Protect Girls from FGM in Tanzania

The project of Hope for Girls and women Tanzania has been extremely busy protecting 164 survivors at the safe houses and continuing rescuing girls in danger of being cut and early child marriages during school holiday. This tradition is done secretly and forcefully within the family; the girls are unaware of what is planned by the family. 5 girls were rescued from female genital mutilation in Serengeti and 2 girls were rescued at Butiama.

Female genital mutilation situation in Mara region have decrease comparing to how we began the fight, and this is due to various interventions conducted to the community.

Easter celebrations; Girls at the safe houses celebrated the Easter day by worshiping. The safe houses received visitors whom brought various Easter gifts for girls. Special thanks to Kiabakari Roman Catholic church members and Father Voi.

The Education and Entrepreneurial Program

We are extremely proud of our four girls who have graduated high school with promising results to join university, thus we encourage girls’ sponsorship program. Our Houses provide a clean, safe and supportive environment to learn skills and continue education. There are Primary and Secondary Day Students with programs and educational materials provided. Tailoring, ear rings and bracelets making and knitted sweater making with machines and material provided for certain girls, included in the program.

Bee keeping; This project is one of our entrepreneurial program where girls are acquiring knowledge on how to keep bees and generate income by selling honey.

Agriculture and gardening; Girls in both safe houses involve themselves in planting, watering and harvesting vegetables to be used in their daily meals for their health. Girls are learning organic farming and how to make compost manure.

Supporting Our Girls;

Hope for girls and women Tanzania trained girls on sexual and reproductive health where girls learned more about menstruation and how to use sanitary pads.

Counseling sessions;95Counseling sessions were provided to 164girls, whereas psychological support was provided all the time.

Family day; Hope for Girls and Women Tanzania participated by conducting forum to girls at the safe houses where girls outlined various issues affecting families splitting due to traditions and customs such as FGM, Early child marriages and other violence.

African child day; Girls participated in the African child day by delivering ant-FGM messages through singing songs and drama. Honorable District commissioner Vicent Mashinji of Serengeti participated as guest of honor.

NaCoNGO elections; Hope for girls and women Tanzania was selected to be the leading NGO in Mara Region whereby Ms. Rhobi Samwelly was selected to be the member of council and the chairperson of Capacity building committee at national level 2024-2027.

Opportunity and other News: The Butiama sold knitted sweaters to Roman Catholic school where we received 520,000/= Tanzanian shillings. We are furthermore looking to find more markets to sell our knitted sweaters.

Hope for girls and Women in Tanzania Director Rhobi Samwelly had an opportunity to visit USA-California for her book editing and sharing about Hope’s work.

Staff indoor training; Hope staff has begun to acquire knowledge on how to produce effective and efficient services to girls. Training organized by Hope for girls takes place once every month with different topic in every session in order toattain Hope objectives and quality services to girls and community in general.

 A Special Thanks to Donors;

Thank you sincerely for all your support. Your help has been essential to keep us going, so that we can be focusing on the well-being of many girls. We will love it if you share our story to those around you. It will make a huge difference for us.

With gratitude

Rhobi

Hope for Girls and Women currently supports 155 survivors in its two safe houses. We continue to work with local officials to reconcile girls with their families. Guardians sign affidavits and allow follow-up visits to ensure the safety of the girls once they have left our care. In Butiama safe house we have recently reconciled 3 girls with their parents, but in Mugumu Safe house we managed to reconcile 5 children with their parents/relatives.

We encourage girls to continue their education, especially when they’re unable to reconcile with their families so that they can increase prospects for employment and independence. Girls education support in order to reach their dream is more encouraged.

Counselling to survivors plays a vital role in nurturing, as specific mental health discipline. At safe houses we always provide individual and group counselling.

HGWT staff continue to collaborate with the Police Gender Desk Office and Social Welfare Office to ensure that they can help girls who are victims of acts of gender violence by cooperating with the courts to obtain their legal rights under the laws of the United Republic of Tanzania. We currently have 3 active child marriage cases, as well as 2 rape and 1 FGM.

Hope for Girls and women Tanzania through its safe houses is growing plants like maize, beans, cassava and vegetable such as spinach, onions, carrots etc. Vegetables are used by survivors in their meals.

Hope for Girls and Women Tanzania through safe houses is conducting training to girls on entrepreneurship skills in the following areas.

Making Earrings and bracelets:

Girls learnt how to make earrings and bracelets at the safe houses, the programme is targeting girls whom didn’t continue with secondary education

Reusable pad making:

Girls are learning how to make reusable pads in our vocational class. We produce pads to support girls staying at the safe house and outside the safe house in the community and schools. We also receive orders and sell pads

Knitting project:

We are making sweaters for selling to support income generating to support the running costs of the safe houses. Girls are learning how to make sweaters at the safe house. We are receiving orders

Beekeeping project:

We are keeping bee at our land of 20 acters started with 6 beehives. The project is progressing well; girls are learning about beekeeping.

Chicken rearing project:

Chicken project enabling girls to learn about chicken rearing and management also as a source of income.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION: We educate cutters community and community leaders on the impact of FGM and other forms of gender-based violence.

Law week participation:

Hope for Girls and Women Tanzania has participated in the law week in Butiama and Serengeti. The Guest of honor was Mr. Vicenti Mashinji the District Commissioner of Serengeti, he calls the community to obey the laws and change the altitudes of violating women and children rights.

Girls from the safe house had an opportunity to sing and deliver ant GBV message to the community and invited guests.

Sports and Games:

Hope for Girls and Women organised sports and Yoga etc. to the survivors in both safe houses in Serengeti and Butiama participating.

 Thank you for your support!

Rhobi