Hakizetu Organisation

Empowering women and girls to live free from violence through financial independence and sexual and reproductive health education.

Over 44% of people in Tanzania live below the international poverty line ($2.15 a day). Seventy-seven percent of women are in paid employment but largely have low paid, unstable jobs (89.3%). In Tanzania’s north-western Mwanza region there are high levels of poverty and HIV. Over 8% of people aged 15 – 49 are HIV+ and women are unequally affected. High rates of poverty and gender based violence (GBV) against women and girls leaves them susceptible to being infected.

Egmont Partner Hakizetu works in Mwanza implementing interventions to increase gender equality in homes, institutions and the wider community.

Hakizetu’s Egmont-funded project is based in three districts where poverty is particularly high and focuses on vulnerable and marginalised women and girls including survivors of GBV, girls who have left school early due to child marriage or teenage pregnancy, and those living with HIV.

The project aims to equip these women and girls to take charge of their lives through both economic strengthening and sexual and reproductive health education.

Seventy women and girls will take part in vocational skills training in garment making, design and handcrafts and undertake a three-month apprenticeship, to gain valuable work experience.

One hundred and ten young women and girls who already have small scale businesses will also be supported to undertake business and entrepreneurship training and receive mentoring to enhance their businesses.

To contribute to reducing gender-based violence and new HIV infections, group conversations and community events will raise awareness on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) rights and HIV & AIDS, while trained Community Volunteers and Change makers will take these messages into their communities, empowering people to make informed choices, take proactive steps towards prevention, and link people to local SRH services and family planning.

Photo credit: Hakizetu.