Changed lives: Christina

The girls and young women who arrive at Egmont Partner Hakizetu in Mwanza, Tanzania, are often survivors of domestic or sexual violence, child marriage or teenage pregnancy. Rejected by family or forced to leave home for their safety, these girls are left vulnerable to exploitation and HIV infection.

Hakizetu enables these young people to take charge of their lives, equipping them with practical vocational skills, alongside the knowledge and confidence to make informed choices about their futures. Just as importantly, they offer support, guidance and acceptance.

“They listen with kindness, without judgement. I feel safe and valued at Hakizetu,” says Christina, one of Hakizetu’s current trainees.

Nearly a third of all girls in Tanzania are married before the age of 18 and Christina was almost one of them. Her aunt discovered that she was to be married when she turned 13 and brought Christina to live with her family in Mwanza. Despite their determination to support her, life was difficult. Her aunt and uncle shared a single room with their four children and often struggled to meet basic needs.

Christina was enrolled in school, but on days when there was not enough money for food, and she would miss classes to help her aunt sell vegetables door to door.

Eventually, Christina dropped out of school and with few options available, she feared she would be forced into the marriage she had escaped.

Securing girls’ futures through skills training

Joining Hakizetu marked a turning point. Their Egmont-supported project offers nine months of vocational training in garment making and design for girls and young women that have been unable to finish school, followed by a three-month apprenticeship to gain work experience.

Just five months into the course, Christina is already seeing significant change. She has discovered a passion for fashion and is making dresses for friends using her new skills. She is now able to contribute to her aunt’s household income and, for the first time, an independent future feels within reach.

“For a girl from a village like mine, getting the chance to be educated and trained is not easy,” she says. “I am very grateful to Hakizetu for the opportunity to build a better future. My dream is to use what I have learned to generate income that will fully support my family, and to empower other girls like me.”

As another trainee reflects, Hakizetu’s impact goes beyond vocational skills:

“The life skills sessions, mentorship and emotional support taught me things I never learned at home: how to believe in myself, how to speak without fear, how to heal, and how to dream again.”

Life-changing results for 180 girls and young women

Hakizetu’s multifaceted project has led to strong results. The first cohort of garment making trainees have just completed their apprenticeships and already 58% have secured employment, while others are preparing for self employment. Data from previous Hakizetu graduates show that they can immediately earn up to $140 a month, a transformational increase on the $0 - $15 they were making before the training. Overall, the project will train 70 girls and young women in garment making, in addition to providing entrepreneurship training to a further 110 who already have small businesses. An estimated 540 household members will also benefit.

Recognising that lasting change for young women and girls requires whole-community involvement, Hakizetu’s project also trains community volunteers to promote gender equality, sexual and reproductive health rights and HIV prevention. So far they have reached 2,944 community members.

Images credit: Hakizetu Organisation, Tanzania.