIDS spread, also taking into account how women are part of the less empowered portion of our society, due to lack of self confidence, esteem and hope for the future, we found it very important to organise different sports events, through which we can raise awareness on HIV/AIDS prevention and on behaviour change, after a self confidence and esteem spirit is created within them.
Website URL
Innovation
What makes your idea unique?
With 13 years working experience, we can proudly mention that we are knowledgeable in Rwanda civil society and challenges to development, and most importantly in all partners' intervention areas. Their innovative solutions don't use sports and women football in particular. Thus, the idea of using women sports for rural women's bahaviour change as mentionned before, is a unique one. Further more we are the first and the only Local NGO that promote women through women Sports.
Do you have a patent for this idea?
Yes
Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
What impact have you had?
We registered great achievements in gender equity in sports for social change in the following particular domains:
1. Through women sports we managed to mobilise former sexual workers and put into a cooperative. they are now running an income generating project, when playing they feel free to share life experience, to advice one an other, they beleive that they can live positively, and they the ones who give testimonies to they fellow.
2. We trained women football proffessionals and help the formation of a National women football team. women players and coaches can now earn money from
their work.
3.we formed women football team in each province of the country (5 provinces), we trained through sports 50 women representing others in National Women's Council, more than 54 Women teachers and more than 53 young girls from primary schools in issues relating to Promoting Unity and Reconciliation, women's legal rights, HIV/AIDS, Gender based Violance and reproductive health
4. We distributed all kind of sport materials to 30 district women teams, primary schools teams, university and others, each year within 3 years
5. We organised 3 International conferences on Gender equity in sport for social change.
6. We organised sports tournaments for all women and girls (including ones with disability) for awareness raising on children rights, women's contribution to economic development, fighting gender based violance, social inclusion, and sport for good health.
Problem
The project will address the problem of an increasing trend of HIV/AIDS spread. Rural women from the grass root communities, are left with no information yet they are the ones who are the most affected.
Secondly, Our project will address the issue of lack of gender equity in sport for social change. traumatized women with no self esteem, confidence, and no hope for the future, will now through sport get to know that they too can do what men do.
The confidence and esteem gained through sports will now encourage and motivate them to take a good step of addressing issues affecting their lives and of struggling for their own well being.
In one word the project is adressing the problem of HIV/AIDS, and the lack gender equity in sport for social change, where the lack of social change is obviously a cross cutting issue and can negatively affect other domains of life.
Actions
1. Selection of the right beneficiaries basing on selection criteria that will be put in place.
2. Recruiting the project associate, to coordionate, monitor and evaluate the project
3. Partnership with local authorities and other local NGOs whose mission is social change
4. Putting in place monitoring and evaluation strategies
5. Having a detailed work plan of all activities with its desired output, beneficiaries, people in charge, how to measures progress, requirements and its time frame.
6. Following the budget and finacial procedures
7. Reporting the project Progress
Results
The implementation of this project will lead to:
1. Reased Awareness by rural women on HIV/AIDS prevention
2. Reduced number the deasese propagation
3. Increased number of women participating in sports
4. Increased number of women with self esteem, confidence, with hope for the future
5. Women will be motivated and encouraged to participate in those activities which can help them promote their lives
6. Sport for good health
What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Please address each year separately, if possible.
To be successful, it will generally require:
The availability of funds as per budget and time, Partnership with local authorities, and good trainers.
What would prevent your project from being a success?
Basing on the experience we have, the only challenge may be the lack of funds in its totality
How many people will your project serve annually?
101‐1000
What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?
Less than $50
Does your project seek to have an impact on public policy?
Yes
Sustainability
What stage is your project in?
Operating for more than 5 years
In what country?
Rwanda, KV
Is your initiative connected to an established organization?
Yes
If yes, provide organization name.
Association of Kigali Women in Sports (AKWOS)
How long has this organization been operating?
More than 5 years
Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with NGOs?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with businesses?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with government?
Yes
Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.
These non monetary partnership are critical to the success of our innovation in that, through them we use to get technical advice through experience sharing, we use to get material support and political support. We are sure that we still need these to be successful.
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization?
1. Increased number of permanent Staff. we have less number of parmanent staff, most of our staff are volunteers because our funding sources are temporarly and not certain.
2. Parmanent financial partnership
3. Well established organisational Structure in all provinces of the country with all necessary equipments. We have volunteers in all provinces, but without offices and other necessities
The Story
What was the defining moment that led you to this innovation?
After the 1994 Rwandan Tutsi Genocide, which left many of women traumatised, with no self esteem, no self confidence and no hope for the future at the bedrock of the society. The reconstruction of our country would not be easier with a big number of a certain gender left behind with such problems.
From there, we though of innovative solutions to adress such problems, and from there we though of sports as the right channel through which social change can be made possible.
Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.
The idea of promoting women through sports was born from Mme Felicité RWEMARIKA, who started with only football and then found it necessary to include other sports. She started with a women football team of which she was a player, then formed an Association of Kigali Women Footballers after realising that sport has a positive impact on the society. The incorporation of other sports made it to become an Association of Kigali Women in Sports.
How did you first hear about Changemakers?
Friend or family member
If through another, please provide the name of the organization or company
50 words or fewer
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Comments
I have seen this program in action and am a huge fan of Felicite, Grace and the entire AKWOS team. The work they do is a living testament to the power of sport and social entrepreneurship.
I congratulate Felicite and the entire AKWOS organization and will mobilize all of my friends and family to vote for you!
Keep up the good work!
Maria
Dear Felicite and the AKWOS team, I first met Felicite in May 2006 and fell in love with her and AKWOS. I have visited you in 2008, and met many of you and learned of your dreams. You have brought real change to Rwandan women (and men's) lives through your work, you are an inspiration to many! Women Win is proud to support you and be your partner. Good luck with the voting!!! Warm regards, Cindy
I wish to tesrify that AKWOS has stongly contributed in the unity and reconciliation of Rwandan people in general and among young girls though football after 1994 genocide.
This woman organization has bought significant change in the lives of women and girls using sport and specifically football in Rwanda, Burundi, DRC and Uganda.
It has used sport as a powefull tool to fight agaisnt HIV/AIDS and advocate for PLWHA, while it was directly involved in the fighting agaisnt stigma and discrimination.
I wish success to AKWOS in its programs
Andre GIHANZA
FERWAFA board member and former Intenational FIFA Referee
I wish to testify that AKWOS has strongly contributed in the unity and reconciliation of Rwandan people in general and among young girls though football after 1994 genocide.
This woman organization has bought significant change in the lives of women and girls using sport and specifically football in Rwanda, Burundi, DRC and Uganda.
It has used sport as a powerful tool to fight against HIV/AIDS and advocate for PLWHA, while it was directly involved in the fighting against stigma and discrimination.
I wish success to AKWOS in its programs
Andre GIHANZA
FERWAFA board member and former International FIFA Referee
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