Protect Girls from FGM in Tanzania

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