Doto Chacha, a daughter of a small-scale farmer in Mara region is redefining societal narratives. With her clever mind, she confidently rejected marriage proposals at the age of just 17 years. Dotto hails from the Mara region (one of the child marriage leading regions in Tanzania), narrates herstory on  how she managed to escape the confines of child marriage.

The story began when Dotto successfully completed her ordinary-level examination at Muriba Secondary School. Unfortunately, she did not achieve the grades necessary to pursue higher education. Also due to financial difficulties, her parents informed her that they could not afford to support her further studies.

"You’ve been home for almost a year now without anything to do. We’ve decided that we should find you a suitor to marry, as we fear you might get pregnant and bring shame to the family." 

Her family exposed their intention to marry her but she was not ready for marriage.    
_"When my parents told me they had decided to marry me off because they feared I might bring shame to the family, my heart sank. I wasn't ready for marriage. All I wanted was a chance to do something meaningful with my life, for example learning to sew._"narrated Dotto.

Despite the concerted efforts of the CDF to combat harmful practices such as child marriage, FGM, and teenage pregnancies through impactful awareness campaigns in Muriba Ward, Dotto’s father, who attended these events, remained steadfast in his beliefs. For him, arranging his daughter’s marriage appeared to be the most practical solution to alleviate their financial hardships and conform to societal expectations that often prioritize family honor over a girl’s individual rights and future potential.

Thinking on how to avoid the planned marriage, Dotto’s heart was shaken, repeatedly thought one thing for days. She decided to visit a village chairperson, seeking his support in convincing her parents to change their decision. Dotto also requested help in finding some work to keep herself busy.

One day, the village chairperson, who is a respected community leader and a beneficiary of CDF’s training programs on addressing harmful practices, visited Dotto's home accompanied by the in-charge of Muriba Health Center, Dr. Yoel Mabala, to speak with Dotto’s parents.
Dr. Yoel told the parents that he heard about Dotto’s planned marriage from the chairperson. He proposed that Dotto could join a group of youth who volunteer as peer educators, providing education on sexual and reproductive health, HIV, and GBV prevention. 

Dotto's parents were curious if this opportunity would allow their daughter to gain new skills and knowledge. Dr. Yoel assured them that Dotto would have the chance to participate in various training sessions, attend important meetings, and even receive a monthly stipend to help cover her transportation costs for her work as a peer educator.
Dotto's face sparked with joy when her parents agreed to Dr. Yoel’s offer.
Today, Dotto is a youth leader in her community, spreading health awareness, and advocating for ending harmful practices including child marriage, FGM, and teenage pregnancy.

_"Joining the peer educator program through CDF gave me hope. I found a purpose beyond what I thought was possible. I’m now using my voice to help other young people make informed decisions about their lives, health and advocating for child rights, and I’m proud of the change I’m making in my community. Through this program, I have managed to educate my peers on the consequences of child marriage, FGM, and other harmful practices as well as link them to the service providers and authorities for more support,"_ Dotto said.

Through this opportunity, Dotto, who is now 18 years old, not only avoided child marriage but also found a new purpose, empowering other young people while building a brighter future for herself.




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Doto Chacha, a daughter of a small-scale farmer in Mara region is redefining societal narratives.

Empowering Girls to redefine Societal Narratives

Fatuma Katulituli, a mother of five, has made herstory as the first woman to hold the position of village chairperson in Msangamkuu Village, breaking a long-standing tradition that had excluded women from leadership roles since the village's establishment.

Married to Mr. Salumu, a fisherman, Fatuma has spent her entire life in Msangamkuu, engaging in seaweed farming and liquid soap production. When the "Wanawake Sasa" project reached Msanga mkuu Village, Fatuma was among the first women recruited as a leadership aspirant.

During her application, she passionately shared her dream of becoming a leader in her village to advocate for the construction of a secondary school. She was selected to join the program, but when she shared the news with her husband, Mr. Salumu, he initially prohibited her from participating. He expressed concerns, citing past instances where similar programs had negatively affected marriages.

With a heavy heart, Fatuma informed the FB Empowerment officer about her inability to proceed with the training. In response, FB Empowerment invited Mr. Salumu to a workshop on the importance of women in leadership, the benefits of their participation, and the need to challenge harmful cultural norms. By the end of the session, Mr. Salumu had a change of heart._ "Now I understand the value of my wife’s ambitions," _he said. _"I will support her, campaign for her, and cover any costs to ensure her success."
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This shift marked a turning point in Fatuma’s journey. With her husband’s support, she felt encouraged to pursue her dream. When the time came to collect nomination forms for political positions, Fatuma decided to run for office. She contested and was elected as the first female village chairperson in Msangamkuu Village's history.

