Panorama
On March 9th, 2025, Shooting Touch Rwanda (STR), in partnership with the District of Bugesera, Rilima Sector, and the Rilima Health Center, hosted the 3rd Annual Bugesera Basketball-For-Equality Day in honor of International Women’s Day. This dynamic event brought together over 500 community members to celebrate gender equality, promote physical activity, and increase access to vital health services through the unifying power of basketball.
The event featured an exciting lineup of activities, including high-energy basketball competitions, gender equality discussions led by local experts, and free non-communicable disease (NCD) health screenings. Through these initiatives, STR reinforced its mission of using basketball as a catalyst for social impact, advocating for the empowerment of youth and women in rural Rwanda.
The event kicked off with an inclusive community warm-up session, fostering a sense of unity and encouraging physical activity among participants of all ages. The action then shifted to the court, where four competitive basketball games took place, featuring women’s teams, U13 youth teams, and U18 girls’ and boys’ teams from Rilima and Mayange Sectors. The games served as a platform to highlight the athletic talents of young women and girls, challenging traditional gender stereotypes in sports. Rilima Sector showcased impressive talent, winning the match and claiming the trophy for all four of these games!
“This event is good for the players because they desire to compete, and this gives them an opportunity to play and represent their community. It’s even more incredible because we emerged as champions in every game”, said David, head coach of STR Rilima.
“The event is important because It helps us women to understand our worth and to know that we are able to achieve our potential”, – Julienne Igiraneza, STR Junior Coach, Mayange.
Beyond basketball, the event provided a critical space for education and awareness, with guest speakers addressing the importance of eliminating gender-based violence (GBV), dispelling harmful gender stereotypes, and promoting gender equality in Rwanda. Bamurange Appolinarie (Gender Monitoring Officer) and Sebarundi Ephraim (Rilima Executive Secretary) delivered keynote speeches, reinforcing the local commitment to gender equality and community development.
Bamurange Appolinarie expressed, “Everyone’s rights matter and must be fully respected. Our country’s vision is shared and equal welfare, security, and protection of every citizen, with no gender-based discrimination. We must put all our efforts together and find solutions to the challenges we encounter. This will lead us to common and shared development, where no one is left behind because of being male or female.”
Sebarundi Ephraim also added, “The Mayange and Rilima women’s teams have shown us outstanding basketball matches. I am sure they could even win against the men! Together, let’s appreciate this gender equality in sports and integrate gender equality principles into the lives of young boys and men. We greatly appreciate the Shooting Touch Partnership with Bugesera District, especially the Rilima Sector.”
Throughout the afternoon, community members were encouraged to participate in no-cost NCD and HIV health screenings in an effort to increase access to preventative community healthcare measures. More than 157 (100+ more than last year) men and women ages 35-80 years old benefited from these screenings, gaining knowledge about their health status. Furthermore, individuals diagnosed with NCDs were connected to essential health information and intervention services, in partnership with the Rilima Health Center.
“Yesterday, we conducted tests for NCDs and HIV. It’s important for individuals to know their health status and to encourage them to visit health facilities and take initiative in improving their well-being. We provide them with their results, and those who receive abnormal or positive test results receive health counseling and are encouraged to join Shooting Touch to learn more about ways to improve their health, such as reducing alcohol consumption or how to control their blood sugar.
They also have access to treatment or medication and can schedule follow-ups to monitor their condition with Rilima Health Center. Individuals with more serious health needs are referred to district hospitals for further treatment. Additionally, they are given informational flyers to educate them on these health matters.”- Benjamin Tuyishimire, Health Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of STR.
Shooting Touch is an international sport-for-development organization based in Boston, Massachusetts, dedicated to using the mobilizing power of basketball to bridge health and opportunity gaps for youth and women facing racial, gender, and economic inequalities. Since launching Shooting Touch Rwanda (STR) in 2012, the organization has expanded its reach in Rwanda’s Eastern Province, providing access to basketball, public health education, and gender equality initiatives in six sectors across Bugesera and Kayonza Districts.
