Youth urged to make responsible choices at Global Citizen health forum
Young people have been urged to make responsible decisions and take advantage of opportunities available to them while they are still young, as the choices they make today will shape their future.
The call was made on Saturday, March 7, during a youth forum themed “Your Health. Your Choice. Your Future” held at BK Arena. The event brought together students aged between 15 and 20 for discussions on health, consent and responsible decision-making.
The forum was organised by Global Citizen in collaboration with Rwanda Development Board, Ministries of Health and Youth and Arts, Imbuto Foundation and Health Development Initiative (HDI) among other stakeholders.
It was designed as an interactive session aimed at equipping young people with accurate information on sexual and reproductive health while encouraging open conversations in a safe and non-judgmental space.
Speaking at the event, Mireille Batamuriza, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, urged young people to recognise the value of their current stage in life and use it wisely.
“You must first be a child before becoming an adult. Life has stages, and young people should recognise the opportunities they have today while they are still young. A time will come when they are no longer young, so they must make the most of the opportunities available to them now,” she said.
Batamuriza also emphasised the importance of making wise choices early in life.
“Young people must understand that the choices they make today will follow them into adulthood and shape the kind of parents and elders they become. They should reflect on the temptations that may mislead them, set clear values and make decisions that guide them toward a better future,” she said.
She noted that the lack of safe spaces where young people can access accurate information often pushes them to rely on social media and other unreliable sources, exposing them to misinformation and increased vulnerability.
According to her, platforms such as the youth forum help provide reliable information and empower young people to make informed decisions about their health and relationships.
“Dialogue about consent, boundaries and healthy relationships empowers young people to make informed and responsible decisions. Knowledge builds confidence, and confidence helps young people protect their health, respect one another and pursue their ambitions,” she said.
The forum forms part of activities surrounding Move Afrika, an initiative by Global Citizen aimed at promoting the creative economy and creating jobs through large-scale music events across the continent.
Ifeoma Chuks-Aduzeo, Managing Director for Africa at Global Citizen, said Rwanda has been a key partner in bringing the initiative to life.
“We want to thank the Rwanda Development Board for their continued support in bringing the Move Afrika vision to life,” she said.
This year’s edition will be headlined by Grammy Award-winning artist Doja Cat and will begin in Kigali on March 17 before heading to Pretoria on March 20.
According to Chuks-Aduzeo, Move Afrika is part of a broader effort to strengthen Africa’s creative economy and create employment opportunities for young people.
“With Move Afrika, we are leveraging music, which is a strong cultural asset for Africa, to create jobs and build the creative economy. Since it started in 2023, the initiative has created about 2,500 jobs, and the number will grow as the concept expands to more countries,” she said.
She added that the initiative also aims to position African cities as part of the global touring circuit, which could stimulate tourism, entrepreneurship and cultural exchange.
During the youth forum, participants engaged in panel discussions on consent, healthy relationships and emotional well-being. Health professionals and youth representatives addressed questions about recognising pressure in relationships, setting boundaries and accessing youth-friendly health services.
Bernice Ineza, a 19-year-old student and one of the panelists, said the discussions helped highlight the importance of consent in everyday life.
“One of the key lessons we learned is that consent is something we should apply in everyday situations. For example, if someone asks for a picture or asks to do something you are not comfortable with, you should feel confident to say no, and that no really means no,” she said.
The event also featured a musical performance by Kivumbi King.
Organisers say such youth-focused engagements are intended to reduce stigma around health conversations, improve awareness of sexual and reproductive health rights, and encourage responsible behaviour among young people.
