Rwanda Education Board (REB) Director General Nelson Mbarushimana has announced plans to introduce Drug-Free Generation Clubs in schools across the country, following an initiative developed by four students at Lycée de Kigali to discourage drug use and the consumption of illicit alcohol.
The first club was officially launched at Lycée de Kigali on October 23, bringing together government officials, students and entertainment personalities supporting the campaign against substance abuse.
Hope Teta, a Senior Six student studying Physics, Chemistry and Biology, was among the four students who developed the initiative after becoming concerned about substance use among young people.
The students presented their proposal to the school administration, which forwarded it to REB. The board welcomed the idea and began exploring ways to expand the initiative to other schools.
Mbarushimana said REB was developing guidelines and learning materials to explain how the clubs would operate and what students would discuss during their meetings.
He added that head teachers would be encouraged to support the programme, while teachers would be asked to incorporate drug prevention messages into their lessons.
The next club launch is scheduled for October 25 at a school in Tabagwe, Nyagatare District, as preparations continue to introduce the initiative more widely.
Deputy Government Spokesperson Jean-Maurice Uwera, who attended the launch, welcomed the students’ efforts and encouraged young people to take responsibility for protecting themselves and their peers from substance abuse.
During his address, Uwera shared a personal experience, revealing that he had buried his cousin the previous week following a death he attributed to illicit alcohol consumption.
He cautioned students against experimenting with illicit alcohol, explaining that occasional consumption could gradually develop into dependency and have serious consequences for their health and future.
The launch also attracted personalities from Rwanda’s entertainment industry, including film interpreter and music manager Bonny Bugingo, popularly known as Junior Giti, and actor Dwayne Emmy Shemaryimanzi.
Junior Giti, a former head boy at Lycée de Kigali, encouraged students to remain focused on their ambitions. Drawing on his experience in the entertainment industry, he described how substance abuse had affected the lives and careers of some people he had known.
Shemaryimanzi, who is involved in coordinating the Sober Generation campaign, also encouraged young people to support the initiative and adopt healthier lifestyles.
The planned expansion builds on existing efforts to address substance abuse in schools. In September, REB conducted awareness activities in several districts, including Rwamagana, Kamonyi and Nyarugenge, where students were encouraged to avoid drugs and alcohol.
The broader Sober Generation campaign has also involved government officials, artists and young people in community activities aimed at preventing substance abuse.
REB’s next planned launch in Nyagatare will extend the student-led initiative beyond Lycée de Kigali, while the board continues developing guidelines for its wider introduction in schools across Rwanda.
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