We all need love and affection. A person to call mine and a person to belong to. Every human being has a dream to start a family and grow old with someone. As much as we want this, there are certain realities we cannot ignore. Like money. We might say that when you love someone, do not focus on the money but let us be frank, money makes things tick and most of us end up too broke to date.
As a foreign youth, there is a mantra I hear being thrown out here and there. True or not true, this mantra reflects a reality that might not be popular but is in line with money and relationships, Ever heard of in Kigali we share?
We share huh?
Yes, sharing is caring but it is in us as humans to be selfish. We all have things we do not want to share. Be it your toothbrush, or your favorite jeans but most importantly, most of us never want to share our loved ones. The thought of your loved one being embraced by another stirs up a feeling of betrayal, and tears and some even do not eat for days because their loved ones have others they call lovers.
In Kigali, relationships might seem like a free-for-all, but there’s more complexity beneath the surface. As we delve deeper into this “sharing” concept, it becomes clear that the practice is intertwined with a more pressing issue: the need for comprehensive sexual education.
Many of us young people in Kigali are not just ‘sharing’ partners for the fun of it or due to financial constraints, but because of the dearth of appropriate sexual education.
This absence leaves them ill-equipped to handle intimate relationships responsibly and safely. There are immense risks involved with having multiple partners, including the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies.
The prevalence of the mantra “In Kigali, we share” points towards an underlying ignorance or disregard of these risks. This casual approach to partner sharing, often depicted as a joke among the youth, highlights the urgent need for sexual education initiatives that emphasize the importance of understanding one’s body, the repercussions of unprotected sex, and the emotional aspects of intimate relationships.
In Kigali, as in other parts of the world, comprehensive sexual education is crucial. It provides young people with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their sexual health and relationships. Understanding contraception, the spread of STIs, and consent forms an important part of this education. In the context of “sharing” partners, knowledge about these aspects can lead to safer practices and deeper respect for both oneself and others.
Moreover, sexual education should not only focus on the physical aspects of sex but also on the emotional and psychological implications of intimate relationships. It should help young people understand the value of exclusivity in relationships, the meaning of commitment, and the importance of communication. These emotional elements could change the narrative around the mantra “In Kigali, we share.”
Yes, we share laughter, we share dreams, and we share life’s challenges in Kigali. But when it comes to partners, it might be time to rethink the concept of sharing. Sexual education, when done right, has the potential to instill the principles of respect, safety, and mutual consent. Therefore, it is a priority to make sexual education accessible and comprehensive for all Kigali’s youth, to shift the culture from partner-sharing to responsible, respectful relationships.
Remember, when it comes to relationships, the mantra should be, “In Kigali, we care.”
