As it has become evident that children face various forms of abuse, several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have emerged with the goal of protecting children and advocating for their rights.
the organization YOMADO (Youth Mentoring Agents for Development Organization), operating in Rilima Sector, Bugesera District, held an impactful training session with journalists from different media outlets. The purpose was to foster collaboration in advocating for children who experience abuse and ensuring that their rights are respected.
Seminega Philbert, the Executive Director of YOMADO, explained the background and mission of the organization and highlighting their achievements in child protection so far.
He stated:
“YOMADO was founded in 2008 and got legal status in 2015. We chose to operate in Bugesera District, particularly in Rilima Sector, because most of our members are from this area. When founding the organization, we examined the local challenges and decided to work where we come from. While we could operate in many districts, the current project we’re implementing is based here. Our advocacy work began in August 2024, after receiving support from Plan International. We have undertaken many activities, and we’re already seeing positive change.”
He continued:
“At the beginning, many parents were unaware of what constitutes child abuse. Since we started working with them, we’ve educated them on how to interact with children, the different types of abuse children can face, and their rights. Today, we see a significant improvement in parents’ understanding of children’s rights. We receive regular reports from local communities, and through their involvement in public meetings and parenting forums where we’ve trained community members to educate others it’s clear that awareness has increased.”
Seminega Philbert, the Executive Director of YOMADO
The officer in charge of Early Childhood Development (ECD) in Bugesera District, Gasana Callixte, appreciated the way YOMADO involves Media in child protection issues.
He said “I appreciate YOMADO for organizing this training, it was very insightful as a district, we are closely involved with children, so this collaboration is very beneficial. I also thank the journalists for participating, because spreading awareness of children’s rights and protecting them from abuse is needed.”
He added:
“What I would ask all of you, the media representatives here today alongside YOMADO, is to continue prioritizing children’s welfare it’s our collective responsibility, especially since many of us are parents. I would also like to request that YOMADO consider extending the duration of these trainings in the future, rather than limiting them to just one day, and also expanding their reach to more sectors.”
Gasana Callixte, the officer in charge of Early Childhood Development (ECD) in Bugesera District,
Mrs. Bamurange Appollinarie, the Gender and Family Promotion Officer in Bugesera District, also commended YOMADO’s efforts, particularly for organizing a training session for journalists on child protection.
“We encourage YOMADO to expand its child rights activities and operate in more sectors across Bugesera. They should assess whether their current efforts are sufficient and explore reaching more areas. We appreciate the good partnership we have and ask that they continue scaling up their work, targeting even more communities. We already collaborate in various local administrative levels, and especially with you in the media we encourage them to go beyond just media partnerships.”
She added:
“We see the media as our partners, not as a challenge. Advocacy should not be viewed as something dramatic or sensational just because of the way it’s communicated.”
Mrs. Bamurange Appollinarie, the Gender and Family Promotion Officer in Bugesera District
YOMADO, funded by Plan International, currently operates in two sectors of Bugesera District: Kamabuye and Ngeruka.
According to a 2023 Ministerial Order on child protection from the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, Article 4 states:
“A child has the right to proper development. Every parent has a duty to care for their child from conception to ensure their safety, well-being and proper development.”
Aline Nyampinga