On behalf of the United States Government, thank you all for joining us to launch these training efforts, which mark an important step forward in addressing gender-based violence and supporting safe learning environments.
Gender-based violence remains a grave reality for countless women and youth in Tanzania and around the world, affecting victims regardless of socioeconomic status or background.
When it comes to our children, the threat of violence both inside and outside the classroom challenges every student’s right to a quality education, and by extension, a fair shot at life. For this reason, the United States has been proud to partner with the Government of Tanzania under the Waache Wasome program to make sure no child has to put their dreams on hold due to school- or gender-based violence.
First launched in 2017 through the United States Agency for International Development, Waache Wasome has scaled up its efforts from six schools to 36, working with communities and local officials to ensure adolescent girls are participating in secondary school while addressing norms and socioeconomic barriers that might prevent them from remaining enrolled.
Today marks the next step in this partnership. In support of Tanzania’s National Plan of Action to End Violence against Women and Children, these training efforts will reach over 1,300 teachers and 26,000 adolescents, giving them the knowledge and tools they need to bring about lasting solutions to this problem.
Additionally, the rollout of “Protect Our Youth” clubs will complement this work by providing a peer-to-peer support network covering a wide range of adolescent needs, including health education and basic life skills.
These activities not only represent the latest support to Tanzania’s national action plan against gender-based violence, but are also a critical piece of the U.S. Government’s broader assistance to the people of Tanzania.
Beyond combatting gender-based violence, the U.S. Government supports a wide range of activities in education, including lifelong early grade learning skills for more than 1.4 million pupils and training for 26,000 teachers under the Tusome Pamoja program.
And through our work in other sectors to support a more prosperous, productive, and inclusive Tanzania—whether it be through programs in health, economic growth, or good governance—the U.S. Government continues to seek ways to safeguard the rights of women and youth across the board.
As such, I am particularly excited to see how these efforts empower teachers and students and lead to safer learning environments. Resolving these issues remains a priority of U.S. Government efforts in Tanzania, and we hope today’s event inspires us all to redouble our efforts in eradicating gender-based violence within schools and communities.