Reflecting on her journey, Fatuma said, _"This wouldn't have been possible without the Wanawake Sasa project_. I have nothing to offer you but my gratitude. I promise not to let you down. I also thank my husband for standing by me." Fatuma has vowed to be a role model, inspiring other women in the community to believe in themselves and take up leadership roles. "I will ensure that women in our community are trusted and given more opportunities," she stated after being sworn in in early December 2024.

FB Empowerment remains committed to following up on Fatuma’s leadership journey, supporting her and other women in breaking barriers and creating a more inclusive and equitable community in Mtwara.

**Impact of the Wanawake Sasa Project**

Through the Wanawake Sasa Project, FB Empowerment implemented several initiatives, including the identification and empowerment of leadership aspirants. A total of 120 women and girls aspiring for leadership roles were identified and engaged in the project from three target wards of Msangamkuu, Kitere and Nanguruwe  (40 per ward).

Three engagement meetings were conducted (one per ward), attended by 55 participants (40 women and 15 men). These included the husbands of aspirant women, religious leaders, traditional leaders, local government authorities, and influential community members. The meetings strengthened collaboration between women leadership aspirants and community influencers, such as traditional leaders, religious figures, and political representatives, to challenge gender-biased norms and support women seeking leadership positions.

Other activities were;Three leadership workshops which enhanced the leadership skills, public speaking abilities, and advocacy skills of 120 women and girls,  three monthly mentorship sessions were held to further strengthen leadership aspirants' capacity to navigate challenges, understand election processes, and balance family and leadership roles. Some participants even gained full support from their families as a result.
Three community awareness meetings were conducted in the project implementation wards, reaching 640 women (exceeding the target of 560 by 14%) and 392 men (exceeding the target of 360 by approximately 9%).
To further amplify the project’s impact, three radio programs were aired through Funguka FM, H-FM, and Safari FM, spreading the project's message to a broader audience.

**Results and Achievements**

Increased Participation and Representation of Women in Leadership: Before the project, only 17 out of 120 identified women aspirants had contested for leadership positions at various levels in their communities. The remaining 103 lacked the confidence and motivation to run. However, after enrolling in the project, 76 women contested in the local government elections in November 2024, and 41 of them were elected to various positions within village governments. Among them, 39 were elected as village council members, and two were elected as village chairpersons.

Shift in Gender-Biased Attitudes and Norms: Engagement meetings facilitated discussions on the negative impact of gender-biased norms on women’s leadership participation. Political party leaders admitted that they rarely endorsed female candidates due to fears of losing against male contenders. However, the project changed their perspectives, demonstrating women's multitasking capabilities, dedication to community development, and integrity.

Additionally, radio programs and community awareness sessions have sparked discussions on dismantling gender-biased norms that limit women's ability to participate in leadership.

FB Empowerment, through the Wanawake Sasa Project supported by Women Fund Tanzania, has made significant strides in increasing women's representation in leadership, empowering them through capacity-building initiatives, and fostering gender-equitable social norms. The success of Fatuma Katulituli is a testament to the transformative impact of these efforts, paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable society.


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Fatuma Katulituli, a mother of five, has made herstory as the first woman to hold the position of village chairperson in Msangamkuu Village

Dismantling Barriers to Women's Leadership in Msangamkuu Village: “The First Female Chairperson"

Violence against women and children (VAWC) remains a persistent challenge for Tanzania as it ravages areas such as Shinyanga District. It is against this backdrop that addressing the root causes of the challenge requires a multifaceted approach. This involves tackling structural issues of patriarchy and gender inequality, challenging harmful traditional practices, improving legal frameworks, enhancing awareness and education, and addressing socio-economic factors.

In response to the challenge, Thubutu Africa Initiative (TAI), through the Joint Power, Safe Community project, engaged Community Change Agents (CCAs) to raise awareness about the harms of unequal power dynamics in households and gender-based violence (GBV) within the community. CCAs are trusted community members, who act as the backbone of the fight against VAWC. They play a pivotal role in increasing awareness and fostering action at grassroots level.

