Sitanyamaza

ABOUT THIS PROJECT


Empowering Children and Women to Speak Up and Report Abuse

Child abuse is a pervasive problem in Tanzania, with many children and women suffering in silence due to fear, shame, and lack of access to support. According to a 2019 report by the Tanzania Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, 32% of girls and 23% of boys experience sexual violence before the age of 18. These staggering statistics highlight the urgent need to address child abuse in Tanzania and empower children and women to speak up and get the help they need.


RUFFO has launched the Sitanyamaza (I won't stay silent) campaign to tackle child abuse and promote child and women's protection in the country. The campaign comprises several initiatives aimed at providing children and women with a safe and anonymous way to report abuse and encouraging them to speak up and break the silence.


One of the key initiatives of the Sitanyamaza campaign is the Sitanyazama Boxes, which are placed in schools and communities, especially in remote areas where children and women lack access to mobile phones. The boxes provide a confidential and discreet way for children and women to report abuse and get the help they need. RUFFO staff and local authorities regularly check the boxes to ensure that any reports of abuse are investigated and addressed promptly. The Sitanyamaza Boxes provide a powerful tool in the fight against child and women abuse and help to protect and empower children and women in remote areas.

Another important initiative of the Sitanyamaza campaign is the Sitanyamaza Fun Run, an annual event that takes place on December 10th, which is International Human Rights Day. The Fun Run is a fun-filled day with events that raise awareness about child and women's rights and provide a platform for children and women to learn about their rights and how to report abuse. The Fun Run is an important event that helps to empower children and women and create a safer community for them to grow up in.


Additionally, Sitanzamaya Clubs are in-school clubs that promote child and women participation and advocate for child and women's rights and human rights. As part of the Tanzania National Plan of Action to end Violence Against Women and Children, Sitanzamaya Clubs are an essential tool to increase children's and women's clubs in schools. Children and women get a space to learn about abuse, violence including bullying, and are trained on how to advise and mobilize others to break the silence and report all forms of abuse. The Sitanyamaza campaign aligns with Tanzania's National Plan of Action to end Violence against Women and Children, which aims to increase awareness of child and women abuse and promote child and women protection. By providing children and women with safe and anonymous ways to report abuse and encouraging them to speak up, the Sitanyamaza campaign is empowering children and women to take control of their lives and break the cycle of abuse.

RUFFO relies on donations to continue its crucial work in protecting children and women from abuse and promoting child and women's protection in Tanzania. We urge everyone to support our Sitanyamaza campaign by making a donation or placing a donation box in your organization or business. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of Tanzania's children and women and ensure that they grow up in a safe and nurturing environment.

Help us  create a brighter future for the children of Tanzania.

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