Empowering Girls to redefine Societal Narratives

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.