Tanzania: YWCA Starts Human Rights Program for Women

Makama is a 28 year old housewife who grew up in the village of  Simanjiro on the outskirts of Arusha, Tanzania.  Her family arranged for her to be married at the age of 15 to a 70 year old man.  During this marriage her aged husband’s sons sexually abused and brutally beat her.    Unfortunately this is not an unusual situation and women from the villages around Arusha accept violence against them as part of their daily life. 

A few months ago the YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association), a non-governmental organization in Tanzania  embarked on a program to offer training to women and children on their rights and domestic violence.  The training is taking place in a church in Arusha and so far has helped women who live in the villages as well as students from the Arusha Secondary School.

       The project faces many challenges because domestic violence and acts of wife beating is part of the tradition for many tribal groups.  It is hoped that attitudes can be changed slowly through the process of education.  The program teaches that it is the responsibility of all people to protect children and women against violence and molestation. 

The objective of the program is to redefine the way women look at their lives and help them to understand what their rights are.  It is hoped that this will produce peaceful family units that will lead the way for  positive futures for the youth in the villages around Arusha.