Protect Girls from FGM in Tanzania

September has been another meaningful month for us at Hope for Girls and Women in Tanzania (HGWT). Thanks to your continued support, we have been able to offer protection, education and empowerment to girls and young women escaping harmful practices such as FGM, child marriage and GBV.

Safe Houses:Providing Protection and Hope

Our two safe houses in Mugumu and Butiama continued to provide safety and shelter to 182 survivors in September.

• At Mugumu Safe House, we supported 88 girls incluidng survivors of FGM, child marriage, battery and vulnerable children and admit new girls.
• At Butiama Safe House, we provided care to 94 girls with new admissions of girls escaping early marriage and abuse

During the month, 4 girls successfully reconciled with their families and 4 new children were rescued in collaboartion with social welfare officers and police.

Education and Skills Training

Education remains a cornerstone of our work. This month, 173 survivors across both safe houses attended different education levels; from Primary school level to Vocational and tour guide courses.

We also provided school supplies and learning materials to support their academic journey. Beyond formal education, the girls engaged in vocational skills training such as tailoring, beekeeping, gardening, bracelet making and hotel management to help them build self - reliance.

Agriculture and Gardening

Through our Sayuni Garden, the girls learned organic farming methods and harvested a variety of vegetables including tomatoes, spinach, collard greens and African nightshade. These activities not only support our daily nutrition needs but also empower the girls with practical life skills.

Legal Support and Justine

In partnership with the Police Gender Desk and Social Welfare Offices, we continued to pursue justice for survivors. The number of active court cases has dropped from 14 to 3, marking a significant step farward in resolving pending legal matters.

Wellbeing, Training and Empowerment

• 18 yoga sessions were held via zoom to boost physical and mental well - being.
• self - defense training, supported by Polish Aid, equipped 78 girls with skills to protect themselves from harm.
• First Aid and Personal hygiene trainings were conducted at Butiama safe house to improve health knowledge and preparedness.

Ongoing Challenges

While we celebrate our achievements, we continue to face major challanges including:

• Limited funds for daily safe house operations (food, education, healthcare, personal needs etc).
• Operatinh in rented facilities, which limits our capacity during peak rescue seasons.

Your continued support helps us bridge these gaps and ensure that every girl can live in safety and dignity.