Online-Seminar Rwanda/Germany

Young mothers in our societies and churches

Teenage mothers, filles-mêres, teen mothers or single mothers - all these terms describe the phenomenon of young, (often unintentionally) pregnant underage mothers that exist in Rwandan society as well as in Germany. For various reasons, these young mothers often find themselves in difficult social situations. The diaconal work of the churches here and there offers help and support.

In the Rwanda / Germany country seminar, we want to shed light on the question of the social conditions against which the churches organize their offers of help for this target group. What role do social and religious norms play in this work? How does society in general, but also families in particular, deal with these young women? What theological attitude characterizes the way church institutions deal with unmarried mothers? What do specific counselling and support services look like in Rwanda and in Germany? What challenges do the actors face?

Last but not least, the question of whether and to what extent we can learn from the practice of other churches will also accompany us at the seminar.

Cordial invitation! The seminar will take place online as a Zoom event. It will be held in English.

Program (CET)

Friday, 14.03.2025

17:30 Opening Zoom

18:00 Introduction to the topic

18:30 General Information about the situation of young mothers

Germany (Karoline Morlang, social pedagogue and team leader at the Simonette-Fliedner-Haus of the Kaiserswerther Diakonie)

Rwanda (Dr Charles Mudenge, psychiatrist and lecturer, EPR)

19:30 Questions and discussion

20:35 Evening prayer

20:00 Open evening in Zoom

Saturday, 15.03.2025

9:00  Morning prayer, Julie Kandema

9:30 Projects from Rwanda (EAR*/EPR*)

EPR: Centre Presbytérien d’Amour des Jeunes (Francois Mushimyimana)

EAR : Single Mother Project, Cyangugu (Rev. Boaz Ariho)

10:30 Break

10:45 Project from Germany

Kaiserwerther Diakonie (Karoline Morlang, Kaiserswerther Diakonie)

11:30 Questions

11:45 Working groups

12:30 Break

13:45 News from the churches, UEM and partnership groups

14:00 Closing Blessings

REGISTRATION

Registration deadline: 28.02.2025

The seminar is free of charge for our Rwandan participants.
Donations are appreciated.      

Please register here

Preparation team

Chair: Hans Jürgen Gärtner, Regional Service of the UEM
Frauke Bürgers, Partnership Officer, UEM
Julie Kandema, Vice President of EPR
Jean Chrysostome Nsabimana, Deputy Managing Director RDIS, Partnership Officer of EAR

*EAR = Eglise Anglicane au Rwanda (Anglican Church of Rwanda)
*EPR = Eglise Presbyterienne au Rwanda (Presbyterian Church of Rwanda)

This is a UEM event.

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