Emmanuel MUNGWARAKARAMA
Date: February, 15th, 2007
Not having enough information or having bad information about sex can put you at risk. Youth mainly get information about sex from their friends, but they are not the most reliable source of information.
Good communication, open relationships, and the will to make good
solid decisions are critical to staying healthy and meeting your
goals.
The family is one of the most powerful sources of messages about values. When parents are silent about important issues such as sex, youth often explore it on their own. This makes it even more important for parents to be the first and most reliable source of information for their children. A parent is in a good position to support and share knowledge, beliefs and attitudes with children and teach them the skills they will need to make their own decisions.
Youth today are facing some of the same challenges that parents/guardians may have faced as a child as well as dealing with newer issues like HIV/AIDS. Youth are looking for parental leadership, guidance and understanding. In today's world, it is a matter of life and death. Parents can be the role model that helps children stay safe from harm.
A child's sexual life begins at birth. Exploring body parts and those of other children, masturbation, sexual desire, and dating, are all normal, healthy parts of sexual development. Parents may be uncomfortable realizing that their children are sexual beings but they will develop sexually with or without their advice or assistance.
They could greatly benefit from parent's experience, guidance, and
knowledge about sexuality rather than getting their information from
peers.
How we assess and learn to reduce sexual risk is closely linked to our values. Our values help us to make decisions that are true to what we
believe in. Values can help youth resist peer pressure. For example, one may place a high value on more traditional cultural beliefs, such
as believing it is taboo to talk about sex with youth, or that it is
wrong for youth to engage in sex before marriage. This might prevent
a parent from reaching out to offer guidance to children about sexuality. Yet consider the value of their life- the value of staying healthy so that they can get reach their goals.
Not having sex can be a sign of emotional maturity. It requires maturity and honesty and integrity for a person to resist pressure and to make a decision that is consistent with personal values and beliefs.
Choosing not to have sex completely eliminates the risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections including HIV. It is the only method that is A 100%- effective way of preventing unwanted pregnancy. It is the 100%
safest choice and is 100% free of side effects.
Delaying sex may change a relationship in a positive way. A couple can get to know each other better, develop a stronger friendship by building mutual interests. It allows the couple to explore a wider range of feelings and ways to express love.
Some people have sex, not because they want to, but because they think
they have to for others to accept them. Pressure from peers to behave like them can be very strong and difficult to resist. However, if you stand up for yourself and what you believe people often respect you and like you more. It is often better to wait until you are ready to handle the commitments and responsibilities that go along with a sexual relationship.
Don't be afraid to set limits in your relationships. If you start to have sex, you need to know the consequences. What you do has an impact not only on you, but also your friends and family. Saying no to sex does not mean you are saying no to the relationship. You are saying no to something you are not ready for-possibly a pregnancy, a sexually transmitted infection, a serious commitment, or risking your future plans and well being.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
From the bush to the newsroom
Emmanuel Mungwarakarama
Date: Feb 7th, 2007
He no longer holds a gun but can fight with a pen. From the bush to the newsroom, Emmanuel begins to write for you this column.
Many of you can ask why do this kind of writings. Yes, the question has an answer.
I was born in suburbs of the town, a man who never enjoyed his young age as many of his peers.
I was almost 22, in 1994, I joined the rebellion after finishing the secondary school. Sometimes back in Rwanda, joining a secondary school means a key to fortune; the education is a key to success. Can any one ask how it looks to be a young soldier at the front? People die, get injured, there are no houses in the bush, no drinking water, no consistent medicine other than moral commitment. How many friends do you have at the front? People come from different corners of the world – neighboring countries, European countries, America even Asia. Your only friend is your comrade in war just next to you.
Exchanging ideas, stories can make your brain work. Imagine yourself and try to understand the situation: two people sitting at a hilly point named OP(observation post) waiting for an enemy platoon armed and ready to fight, with no binoculars, no walkie talkies enough by the time, distance to run is not less than 300 m. The only thing that supports this cross is the age. The average age is 20.
The youth have problems; in wars they are involved in such atrocities. Most of them lose their parents, friends, brothers and sisters. The writer is a victim and so he has a lot to share with the readers.
