Program Description:
Twice a year, Shooting Touch invites communities together for a greater cause, aiming to influence all demographics, regardless of their constant involvement in daily programming or not. Using the sport of basketball as a means of engagement, ST hosts their International Women’s Day tournament and Gender Based Violence Awareness tournament in partnership with various local health and empowerment organizations working towards common goals. These tournaments offer fun competition for participants and entertainment for over 2,500 people in attendance. ST also takes this opportunity to educate spectators as well as provide free health testing for participants and community members.
Program Goals:
Number of people in attendance at health awareness events
Decreased social stigmas of gender inequality in sport amongst surrounding community members
Community members are educated on social, physical and mental health benefits
Community members are aware of their health status
Program Outcomes:
In the past year (2019), 1,600 people at community events have been tested and screened for Sexually Transmitted Disease/Infection and Non-Communicable Disease.
Over the last 4 years, more than 7,000 people have been educated on female rights, gender based violence, and equality.
Decreased social stigma of females playing sports.
“During the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Tournament the important message was to fight against violence that happens to women and girls. I learned about forced sex and physical violence like beating. I found out where people can get help: at the health center or at a one-stop center. My older sister faced abuse from my husband before. Her oldest child became pregnant and the husband couldn’t stand it. He destroyed my sister’s mitoke business by taking away her crops. That shouldn’t have been allowed to happen. At the court, I was happy to see girls and women playing for the first time. I thought, ‘Can I try this?’ I started the next day. I used to live in Kigali with my brother. My legs were much bigger. I didn’t think I could do any kind of sport. Now I’m free and I feel good.”
In the News:
Gender Based Violence Awareness Event a Success!
On January 19th, 2019, Shooting Touch hosted a community event to raise awareness regarding GBV and present suggestions on how to conquer GBV and its negative impacts on society. Shooting Touch uses basketball as a platform to educate and empower at-risk youth, women, and their communities in rural Rwanda to live healthier and happier lives.
On this day, Shooting Touch partnered with nurses at the local health center in the village of Rukara to supply free NCD testing as well as the founder and Executive Director of Rwanda
Men’s Resource Center (RWAMREC), Fidele Rutayisire, to speak to those in attendance on what it really means to have gender balance at home and in the community.
Shooting Touch also distributed informative pamphlets defining the different types of GBV, statistics representing GBV prevalence in Rwanda, and where to go/who to call if they, or another individual, are victim to GBV. Adding to this, a nurse from the Rukara Health Center, spoke on “One-Stop Centers” in Rwanda; support centers in every village, available to victims of abuse and other health matters.
On the day, 181 people were tested for high/low blood pressure, high/low blood sugar, BMI, and malnutrition. Of those tested, 16 people were found to have hypertension, 8 people were found to have hyperglycemia, 37 people were found to be overweight, and 2 people were found to be malnourished.