We Got Your Back: Empowering Youth on Gender Equality and Combating Gender-Based Violence

On Friday, February 22, 2019, youth members of the We Got Your Back organization were trained on the principles of gender equality and mutual respect between men and women, as well as on preventing gender-based violence. The phrase “We Got Your Back” in English expresses the idea of showing understanding and support to someone in need.

This youth-led organization was founded on July 25, 2018, with some of its members being students from what was formerly known as KIE (Kigali Institute of Education). The training aimed to build the capacity of the organization’s members. A total of 32 members participated in the training, which took place at the University of Rwanda in the College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), previously known as KIEM. Over the course of two days, participants were educated on gender equality and mutual respect between men and women, along with strategies to prevent gender-based violence. They were also taught how men and women should live together, respecting their responsibilities and maintaining mutual support.

Ndagijimana Anastase, a student at the University of Rwanda in the Department of Education and the leader of We Got Your Back, shared with Inyarwanda that the training helped them gain a deeper understanding of the topics discussed. He emphasized that they will pass on this knowledge to others, saying, “Yes, it brings results because we ourselves have understood the issues, and it will be easier to help others understand. The results are very significant, as we realized that there were things we thought we knew that were not correct, and now we will change that.”

The We Got Your Back organization focuses on combating gender-based violence and various other forms of violence, with a special focus on women, children, youth, vulnerable individuals, and those facing specific challenges.