The project aims to empower women scholars on their rights and combat SGBV on their respective campuses. In Rwanda, despite progressive legal frameworks to prevent gender-based violence (GBV), adolescent and young women continue to face significant challenges that hinder their ability to reach their full potential. Gender-based and sexual violence (SGBV) remains a critical issue, particularly on university campuses, where young women from underprivileged backgrounds often experience harassment and violence. According to recent government statistics (RDHS 2019/2020), 45% of women in Rwanda have experienced physical or sexual violence—higher than the global average reported by UN Women.

Generation Rise, through its Be That Girl program, works with young women at university, many of whom have reported that SGBV is one of the primary challenges at campus. The impacts of SGBV are profound, leading to stress, mental health challenges, and violations of their right to study in a safe, violence-free environment. Although universities in Rwanda may have gender policies in place, implementation gaps and negative social norms often prevent these policies from being fully effective.