Empowering Children to Protect Themselves and Their Peers; Veronica's Story:

Violence against children remains a persistent challenge in Tanzania, with various forms affecting many young lives and in most cases cutting their dreams short. Statistics from the TDHS-MIS (2022) indicate that eight percent of girls aged between 15 and 19 have experienced physical violence, while teenage pregnancy among this age group stands at about 22%.

On the other hand, the Tanzania Human Rights 2023 report shows a significant increase in violent incidents, from 350 cases in 2022 to 464 in 2023 (LHRC, 2024). Moreover, the Tanzania Police Force reported around 15,901 incidents of violence against children (VAC) from January 2022 to March 2023.

Statistics, however, show that Shinyanga Region, is among the regions in the country with high VAC rates. And, to help address the challenge, YAWE implemented a project titled, “Keeping School Children Safe,” which focuses on empowering students to safeguard their rights and combat violence.

Veronica Mabula, a pupil from Didia is one of the beneficiaries of the project. Veronica lived a difficult life from a tender age. When her parents separated, she and her sibling were forced to live with their father and stepmother. This saw Veronica being exposed to all sorts of ill-treatment from the stepmother, including physical and psychological abuse. She recounted, “I was sometimes denied food and school supplies because my stepmother misused my school allowance. Sometimes I arrived late to school because I had to do all the housework before leaving, which affected my studies.”

Life, however, changed for the better when Veronica started participating in YAWE mentorship sessions on child protection. Through the sessions, Veronica and other members learned about their rights, different forms of violence, and how to report incidents confidentially. Empowered by this knowledge, Veronica courageously disclosed all the challenges to her counselor.

The counselor organized a meeting with Veronica’s parents to discuss child rights and the importance of education. They also held a meeting with close relatives to better understand Veronica’s situation, using the opportunity to address the issue. Additionally, the matter was reported to a Social Welfare Officer in collaboration with the MTAKUWWA Coordinator of the Shinyanga District Council. Follow-ups were conducted by all involved.

As a result of these efforts, Veronica’s stepmother’s behavior improved, and her family became more supportive. This led to a significant positive change in Veronica’s life. She now enjoys a supportive relationship with her stepmother and is no longer forced to perform household chores before school.

“I used to experience violence from my stepmother. She would frequently beat me for no reason and prevented me from talking to my mother. But now things have changed dramatically after my parents received education from YAWE. We children have also learned a lot from this organization—our confidence has increased, our parents are listening to us, and we now know where to report issues,” Veronica shared. Veronica’s academic performance has also improved. She now arrives at school on time, and her grades have shown significant progress. She reflects, “My life has become joyful. My stepmother supports my education, and I no longer face abuse. I am now punctual and focused, and my performance has improved substantially.”

Veronica's story is a testament to the positive impact of targeted interventions in addressing violence against children and fostering a supportive environment for their growth and success. It shows how, when empowered, children can protect themselves and their peers from abuse.

Reflecting on the contribution of the project, teachers shared their insights:“ This awareness has made things much easier for us as teachers and parents. Students now understand the violence and know where to report it. Parents also are aware of their responsibilities. This made us teachers concentrate only on our roles.

Throughout the project, YAWE successfully established and strengthened 15 school safety desks and 12 junior councils, involving a total of 515 members. These platforms have served as channels for children to voice their concerns, report any form of violence they experience at home or school, and discuss ways to prevent VAC, helping each other and those out of school.