Confiance Bishimo, a young basketball player, says that if it wasn’t for sports, he wouldn’t have known much about gender-based violence and that the issue is rarely discussed—if it is, his perspective as a man is that this is something that ‘concerns women’.

Whereas one may wonder about the connection between GBV and sports, Bishimo says that through basketball, he has been able to understand that as a boy, abuse occurs in many forms; sexual, physical, mental, which are issues that can affect anyone, regardless of their gender.

"The best part of it is that I have come to realise that it’s our role as men to not only protect women, but protect ourselves from any form of abuse, and most importantly, report any case of abuse as soon as we identify it,” he says.

People are also tested for NCD’s, among other health complications.  

Clarisse Uwase says playing basketball has also helped her understand that it’s her role to support every girl or woman to speak out about any form of gender-based violence.

For instance, she says that at the moment she is more conversant with GBV issues as she is aware that if a girl is sexually abused, as an individual, she has an obligation to encourage the victim to report.

These are just two of the many people who have benefited from education on issues related to GBV, thanks to Shooting Touch (Rwanda Program), a global sport-for-development organisation whose mission is to use the mobilising power of basketball to bridge health and opportunity gaps for youth and women facing racial, gender, and economic inequalities.

The organisation, founded in 2007, also provides increased access to physical activity and public health education and interventions that encourage healthy habits and future personal development.

The issue of GBV

Gender-based violence in Rwanda is a complex issue whereby regarding the fight against it, prevention remains the best way forward.

It is believed that sensitisation must start from a young age, within families, schools, and communities to promote values of gender equality while challenging derogatory gender roles.

In Nyamirama sector, Kayonza District, officials cited that a big number of women and children don’t report abuse, especially sexual abuse.

According to the officials, many choose to remain silent due to different reasons but again, some victims don’t even know that they are facing abuse in the first place while others are abusers without consciously knowing it.

Christelle Umuhoza, Shooting Touch’s in-county program director in Kayonza, says through sports, such as basketball, they aim at reducing the numbers of those who don’t report abuse.

"I believe that through tournaments, we get an opportunity to educate the youth on how to understand their rights and what abuse looks like so that they can be in a position to speak up,” she says.

John Ntambara, Executive Secretary in Nyamirama sector, says raising awareness about gender-based violence starts with them as leaders.

"Taking the lead role in speaking about GBV is crucial as it gives room for others to follow suit,” he says.

It is in this context that Shooting Touch in collaboration with the district and Nyamirama Health Center held a basketball tournament over the weekend in Kayonza District, as one of their sports activities to help mobilise the power of basketball to promote community sensitisation around the issue of GBV.

It also aimed at promoting physical health, mental wellness, and gender equality.

During the tournaments, the beneficiaries were also screened on non-communicable diseases.

"Our goal is to use the sport of basketball as a tool for improved health and social change in Rwanda,” says Chloe Rothman, Shooting Touch’s Director of Programming.

 "Gender-based violence remains a major issue in our communities, and we have even seen rates increase during the pandemic, using this mobilising platform to address GBV and help make Rwanda a safer place for women and children is essential,” Rothman adds.

More than 60 youth and women took part in competitive basketball games, as they also gained knowledge on health and gender equity.