Herewith a brief interim report on the 2020/2021 cutting season.
Overview of the number of girls at the Safe Houses end January 2021
Hope for Girls and Women Tanzania (HGWT) accommodated 434 girls at the two Safe Houses during the two-month seasonal cutting period. The reconciliation was done in collaboration with Police Gender Desk officers, Social Welfare, a psychologist and Hope staff; 98% of new girls rescued were reconciled with their families.
Mugumu Safe House: there were 207 girls in the Mugumu Safe House on January 1, 2021, with 68 girls remaining at the end of January 2021, therefore successfully reconciling 139 girls with their families. A further breakdown of this number is:
- 40 girls are at ongoing risk of FGM;
- 7 girls are at risk of child marriage;
- 19 girls are victims of gender-based violence;
- 2 girls are orphans.
Butiama Safe House: there were 227 girls in the Butiama Safe House on January 1, 2021, with 56 girls remaining at the end of January 2021, therefore successfully reconciling 171 girls with their families. A further breakdown of this number is:
- 23 girls are at ongoing risk of FGM;
- 14 girls are at risk of child marriage;
- 16 girls are victims of gender-based violence;
- 3 girls are orphans.
Alternative Rites of Passage (ARP) ceremonies
Smaller scale ARP ceremonies were conducted at both Safe Houses in the presence of government leaders, community leaders, influential persons in the community and parents. 424 girls were presented with educational materials and school uniforms.
Overview of education and vocational training
HGWT has been able to support girls in the continuation of their schooling and enrolling others in vocational training.
- 37 girls joined the tailoring and entrepreneurship classes.
- 3 girls are continuing with hotel management and hospitality training.
- A total of 67 are enrolled in different schools.
Medical examination/health checks
A health check is done on all girls arriving at the Safe Houses; this is done in collaboration with the Police Gender Desk and the Social Welfare Department. Where required, girls are referred to the local hospital for follow-up treatment. Psychosocial counselling is offered to all girls.
Update on legal proceedings
- Butiama: three gender-based violence (rape) are ongoing in Butiama and one perpetrator was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment.
- Mugumu/Serengeti: nine gender-based violence cases (rape) in the district with one perpetrator sentenced to 30 years imprisonment; three new FGM cases were initiated because of seasonal cutting in 2020/2021.
Vegetable gardening at the Safe Houses
There are two vegetable gardens where different types of vegetables are grown; 200 kg cassava was harvested, as well as 20 kg of collard greens.
Other events
Participation in the Law Week: girls from both Safe Houses participated in the Day of the Law in partnership with the Serengeti District Court. The purpose of the event is to create awareness of how law enforcement can support people in different areas of their lives, ranging from legal counselling and aid to the reduction of gender-based violence in the area.
Donations from the Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti; staff from the lodge visited the Mugumu Safe House on January 16 and donated educational materials, personal hygiene products, various food products and a gas cooker.
A final word from Rhobi
Thank you very much to FAWCO, Netzwerk Rafael, Tanzania Development Trust, Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, Nomad Tanzania and various individuals for supporting Hope for Girls and Women Tanzania in their fight against GBV and supporting the education of the girls.