The Toa Nafasi Project

On December 4th last year, I successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro on our Climb Kili for Children campaign we launched a four months earlier. The view from Uhuru Peak is nothing short of amazing. I will be honest, the four days trek leading up to the day of the summit was incredibly hard. But the end was rewarding.

I climbed Kilimanjaro not because of the beauty of the mountain – the banana farms and villages you see on the first day going to the first gate, the thick forests changing to thin and hairy trees, bushes, alpine vegetation and places with loads of debris that look like a construction site as you go higher, and the amazing crew that helps you along the way. It was not even because it’s the first thing I see when I get out of my house every day. It is certainly because I experienced childhood sexual abuse myself. And I am determined to change the situation for other children.

I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to challenge the situation of children in my community – to raise awareness about the prevalence of childhood sexual abuse. Having been able to reach uhuru peak is sending a strong signal that we can change the situation – we can end the heinous crimes we do to children. Not one more children have to go through what I went through as a child. As I am writing to you, I want to thank everyone that made this climb possible – the Toa Nafasi team, mostly women, that escorted me on the first day and welcomed me on the last day, the guide and his crew, and you.

Studies have demonstrated the important role women teachers’ play in supporting their children, and in creating a safe and nurturing environment. Emmeline Pankhurst, an activist that led UK’s suffragette movement, once worked at a birth and death registration office in the poor part of Manchester. In early 1900’s she wrote; “I [am] shocked to be reminded over and over again of the little respect there [is] in the world for women and children. But you and I have changed all this. Your investment that keeps tutors in the schools where they’ll be able to support their students to feel safe, learn and play makes a whole difference for the world of children and women.

We have expanded our program to become a safe and inclusive school program. This year, we will be assessing over 1000 grade 1 students with special needs, and support a third of them through our the year. Additionally, we’ll be able to teach children things like safe and unsafe touches, how and where to reports and comprehensive body safety generally to the whole school reaching up to 7000 students.

We have started a journey that will make a huge difference in the lives of vulnerable children in Tanzania. We are going to make our schools and communities safe and inclusive for all children and we are inviting you to be a part of this.