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Moro villagers carry child abuse prevention experiences to Lindi
2007-10-02 10:08:08
By Pastory Nguvu
A Delegation of five people from Mwarazi Village in Morogoro Region is in Mchinga Moja in Lindi Region to discuss on ways to curb poverty believed to be the reason behind child sexual abuse and exploitation.
The Executive Director of Tanzania Media Women`s Association (TAMWA), Analilea Nkya, said yesterday in Dar es Salaam that the visit to Mchinga Moja has been arranged by her organization.
Nkya said the delegation includes Flavian Mwendakazi, Zainabu Athuman, Zaituni Abdalah, Salum Omar and Abdallah Mgude, all members of Mwarazi Development and Children Rights Committee.
“The delegation is expected to brief their counterparts at Mchinga Moja on practical experiences to reduce child-marriages and primary school pregnancies at Mwarazi,” said Nkya.
Nkya said that through their support, Mwarazi villagers had undertaken community sensitisation activities that include information education, communication, strategic group work in farming and building houses.
``The success of Mwarazi is reflected in the villagers’ realisation of the linkage between household poverty and violation of child rights,`` she said.
She said that the rate of child-marriage had been reduced at Mwarazi following community initiatives to ensure that households have enough food, descent houses and money for other family needs. In the past, families married off their children to get bride price.
TAMWA had been working with Mwarazi Village since 2004 to fight child sexual exploitation perpetuated through cultural practices and beliefs including child-marriage.
Recently, a journalist from TAMWA visited Mwarazi Village and talked to the Village Chairperson, Ahmadi Iddi Debwe, who said that only one girl from Mwarazi Primary School became pregnant last year, compared to more than five pupils in 2003.
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