Education and vocational training for teenage mothers
Hardly any other country registers as many early pregnancies as Tanzania. One quarter of Tanzanian girls become pregnant before the age of 18. Many get involved with a man under false promises and do not know how to protect themselves against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Sexuality is a major taboo subject in Tanzania. No sooner are the girls pregnant than the men often leave them. The expectant mothers are also expelled from school and socially stigmatised. Under these conditions, it is hardly possible for them to break out of the cycle of poverty and lead a dignified life.
Background information
Tanzania, located in the east of Africa, is one of the poorest countries in the world. This is one of the reasons why many girls and young women enter into sexual relationships with older men out of necessity, making financial promises or offering them supposed security. Far too often, however, it happens that these men only have a sexual interest in them. The emergency situation, the powerlessness and the hopes of the young women are shamelessly exploited. They know nothing about contraception, as this subject is taboo at home and sexual and health education has no place within the Tanzanian education and school system. In case of pregnancy the girls are abandoned. In addition, pregnant girls are immediately excluded from education because it is feared that they might have a negative influence on other young people. This is by order of the Tanzanian President John Magafuli. Thus, teenage mothers lack the education and income for a secure future. Bitter poverty and social discrimination are the result.
The project
With the project of our partner organisation EBLI, we are making an important contribution to reducing the number of early pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases through knowledge transfer in schools and youth clubs. We also empower teenage mothers with educational programs and support for their own economic initiatives. In this way they can escape destructive dependencies for themselves and their children and build a self-determined future.
Beneficiaries
Every year we support 120 young mothers aged between 13 and 20 years with training programmes. We reach about 1000 young people every year with our information events and another 500 in our youth clubs.
Why teenagers?
Young people are no longer child enough to be considered worthy of protection. At the same time, they are not yet adult enough to be taken seriously by society. They fall between the chair and the bench. They are the society of tomorrow and have the will to bring about change. terre des hommes schweiz sees the promotion of young people as an opportunity for effective and sustainable solutions in our project countries.
How we achieve our goals
- We impart knowledge about sexual health, contraception, protection against HIV/AIDS and teenage pregnancy. This offer is aimed at pupils and teachers, but also at young people outside school structures.
- We raise awareness of the sexual rights of young people, especially girls, through awareness-raising work at community level and through media presence (TV and radio work).
- We run training programmes for young mothers (PC courses, basic business knowledge, self-organisation).
- We provide psychological support to the often traumatised young mothers and strengthen their self-confidence.
Progress so far
In the last three years of the project phase, 360 young mothers from 37 districts have completed the vocational training. 201 of them have become self-employed and earn their own income. There are 14 youth clubs at the schools, which pass on their knowledge on the topic of sexual health. There are also 10 youth clubs outside of school structures.
Our partner organization
The project team of EFLI (Education For Better Living Organization) consists of experts with legal and economic backgrounds and experience in youth work and counselling. terre des hommes schweiz has been supporting the organisation since 2012.
Thanks to our partner organisation EBLI, Khadija has regained her courage and self-confidence and recognised her strengths. In the training course she acquired business knowledge and learned how to use a computer.
