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U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda Stuart Symington Awards best Posters for World Aids Day

On March 22, 2009, U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda Stuart Symington awarded prizes for the best posters on the theme “Celebrate Life” at the U.S. Embassy in Kacyiru.

The competition was held as part of the commemoration of World AIDS day observed in December last year. The competition, which received 198 entries from across the country, aimed at involving young people in the fight against HIV/AIDS through self-expression.
In his remarks, Ambassador Symington, commended the participants for taking the time to participate in the contest.

“For those of you who participated, everyone of you used different colors and different ways to paint the pictures, but all those pieces have a single point to make and that is ‘together we can defeat AIDS,” Ambassador Symington said. 

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Health, the Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Commission for the Fight against Aids (CNLS), Antoine Semukanya, remarked that the paintings send a clearer message than speeches.

“There are many methods of communication aimed at changing behaviors but when the message is sent through pictures, it helps us to get the message using our eyes,” emphasized Semukanya.

He added that messages in pictures help even those who have hearing disabilities to clearly get the message concerning the AIDS scourge.

In the 16-20 age group, the first prize went to Joseph Mukiza, a student at Ecole d’ Art de Nyundo. Herve Shema Banyangiliki from Lycee de Kigali came first in the 10 – 15 age group, while  Fatimah Laissa Umutesiwase from Ecole International de Kigali emerged winner in the 5 – 9 age group.

Each of the top three winners in all the three age groups received a certificate signed by the U.S Ambassador recognizing their achievement and a backpack full of scholastic and art materials.

The winning posters from each age group will be displayed as part of the ‘Celebrate life’ exhibit in Washington DC with others from around the world and first place winners will receive a special certificate from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) which was launched by former US President George W. Bush in 2003 to combat global HIV/AIDS.