Burundi — Burundi’s first ever Community Radio for young people, led by young people and funded by UNFPA, was launched by the President of the Republic of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza. Radio Colombe FM is located in Kamenge Youth Centre, a youth-friendly centre which has received support from UNFPA since 2012.
At the opening, UNFPA and UNDP presented to President Nkurunziza one of four giant screens (4 by 6 metres), to be used to project the World Cup Football 2014 matches to around 12,000 young people from Bujumbura, Gitega, Ngozi and Rumonge. The World Cup 2014 soccer ball was also presented to the President of the Republic.
During the screening of the matches to the young people, the opportunity would be seized to inform and sensitize them about their sexual and reproductive health and their role in promoting peace.
The ceremony also delivered youth messages on ‘zero pregnancies at school’, the promotion of peace, family planning via a musical performance, a drummers’ performance and a demonstration of football exercises. The President, who strongly supports the ICPD beyond 2014 process, deliverered timely advice to young people about their sexual and reproductive rights, especially family planning.
~Amira Diallo, Annick Nsabimana, Janvier Ndizeye and Georges Gahungu