He now works independently after joining the university precisely the journalism branch.
4 years in the way building my career, I worked intensively in acquiring theories in the field of journalism and journalistic tools and wrote some articles in the school newspaper, the new butarean, Ibanga, and now work with the national television station.
The year 1994 remains in so many heads all over the world. I still have the pictures of violence, assassination, murderers, so many kinds of atrocities. But I am not the only one to live the event. Lots of people have in their memory a piece of 1994 image.
Your writer has an ambition to promote justice, fight against any form of violence, injustice and of course ignorance. He is engaged in so many anti violence clubs and he actively follows his motto "stand up for your rights without violence".
I have already produced so many documentaries in fields of human rights: Gender based violence, Towards a professional journalism, Maraba coffee-a hope for tomorrow,…
I have traveled in 4 African countries, 2 European countries and have visited Canada in 2004. I am planning my master's in film, cinema or in journalism.
Your columnist likes reading, watching movies, photojournalism, listening to music, sports and he likes traveling and discovering the world.
After all the life still goes on. People need justice, food, accommodation … in brief they need life. How can rebuild yourself after losing hope and confidence in you? After loosing your beloved ones? Keeping moving with violence? No. Let's say stop to all forms of violence. Youth, young leaders the ball is in our hand, it is our turn to drive the bus. By using ideas, good ideas, and education for all strengthened by our dreams. One day we will realize them into reality. So lets stand up and all together work for a better world.
Date: Feb 7th, 2007
He no longer holds a gun but can fight with a pen. From the bush to the newsroom, Emmanuel begins to write for you this column.
Many of you can ask why do this kind of writings. Yes, the question has an answer.
I was born in suburbs of the town, a man who never enjoyed his young age as many of his peers.
I was almost 22, in 1994, I joined the rebellion after finishing the secondary school. Sometimes back in Rwanda, joining a secondary school means a key to fortune; the education is a key to success. Can any one ask how it looks to be a young soldier at the front? People die, get injured, there are no houses in the bush, no drinking water, no consistent medicine other than moral commitment. How many friends do you have at the front? People come from different corners of the world – neighboring countries, European countries, America even Asia. Your only friend is your comrade in war just next to you.
Exchanging ideas, stories can make your brain work. Imagine yourself and try to understand the situation: two people sitting at a hilly point named OP(observation post) waiting for an enemy platoon armed and ready to fight, with no binoculars, no walkie talkies enough by the time, distance to run is not less than 300 m. The only thing that supports this cross is the age. The average age is 20.
The youth have problems; in wars they are involved in such atrocities. Most of them lose their parents, friends, brothers and sisters. The writer is a victim and so he has a lot to share with the readers.
He now works independently after joining the university precisely the journalism branch.
4 years in the way building my career, I worked intensively in acquiring theories in the field of journalism and journalistic tools and wrote some articles in the school newspaper, the new butarean, Ibanga, and now work with the national television station.
The year 1994 remains in so many heads all over the world. I still have the pictures of violence, assassination, murderers, so many kinds of atrocities. But I am not the only one to live the event. Lots of people have in their memory a piece of 1994 image.
Your writer has an ambition to promote justice, fight against any form of violence, injustice and of course ignorance. He is engaged in so many anti violence clubs and he actively follows his motto "stand up for your rights without violence".
I have already produced so many documentaries in fields of human rights: Gender based violence, Towards a professional journalism, Maraba coffee-a hope for tomorrow,…
I have traveled in 4 African countries, 2 European countries and have visited Canada in 2004. I am planning my master's in film, cinema or in journalism.
Your columnist likes reading, watching movies, photojournalism, listening to music, sports and he likes traveling and discovering the world.
After all the life still goes on. People need justice, food, accommodation … in brief they need life. How can rebuild yourself after losing hope and confidence in you? After loosing your beloved ones? Keeping moving with violence? No. Let's say stop to all forms of violence. Youth, young leaders the ball is in our hand, it is our turn to drive the bus. By using ideas, good ideas, and education for all strengthened by our dreams. One day we will realize them into reality. So lets stand up and all together work for a better world.
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