Our Work and Programs
Youth Clubs
"Amahoro" means peace in Kinyarwanda, the Rwandan language.
Students in secondary school (high school) organize the Amahoro Youth Clubs. These teenagers typically also participate in the Amani sports and cultural activities, but the clubs allow them to expand on their participation in peace-building activities.
The activities of the clubs vary depending on the specific interests of members. We encourage the teenagers to take ownership of these clubs and tailor them to their particular skills and passions.
For example, a group of girls at a secondary school in Kigali approached Amani a few years ago and asked for support in starting up a drama club. The Kigali Amahoro Girls Drama Club now performs their plays at schools and events around the country. Gasana Mutesi, President of Amani Africa, has served as their mentor and advisor, helping them to prepare and perform their plays about HIV/AIDS and the concept of reconciliation after the genocide. While the girls act as the leaders of their own club, Amani Africa helps them to coordinate and organize their activities.
We believe that this model contributes directly to the capacity of these young women, preparing them for leadership roles in the future.
The youth clubs play very important roles in our larger events. The members do presentations for the younger children on days such as International Women's Day, African Child Day, International Youth Day, International Peace Day, and World AIDS Day. There are 20 Amahoro Youth Clubs in the city of Kigali, Rwanda.