In empowering CCAs to execute their roles, TAI organized planning meetings that included capacity-building sessions on effective strategies for raising awareness about GBV and unequal household power dynamics. TAI also facilitated ten CCAs to attend coalition meetings with the SHYEVAWC working group as potential individual members. This engagement allowed CCAs to channel cases identified in their communities and collaborate with other actors fighting VAWC.

One of the CCAs, Elipendo , said,_ “We received training from TAI on how to perform our duties. We also received education on violence and its indicators, and how to report it. We also participated in monthly meetings where all CCAs gathered to discuss the progress of our work, and we also participated in other meetings.”_

She added that their main responsibilities included visiting households and providing education on issues of violence and parenting, identifying cases of violence through discussions with community members, recognizing signs of violence and reporting them to the relevant authorities, and identifying indicators of violence and reporting them.

“The methods we used included going door-to-door, using community meetings such as public gatherings, women’s groups, and various forums," said Elipendo.

The TAI’s Programme Manager, Paschalia Mbughuni, highlighted the significant contributions of CCAs to the fight against the anomaly. She explained that, as a result of the trainings and support provided, CCAs conducted numerous awareness sessions across households, reaching a broad audience and educating them on the importance of recognizing and reporting GBV cases.

_“The efforts of CCAs led to increased awareness and reporting of GBV cases. For example, between April and October 2024, about 34 new GBV cases were reported, showing that the community is becoming more aware and willing to take action,_” Mbughuni said.

The proactive involvement of CCAs has fostered a sense of responsibility and ownership among community members regarding anti-VAWC interventions. This has strengthened community ownership of these efforts, empowering residents to actively report and address cases of violence. CCAs have served as local focal points, bridging the gap between victims and formal support systems, thereby facilitating timely interventions by ward-level and higher authorities.

_“In our area, child marriages used to be a major challenge. However, through the education we have been providing, there has been a significant reduction in child marriages. Previously, many children would drop out of school after completing grade six and not proceed to grade seven. Now, we are witnessing children completing primary school, moving on to secondary school, and even finishing it. For us, this is a sign that these marriages have decreased,”_narrated Majaliwa CCA from Pandachigiza.

By raising awareness and reporting cases of violence, CCAs have contributed to improved access to support services for survivors. “CCAs rescued four GBV victims from different wards and referred them to relevant authorities for further support. This demonstrates their effectiveness in providing direct assistance to survivors and connecting them with necessary resources,” Mbughuni added.

Through dialogue sessions and community interventions, CCAs are challenging patriarchal norms and traditional beliefs that perpetuate violence. By fostering discussions on gender equality and rights of women and children, they have contributed to a cultural shift and behavior change. This ongoing engagement has helped to reduce tolerance for violence, creating a safer and more supportive environment.

As from March to November 2024, CCAs conducted awareness sessions that reached 397 households and 1,055 community members (472 men and 583 women). They reported 20 GBV cases, including 14 incidents of physical violence, 5 child marriage cases, and 1 child abandonment case involving a one-year-old child.

The results achieved through CCA interventions have catalyzed significant change in Shinyanga. By raising awareness, challenging harmful norms, empowering women and youth, and strengthening informal community structures, the project has laid the foundation for a more equitable and violence-free society.

Thubutu Africa Initiative implemented the Joint Power, Safe Community project from March to November 2024 with financial support from Women Fund Tanzania Trust (WFT-T). The project aimed to reduce violence against women and children in two wards of Shinyanga District by addressing unequal gender power relations and dismantling harmful patriarchal norms.


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Violence against women and children (VAWC) remains a persistent challenge for Tanzania as it ravages areas such as Shinyanga District.

The Impact of Women Fund Trust
Tanzania in Advancing Women's Rights.

Empowering Girls to redefine Societal Narratives

Dismantling Barriers to Women's Leadership in Msangamkuu Village: “The First Female Chairperson"

Community Change Agents(CCA)-Led Interventions Strengthen Anti-VAWC Efforts

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The Impact of Women Fund Trust Tanzania in Advancing Women's Rights.

Empowering Girls to redefine Societal Narratives

Dismantling Barriers to Women's Leadership in Msangamkuu Village: “The First Female Chairperson"

Community Change Agents(CCA)-Led Interventions Strengthen Anti-VAWC Efforts

The Impact of Women Fund Trust
Tanzania in Advancing Women's Rights.