Chipua: Institute for Social Transformation

4 June 2011 - 31 vulnerable disadvantaged girls from Yombovituka, a community on the outskirt of Dar es Salaam, were empowered and given back to the community in a graduation ceremony held on the 4^th June.

The aim of the workshop was not only to congratulate 31 girls for completing a six-month training but also to inform the community that these girls are available to reach out to other vulnerable girls and help them become confident. In addition the ceremony marked the start of independence of these girls.  These girls in the coming months would embark their own small businesses such as trade, batik making, sewing, catering etc.  Over 170 people participated in the celebration including the parents of the graduating girls, the community members and the program participants from other Chipua centre. The ceremony started by the program participants at Yombovituka welcoming parents and staff with a special song.  Program was filled with artistic expressions of the skills they had learned during the training, these included, a drama on domestic violence, early pregnancy and divorce by the girls from Mikocheni centre, a poem about the important of lifeskills by Yombovituka girls, and more. The Director, Mitra Deliri gave a short talk encouraging the girls to be independent and that was followed by appreciation and thanks by some of the parents. “ I am very happy that my young wife has taken part in the training offered by Chipua.  Now-a-days she focuses on gender equality and does not prefer our son to our daughter” said Mr. Simon Dumi “In addition she knows a lot about nutrition, health, and human rights” continued Mr Dumi.  Mrs. Ulemela, mariam-Ally’s mother said, “I am proud of my daughter. She is committed more responsible”.  A local government personnel appreciated Chipua because of the change she has observed in her daughter and the community. Mr. Seif Madirisha representative from the local government also thanked Chipua for empowering the girls, at the same time, he asked’ why only girls?’. He made an ardent request to Chipua to think about training to help change the altitude of the boy like they do to girls. Once the certificates were given to the 31 graduating girls, the actual celebrations started with lots of food and jubilee.

 

DAR ES SALAAM, 8 November 2010 -- At a public gathering held in their home neighborhood of Kinondoni, five girls were welcomed and congratulated for their achievements after taking part in a 6 month training supported by AusAID. The girls were introduced to local women in a public gathering organizated in collaboration with the local government. These empowered girls made public testimonials as to how Chipua had made a difference in their lives.

"I was sitting at home, idle, disappointed without any vision or any understanding of what I had to do, or what role I had to play in my society.  But then I was lucky I found Chipua, where I learned that change starts with me.  So, that was the starting point," said Albertina Fungumeza, a program participant since March 2010. "Since then, I have gone a long way. I am not the Albertina I used to be.  I know how to use my hands to create money, how to start a business, how to prevent HIV/AIDS, and above all, I know that I have to help my community to develop."

Victoria Sylvester another program participant continued, "the community will only develop when us women work together."

The women from the community expressed their delight and congratulated the girls, who are referred to as mentors from now onward. These mentors will use a publication produced specifically for this purpose and impart their knowledge on life skills to other girls in the Kinondoni area.  As part of the program, the mentors form their own girl groups and meet once a week to learn together and support one another.

The public gathering was the first in a series planned to connect the program participants with their home communities where they will be mentoring other girls and women who need help.

This project is supported by AusAID.