One of the indicators of our success in capacity building is transformation of the project participants who are socio-economically disadvantaged girls, to the point that they join Chipua team in order to reach out to many more girls and help them build capacity.  In 2019, there were 4 such girls who joined Chipua team.  In March 2020, COVID-19 pandemic became the obstacle to go out and start any project.  But, we did not waste time, rather continued with training of the project officers and assessing the best locations for project implementation.  When the government announced people should live as normal, we were ready to embark our projects.
In June, the project officers along with the coordinator, chose three locations in three suburbs in Dar es Salaam.  These locations are Gongolamboto, Kigamboni and Msasani.  In each location about 50 girls registered their names, and soon training started. 
Currently, there are 50-60 participants in all locations who are continuing with the training.  Some of the participants with the assistant of the project officers have already started their own small businesses and are trying to stand on their own feet.  It is very exciting time for them, like a child who takes the first step.

There were two locations from which children from low income families were assisted to better understand school subjects and perform better.  There were 30 children ranging from standard 3 to high school taking part in the project.  The results obtained from their respective schools confirmed that the intervention to help these children was needed.  Some of the children had improved and some had excelled and moved from bottom of the class to the top. 

The project took off in May 2019 and still going on.  Two of the facilitators and other support team members took part in recruiting the beneficiaries to be, for this project.  They showed a great deal of resilience in the face of heat, sun and the rain.  Will post more later.  For now these snap shot to indicate how dedicated the team working at Chipua is.

​With a new projects comes new hopes for new girls.  We are always hopeful that with every project, we implement new strategies and ideas, and hence a new horizon.  Life is always ever changing, evolving, and with every day comes new hope and strength.
This project of Chipua involves 20 of the most disadvantaged girls from different neighborhoods in Dar es Salaam.  All eager to learn and all thirsty for knowledge.  It started in November 2017 and it is intended to be completed by end of March 2018.  Although we might extend it a little bit, depending on what the girls need. 

​The current project offered by Chipua started in May 2016, and takes place in Tandika. Tandika, a suburb situated on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam, has a high population and also a high unemployment rate. Why did we choose Tandika? This is a question worth answering. While we were working in Mbagala last year, some residents of Tandika found out about our services through word of mouth. This led to consultation with the local government in Tandika and consequently they requested us to offer our training in their community.  The local government has been very supportive, providing a classroom in a local school as our training base with chairs, tables and a chalk board.  
Initially there were about 180 women at the beginning of the project. However as the training went on and weeks passed by, their numbers dropped down to a steady number of 70 participants, which was expected. The class has now divided into two groups, the first we identified as mamas and the second group of younger participants as the girls.  The Mama’s group come together on Mondays through to Wednesdays and the girls work together from Thursdays to Saturdays.

The project has taken off beautifully with committed trainers, and the participants that are very serious and hard working. The training is free of charge in order to make it possible for the most disadvantaged to attend the training, otherwise the burden of paying even small fee would otherwise hinder many from attending this vital education. Some of the subjects offered are human rights / women’s rights, nutrition, health, equality of genders, book keeping, the english language, business management. Vocational skills like soap making, embroidery, and room decoration are also included.​

In addition, the project aims at empowering the participants to become financially self reliant. In order to reach this objective, participants have been practicing running soap making businesses in 4 different groups. As a result they are learning business management, team work and collaboration skills. In the past few months all groups have made soap, and have been able to put the money generated into more businesses. 

Both groups are exceptionally motivated and eager to learn. So much so that they also bring their babies and young children with them as they acquire their new skills. Every discussion is infused with laughter and at times intense debate as they collectively form a more robust understanding of the topic at hand. 

On Sunday 15 of November over a 100 of Chipua project participants took part in a whole day celebration, marking the UN Human Rights Day, and the International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women. The girls and women organised the program which included songs about women's right, dramas depicting violence and mistreatments of women.  Also talks on their vision for future and how they want to go forward.  

The training took place from December 2014 to May 2015 (above photo). More than ten facilitators were trained, and by the end of the training several of those trained worked closely with the local governments of their area and started facilitating a training of the disadvantaged girls in their own neighbourhoods.  

As we strolled through Kariakoo market we arrived at a shoe maker's stall and began speaking about his craftsmanship. We discussed the Chipua Centre and how the girls were learning vocational skills to then be able to start a small business to earn an income. 

The shoemaker's interest was sparked and he offered to come and host a sandal making class for the girls to learn his professional trade. 

The following week the shoemaker came with all his tools to Chipua. He spoke passionately about his work explaining what materials were needed and step by step instructions of how to make the delicate sandals. 
The excitement and determination coming from the girls could be sensed by the number of questions they were asking as well as their eagerness to try making the sandals. 

This practical element was combined with the theory of starting a small sandal making business. We explored business strategies including the material costs, selling price and profit margins. 

The seminar was concluded successfully as the shoemaker felt he had provided a service to some of the girls in his community and the girls left inspired with their newly learned skills, an enthusiasm to keep practising and for some a desire to start selling sandals.