Young African Women Support

The project

This project is all about young Tanzanian women and the challenges they go through in their life day today. We work with the woman shelter which safe house for girls in Arusha, Tanzania. We take in girls between the ages of 13 and 24 who have suffered from homelessness, neglect, unpaid labor, unconsensual marriage and ceremonies, unwanted pregnancy, trafficking, and sexual violence. We provide education, and encourage their individual development psychologically, physically, and socially. We believe with support each of our girls can lead happy, healthy lives. We believe that poverty and violence work in cycles, spreading from one generation to the next. If a girl does not have access to education, she will be at high risk of both poverty and violence throughout her life, and her children will be less likely to be educated, and will also be at high risk for poverty, homelessness, and violence throughout their lives. But, if that girl gets educated, she will have many more opportunities for a healthy and successful life, and she will teach and empower the next generation.

In addition to a formal education, we teach vocational and practical skills, their human rights, opening up more employment opportunities. We also emphasize confidence and decision making life skills, including an understanding of HIV/AIDS transmission and safety. This holistic approach aims to create further safeguards and help them escape the cycle of poverty.

Your work

The start of work is flexible at any time between 9am and 10am. The tasks of the volunteers are diverse and mostly freely selectable. You can start your work day with taking care of the young children, giving a hand at the sewing shop or the hair dresser, or helping to approve the administration work at the House. At around noon, most of the older girls and women will come back from school, and in the afternoon you can help them with their homework and tutoring. Additionally, they are even open to some educational games you might bring along and introduce to them. You will work together with the director Aristides, the grown up girls, and the young children based on your interests and the needs of the project. Some days you might be asked to give a helping hand with the daily cooking, shopping, or cleaning of the compound.

Some days might not come with a special task to do for you, so you have to be a bit creative and ask where your help is needed. Once in a while, you can take some of the girls on a walk through the neighborhood and listen to their stories and problems. Please Keep in mind that the girls and women were victims of human trafficking, were raped or experienced other horrible things. Please be confidential about what you are being told by the girls and be sensitive about their background. Don’t ask them anything that could make them feel uncomfortable. The women shelter has to remain a safe space for them!

You can help them to prepare for the next market where they will sell their products, or you could even start a fundraising campaign. Since most of the girls were not able to finish school or to attend college, donations are always needed to ensure a better future for the girls after their graduation, since schools and colleges in Tanzania are not for free.

You will be leaving close to the shelter and from your hostel, It will take you about 15 minutes walking to the woman shelter. As a volunteer your day will start in the morning at around 10am. You can start your day by taking care of the young children while their mothers attend school.