Bandebereho Graduation Ceremonies Celebrate Thousands of Parent Couples in Northern Rwanda
- RWAMREC
- Jul 16
- 3 min read
Bandebereho Graduation Ceremonies
RWAMREC, in collaboration with authorities in Musanze and Burera Districts, recently celebrated the graduation of 8,713 couples from the Bandebereho Program — an evidence-based initiative engaging men in maternal and child health, caregiving, and violence prevention.
Bandebereho graduation ceremonies, held during local gatherings known as Inteko z’Abaturage, drew more than 54,000 community members, including leaders from the provincial, district, and sector levels. Certificates were awarded to recognize the couples' commitment and growth.
What Is the Bandebereho Program?
Bandebereho, which translates to “role model” in Kinyarwanda, is a gender-transformative group education program that empowers men and their partners to become active, caring, and non-violent figures in family life.
It focuses on:
Shared caregiving and parenting
Engagement in reproductive and maternal health
Prevention of gender-based violence
Strengthening couple communication and decision-making
Targeting couples aged 21–35 with children under five, the program runs for 17 weeks and is delivered by trained Community Health Workers (CHWs) at the community level in Musanze, Burera, and Gakenke Districts.
A Strongly Evidenced Program
The Bandebereho Program is backed by rigorous research. In 2018, findings from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) published by the National Library of Medicine showed significant short-term outcomes, including:
Increased male participation in maternal health and caregiving
Reduced intimate partner violence
Improved maternal health behaviors
📄 Read the initial RCT findings: Gender-transformative Bandebereho couples’ intervention – PubMed
In 2023, a six-year follow-up study published in The Lancet’s eClinicalMedicine confirmed that these impacts remain over time — a rare and valuable finding in the field of social norm change.
📄 Read the six-year follow-up: Long-term impacts of Bandebereho – eClinicalMedicine
To ensure scale and sustainability, a 2025 implementation study published in Frontiers in Reproductive Health also documented the successful adaptation of the program for delivery by Rwanda’s Community Health Workers (CHWs), showcasing how Bandebereho can be integrated into national systems to reach families across the country.
📖 Read the study: Frontiers – Equipping CHWs to deliver Bandebereho at scale
Key results included:
Lasting reductions in intimate partner violence
Increased male care giving and women’s engagement in decision-making
Improved couple relationships and communication
Continued improvements in maternal health-seeking
Scaling Through Rwanda’s Health System
To sustain and expand its reach, Bandebereho is now being scaled through Rwanda’s health care system using the Community Health Workers (CHWs) as facilitators. This strategy embeds the program in the public health system and ensures that more families benefit from its transformative impact.
Looking Ahead
The graduation of these 8,700+ couples represents more than an end — it marks the beginning of a new chapter for families and communities committed to equality, care, and collaboration. We extend our congratulations to all graduates and our deep thanks to the CHWs, partners, and leaders who make this change possible.
🔗 Learn more about Bandebereho: https://www.rwamrec.org/bandebereho
As we continue this journey of transformation, we extend our sincere thanks to all partners and stakeholders whose support has been crucial in sustaining and expanding the Bandebereho Program. Your commitment and collaboration have been key to promoting gender equality, positive fatherhood, and healthier families across Rwanda.
We look forward to continuing this important work together.
With appreciation to: Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation | Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice | Global Innovation Fund | Grand Challenges Canada | International Development Research Centre (IDRC) | Oak Foundation | Ministry of Health, Republic of Rwanda | Rwanda Biomedical Centre
This is truly inspiring! Seeing more than 8,700 couples graduate from the Bandebereho Program shows how powerful community-driven initiatives can be in transforming families and promoting equality. I really admire how the program engages men in caregiving and maternal health while reducing violence. Such long-term positive change is rare and so valuable. For students like me, reading about programs like this is motivating and gives great insights for research work. It’s posts like these that often inspire academic projects where we even look for write my assignment services to explore such impactful case studies in depth.