The Rwanda Education Board (REB) is planning to roll out Drug-Free Generation Clubs in schools across the country to help combat drug use among students.

The initiative was officially launched at Lycée de Kigali on October 23, with the first club established following an idea developed by four students at the school.

The campaign comes amid concerns over the consequences of illicit alcohol consumption, which include deaths and blindness among users.

Students take the lead

Hope Teta, a Senior Six student studying Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB) at Lycée de Kigali and one of the four students behind the initiative, said the idea emerged during the country's campaign against illicit alcohol.

"We saw that even in schools, there are students who use these substances and end up destroying their lives. That is when we thought of starting the club,” she said.

The students presented their proposal to the school administration, which forwarded it to REB. The board welcomed the idea and considered extending the initiative to other schools across the country.

The launch was attended by various officials, including REB Director General Nelson Mbarushimana, Deputy Government Spokesperson Jean-Maurice Uwera and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports Brave Ngabo, alongside members of Sober Generation.

Mbarushimana said the clubs will be established in schools across the country, with the next launch planned for a school in Tabagwe, Nyagatare District, on Sunday, October 25.

He added that preparations were underway to develop a curriculum and guidelines explaining how the clubs would operate and what students would learn during their meetings.

"The guidelines are being developed, and we will share them with all schools in the country,” he said.

He said REB would ask head teachers to support the initiative to ensure its success.

Teachers would also be encouraged to incorporate relevant topics into their lessons to strengthen efforts to help students abstain from illicit alcohol use.

Uwera said the government supports the initiative, calling on young people to reject drug use and help promote a drug-free generation.

"We want every generation to refuse to use drugs. Let us continue developing and promoting Drug-Free Generation because that is where the development we aspire to achieve begins,” he said.

He added that seeing young people stand up against drug use was encouraging.

Uwera also shared a personal experience, revealing that he had buried his cousin the previous week after his death, which he attributed to illicit alcohol consumption. He said his cousin had been ambitious and had a child.

He urged young people not to experiment with illicit alcohol, warning that consuming small amounts could lead to increased consumption and eventually addiction.

Creatives urge students to stay sober

Film interpreter and music manager Bonny Bugingo known as Junior Giti, a former student of Lycée de Kigali who served as head boy, urged students to avoid drugs, drawing on his experience with former schoolmates.

He said some of his former colleagues who used drugs and failed to stop were now facing difficult circumstances in their lives.

Giti attributed his continued presence in the creative industry to avoiding drugs, saying some people who once showed ability in music, journalism and songwriting eventually disappeared from the industry after continuing to use drugs.

He encouraged students to remain focused on their ambitions, saying personal development and success were possible through sobriety.

"Life is possible, development is possible, but with sobriety,” he said, adding that success while using drugs is extremely rare.

Film actor Shemaryimanzi Dwayne Emmy one of the coordinators of Sober Gen, urged everyone, particularly young people, to join the initiative and embrace a sober lifestyle.

He noted that young people will be responsible for leading the country in the coming years, adding that they must be prepared to carry forward the progress made by current leaders.

"Where our leaders have brought the country from and where they are taking it must not end with their generation. They need a sober generation to carry on their work,” he said.