Explore our work
Tanzania
In East Africa, Tanzania has few natural resources and its economy is based largely on agriculture. It has the lowest rate of high school enrollment in Africa.
In 2005, the Tanzanian government pledged to increase high school enrolment from 6 percent to 48 percent by 2010. Camfed Tanzania launched that same year, and we are playing a key role in helping Tanzania reach this goal.
We first started our work in the town of Iringa, where many girls who couldn’t afford high school were leaving home to become “house girls” in urban centers. Frequently, they were abused and exploited, and many returned home infected with HIV or pregnant. By paying their school costs, we were able to support 4,025 girls through high school.
At Camfed, we recognize young rural women have potential. What they need is for someone to believe in them because that leads them to believe in themselves. That’s what leads to change.—Lydia Wilbard, founding member of Cama Tanzania
Here are other highlights of our work in Tanzania:
- In 2008, we integrated an innovative programme “Tuseme,” which means “let’s speak out” into our work. Designed by Camfed Tanzania Executive Director Penina Mlama to boost girls’ confidence and build leadership skills, the programme culminated with girls developing school improvement plans.
- The first group of Camfed-supported girls finished high school in 2008. Cama was established in all seven districts we operate in. The women’s-organization now has 1,082 members.
- 175 Cama members have been trained as Community Health Trainers and reached 7,535 children and young people with vital health information.
- We’ve provided 1,235 young women with business start-up grants and a further 15 have transitioned to business-expanding loans.
-
We've improved educational opportunities for 51,695 children in Tanzania.
-
Our programs are operational in 10 school districts in Tanzania.
-
Since 2005, we've partnered with 457 rural schools.
-
In Tanzania, Cama, the Camfed Association, has 1,514 young women members.
-
We've helped 1,250 young women learn economic skills and launch new businesses.
-
We've trained 234 young women to educate others on HIV/AIDS prevention and care.
