On Sunday 15 of November over a 100 of Chipua project participants took part in a whole day celebration, marking the UN Human Rights Day, and the International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women. The girls and women organised the program which included songs about women's right, dramas depicting violence and mistreatments of women.  Also talks on their vision for future and how they want to go forward.  

The training took place from December 2014 to May 2015 (above photo). More than ten facilitators were trained, and by the end of the training several of those trained worked closely with the local governments of their area and started facilitating a training of the disadvantaged girls in their own neighbourhoods.  

As we strolled through Kariakoo market we arrived at a shoe maker's stall and began speaking about his craftsmanship. We discussed the Chipua Centre and how the girls were learning vocational skills to then be able to start a small business to earn an income. 

The shoemaker's interest was sparked and he offered to come and host a sandal making class for the girls to learn his professional trade. 

The following week the shoemaker came with all his tools to Chipua. He spoke passionately about his work explaining what materials were needed and step by step instructions of how to make the delicate sandals. 
The excitement and determination coming from the girls could be sensed by the number of questions they were asking as well as their eagerness to try making the sandals. 

This practical element was combined with the theory of starting a small sandal making business. We explored business strategies including the material costs, selling price and profit margins. 

The seminar was concluded successfully as the shoemaker felt he had provided a service to some of the girls in his community and the girls left inspired with their newly learned skills, an enthusiasm to keep practising and for some a desire to start selling sandals.

29 September 2012 - Two of the girls who took part in Second Chance project at Chipua, graduate from Form 4 at a private high school.

Lilian Martin and Suhamu Richard are two of the many girls who took part in the Second Chance project in 2008.  They passed the QT exam and then were awarded sponsorship and were able to continue and complete their year 10 in a private school.  This is a huge achievement for Chipua.  The relentless sacrificial work of many is bearing fruits.  The other students who took part in the Second Chance project are likewise graduating at different high schools.

Second Chance project took in youth who failed standard seven and were unable to continue education due to abject poverty and family circumstances.  

2 March 2012– Chipua girls performed at 11 secondary schools in Dar es Salaam.  The objective was to raise an awareness on girl circumcision through a theatrical performance, very befittingly called “The power of expression”. 

The secondary schools that have watched the play are: Magomeni, Baptist, Cambridge, Mbezi beach, Green acre, Cornelius,  Kijitonyama, Lauriat International School, Kenton, Mwambao and Hananasif.

It was amazing to see girls who just a few months ago were not aware of their basic rights, play in front of hundreds of students who would cheer at them and love them for their courage to say “no” to circumcision and domestic violence. Said the project coordinator.

“Even though children read about these issues in their texts, but to watch it in a play filled with emotions will have significant impact on the minds of our young students”, said Mr John, principal at Cornelius secondary school.  “This was very good, we hope they can come and perform again” said, Ms Faith, headmistress at Cambridge high school.   Students found the performances very educative and informative as some of the students had no idea why female circumcision was a violation of human rights, “now that I have learned about this backward practice, it should be wiped off the face of the earth”, said one of the boy students at Mbezi Beach Secondary School.

The drama starts with eight or so girls carrying the dead bodies of two girls who have just died due to circumcision complications.  The story continues with a public gathering where parents are informed to bring their daughters for the next round of circumcision and that is when Susan and Jamila dare to say “no”, they are not willing to under go with the procedure. 

The aim of the play is to give a message to the girls that if they help each other and show solidarity they will be able to educate their community and set them free of this practice.  Another message is to the parents that they should not undermine their children’s basic human rights, rather communicate with their children in order to understand their feelings and fears.  The project was funded by FORWARD UK.

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

3 May 2011 - In Yombo location (a Chipua project area), after a Chipua member lost her father, program participants took the initiative of supporting their friend.  They visited her home and literally helped her with her daily chores and organizing a funeral for her father.  The support and solidarity was so sincere and unique that some of the visitors who came a long way to attend the funeral were shocked and asked the girls, “how come you are helping out so much?” and the response from a program participant was, “girls need other girls’ support in order to stand on their own feet and not feel disappointed and alone.  We should go beyond talks or shows, but action”.  Additionally, some girls sought out a widowed woman from the community and have since been assisting her in fetching water and cooking, also providing her company.

Girl Leaders start a campaign called  “Girl in Crisis Home Visits”

May 2011 - Several times a week the project participants, taking part in the program at Chipua are accompanied by the Girl Leaders; go out to different communities to reach out to those girls who find it difficult to attend the “girls in crisis project”.  “It is a difficult job, sometimes the parents of some of the girls do not want us to talk to their girl, but we have to try,” said Latifa a program participant.   As a result of these home visits, many girls find courage and hope in taking part in the program.  Girls’ leaders are those girls who took part in the previous projects and were transformed into Girl Leaders.