MSICHANA IMARA FOUNDATION

BACKGROUND

Girls' Education is a key foundation for gender equity and social justice in the community, girls who receive education are less likely to face gender-based violence and are more likely to earn income, participate in decision-making, hold leadership positions and build a better future for themselves and their families. However, despite all these amazing facts and truths surrounding girls’ education, Tanzanian girls face a lot of obstacles in accessing their right to education, these include female genital mutilation, early marriage, forced marriage, sexual harassment, early pregnancy, social norms, and period poverty. In Tanzania, due to the free education policy, in Primary and Secondary Schools, the rate of enrolment is getting closer for girls and boys (90% for boys and 89% for girls), but due to the mentioned obstacles, the retention and completions rate for girls get lower as we move to the higher levels.

ABOUT MSICHANA IMARA FOUNDATION

Msichana Imara Foundation (MIF) is a youth-led, non-governmental organization, registered to work in Tanzania mainland ,with its headquarters in Arusha region, which strives to promote girls’ rights to education through addressing the challenges they face. Msichana Imara is Swahili word which means Strong Girl, we use this word as a metaphor to define that our organization aims to develop girls who know their rights and can fight for them regardless the obstacles they encounter in their lives. Msichana Imara Foundation, not only promotes girls right to formal education but also to informal and non-formal education, which are both very important to the prosperity of girls especially in Marginalized areas.

OUR VISION

To develop a community with educated girls, who know their potential and productively participate in economic, social, political and cultural aspects without fear.

OUR MISSION

To address the key challenges hindering girls’ participation in education and equipping skills and knowledge that helps girls solve their social and economic problems.

MAIN AREAS OF WORK

i. Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR)

Lack of clear information about sexuality and poor access to menstrual product are among of the critical challenges affecting girls’ education. Msichana Imara Foundation, is implementing a project known as MAWIMBI project, which use innovative method to teach young girls on how to make to their own reusable sanitary pads using local materials that are found in their environment, such as cotton fabric, water proof materials and towel. On top of that we train girls on menstruation, puberty, sexuality, and family planning.

ii. Environment Conservation

Msichana Imara Foundation is also producing pads known as MAWIMBI REUSABLE PADS, which are environmental friendly, as they can be used two years consecutively. This is a social enterprise which provide income to marginalized girls who are employed as sewers, ensure availability of affordable reusable sanitary pads to girls in rural areas, conserve the environment and all the profit obtained is used to run the charity part of Msichana Imara Foundation.

iii. Inclusion of girls in Digital

We believe that digital skills are the key skills needed by youth to cope in the current, changing world. In most of developing countries including Tanzania, Girls are left behind in matters concerning technology. Msichana Imara foundation is implementing a project known as IMARIKA to help young girls to acquire digital skills, which will help them win the job market. Through this project, we conduct computer classes for girls who are in formal education systems and for those out of the formal education system.

iii. Supporting Girls Education

Msichana Imara Foundation is also supporting girl child education by providing necessary learning facilities such as books, school Uniforms, school bags, and menstrual sanitary products. The aim of this project is to keep girls in school, hence increasing the retention a completion rate of girls in school.

iv. Creating a Good learning environment in schools

Msichana Imara Foundation, is also advocating for the presence of classrooms, toilets, clean water, incinerator, and a private room for girls in schools to help them in managing their menses.

v. Skill Development

Msichana Imara Foundation also equips girls with skills that help them to solve their social and economic challenges, these skills include sewing, language development, baking, entrepreneurship, hairdressing, computer usage, and sports, and games. These skills are provided to marginalized girls to help them be valued in society and most girls use these skills as a source of employment.

THEORY OF CHANGE STRATEGY

If the main challenges hindering girls’ education are addressed, If girls are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to girls, and if laws and policies hindering girls' development are refined, girls will get their right to education which will help them unleash their full potential.

LINK TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Through our activities, we contribute to the promotion of the following SDG goals

i. SDG 1, No poverty

ii. SDG 3, Good Health and well being

iii.SDG 4, Quality Education

iv.SDG 5, Gender Equality

v. SDG 8, Decent work and economic growth.