The 2011 Tanzanian Violence against Children Study (VACS) revealed that nearly 3 in 10 girls, and approximately 1 in 7 boys, surveyed experienced sexual violence before turning 18. Childreach Tanzania's 'My School, My Voice' project aims to guarantee the right of children to safety and protection through establishing child protection systems and reporting procedures within schools across the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania, working to change community attitudes towards violence against children.
The 2011 Tanzanian Violence against Children Study (VACS) revealed that 3 in 10 girls, and approximately 1 in 7 boys, surveyed experienced sexual violence before turning 18. Almost three-quarters of boys and girls reported experienced physical violence before turning 18. Of those who experienced sexual violence, almost half of girls and two-thirds of boys did not report their abuse because they either did not realise it was a crime or because they felt there was nowhere safe to report abuse.
This project subsequently seeks to increase children's understanding of their rights through Child Clubs so they can better recognise, and feel empowered enough to report, abuse. Our Childreach Tanzania team will support schools and teachers to establish school-based child protection systems and reporting procedures that will ensure children are better protected both inside and outside school. Campaigns and meetings with parents will work towards changing community attitudes towards violence.
Through child-to-child learning, children who have attended the workshops will continue passing their learnings onto other children. Teachers that have attended child protection training will establish child clubs within schools and deliver a curriculum of child rights and protection, which can be utilised for years to come. Additionally, ensuring the safety of children will improve both their emotional and physical well-being which, in the long-term, will result in better productivity.
