Training of community relays and peer educators from the Congolese refugee camp in Musenyi on gender-based violence from 17 to 19 December 2025

ABUBEF is delighted to have participated in the Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Media Awards ceremony organised by Health Development Initiative (HDI) on 12 December 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda. This is the 10th edition of the awards, which are presented each year to journalists who have made the greatest contribution to advancing sexual and reproductive health rights through their work. The prizes consisted of a trophy, a laptop computer and an envelope.

The aim of these awards is to bring together journalists from across the Great Lakes and East Africa region to promote knowledge sharing and celebrate outstanding reporting and broadcasting on sexual and reproductive health that resonates beyond national borders. It specifically targeted publications on the themes of maternal health/safe motherhood and child health, family planning and contraception, post-abortion care, teenage pregnancy, sexual and reproductive rights of adolescents and young people, HIV/AIDS and STI prevention, and gender justice.

To this end, ABUBEF, in partnership with HDI, has launched a call for applications within the network of journalists committed to promoting reproductive health alongside ABUBEF. Following a selection process led by Ms Doretha Nimfasha, Communications Officer, Youth and Governance Focal Point, Ms Jeanne Mukeshimana, journalist at Radio Nderagakura, won the award.

Concerned about girls and women who face resistance due to religious beliefs and culture, ABUBEF and HDI want to encourage journalists to address sensitive topics in order to show the reality of what many girls and women experience in terms of their sexual and reproductive health and rights.

During the interview conducted by ABUBEF, the winner expressed her satisfaction:

"As a journalist who has won the media award granted by HDI, I am very moved by this award. Indeed, I cannot find the words to thank these two organisations, which, in their programmes, have thought to cross borders to reward journalists from beyond, in this case Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This award gave me the courage and strength to deal professionally with issues related to SRH in general and among young people in particular, because, as I noticed during the various speeches and testimonials given on this occasion, there is still a long way to go to raise awareness in the community and save our young people when it comes to SRH. I would like to take this opportunity to call on my fellow journalists to treat these issues with care, because sooner or later, our efforts will be recognised, whether we know it or not.

ABUBEF and HDI will continue to build the capacity of journalists so that they can produce marketable content. It reaffirms ABUBEF's commitment to supporting journalists who are committed and passionate about professionalism in the field of SDSRs.