Mentors and community members in Kinondoni, Dar es Salaam
DAR ES SALAAM, 8 November 2010 -- At a public gathering held in their home neighborhood of Kinondoni, five girls were welcomed and congratulated for their achievements after taking part in a 6 month training supported by AusAID. The girls were introduced to local women in a public gathering organizated in collaboration with the local government. These empowered girls made public testimonials as to how Chipua had made a difference in their lives.
"I was sitting at home, idle, disappointed without any vision or any understanding of what I had to do, or what role I had to play in my society. But then I was lucky I found Chipua, where I learned that change starts with me. So, that was the starting point," said Albertina Fungumeza, a program participant since March 2010. "Since then, I have gone a long way. I am not the Albertina I used to be. I know how to use my hands to create money, how to start a business, how to prevent HIV/AIDS, and above all, I know that I have to help my community to develop."
Victoria Sylvester another program participant continued, "the community will only develop when us women work together."
The women from the community expressed their delight and congratulated the girls, who are referred to as mentors from now onward. These mentors will use a publication produced specifically for this purpose and impart their knowledge on life skills to other girls in the Kinondoni area. As part of the program, the mentors form their own girl groups and meet once a week to learn together and support one another.
The public gathering was the first in a series planned to connect the program participants with their home communities where they will be mentoring other girls and women who need help.
"I was sitting at home, idle, disappointed without any vision or any understanding of what I had to do, or what role I had to play in my society. But then I was lucky I found Chipua, where I learned that change starts with me. So, that was the starting point," said Albertina Fungumeza, a program participant since March 2010. "Since then, I have gone a long way. I am not the Albertina I used to be. I know how to use my hands to create money, how to start a business, how to prevent HIV/AIDS, and above all, I know that I have to help my community to develop."
Victoria Sylvester another program participant continued, "the community will only develop when us women work together."
The women from the community expressed their delight and congratulated the girls, who are referred to as mentors from now onward. These mentors will use a publication produced specifically for this purpose and impart their knowledge on life skills to other girls in the Kinondoni area. As part of the program, the mentors form their own girl groups and meet once a week to learn together and support one another.
The public gathering was the first in a series planned to connect the program participants with their home communities where they will be mentoring other girls and women who need help.
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