16 Champions of Change 2021 – Ant GBV Awards

Janeth John Kiko – CHAMPION IN ENDING CHILD MARRIAGE

She has conducted a campaign named “educlass” aimed at providing education on how to prevent early pregnancy and early marriage in Pangani and Muheza Districts in Tanga region. She has rescued many girls in Tanga region who were forced to marry at their early age, as well as educating girls who got pregnant while in the standard seven to form four. Some of these students are continuing with their studies at VETA Vocational College, and others are waiting for opportunities to further education. The campaign has helped Kwezitotu school to perform well and is ranked third school in the district in standard seven result.

Prisca Matiwili Ngweshemi – CHAMPION IN ENDING FGM

Has been at the forefront of exposing the illegal conspiracy of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the community around her and successfully rescuing girls who were hidden in prepared to be circumcised, with the support from the police. She has been receiving   threats and harassment from traditional leaders and authorities that supports FGM, a situation that has put her life in jeopardy.

Her efforts were not limited to saving lives, but also reporting these incidences to the police and then follow up in the courts process and providing shelter in a safe house and sometimes in her own house.

Bishop Dr. Kissiri Laiser – RELIGIOUS LEADER CHAMPION

Bishop Isaac Kissiri Laiser is Bishop from Tanzania Lutheran church-West Central Diocese He has served in a position of a Bishop for the term of 3 years and 5 months in Tabora region He has been pioneering a campaign against GBV in ares of Sikonge, Ndala and the whole Tabora at large. He has established women empowerment groups that brings women together and facilitate them with skills, and economic projects that gives them financial freedom and sets them free from being dependent to their husbands, the situation that is said to be the main cause of the intimate partners violence.

He has also established a great and important campaign advocating against child labour in tobacco plantations. He also established a campaign against polygamy that is seen to be a reason for unstable family because husband’s poor economic status cannot accommodate more than one family. He also established a campaign against early marriage and Early pregnancy in the society.

Bishop Isaac Kissiri Laiser has been much involved in community mobilization in collaboration with the Government and other development partners in educating the society and equipping them with entrepreneurship skills that will enable them to earn.

Currently Bishop Isaac Kissiri Laiser is an African Champion on campaigns against GBV.

Sheikh Mohamed Kadidi – RELIGIOUS LEADER CHAMPION

Is the Regional Sheikh for Manyara region and also a chairman of the regional interfaith committee and among the religious leaders who participated in the development of the Religious leaders’ communication strategy for Sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR), Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and COVID 19, the document which was facilitated by the health department of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. Manyara being among the regions with the high rate of GBV,

Sheikh Kadidi has been involved in providing education and support to GBV survivors, advocating for equal rights among Muslim women and girls and instructing the faith leaders under his care; districts and ward sheikhs and Imams to do the same. Most recently, Sheikh Kadidi has been involved in settling the land dispute between two ethnic groups which has resulted in rape cases and many other violent acts, his involvement has been in talking to the communities, teaching the Word of God and following up the implementation of different agreed resolutions towards

Msafiri Mchenya – TRADITIONAL LEADER CHAMPION

He is a famous traditional leader in Nhundulu Village-Misungwi at Mwanza Region. After attending gender trainings, Mr. Mchenya became the champion in encouraging the community to educate girls, and has saved many girls from child marriage.He has encouraged the community to change their mindset and providing opportunities for women to participate in various leadership positions despite of their traditions and customs.Mr. Msenya has been a good example in his community by allowing and motivating his wife to participate in leadership and now his wife is a member of the Village Government.

Pili Hassan Maguzo – ARTIST CHAMPION IN ENDING GBV

Is a woman with disability who found a female band called Bahati Female Band. The band aims at uplifting women and disabled by rising awareness to the community on gender-based violence. The band has been a source of employment for women and people with disabilities by performing at concerts and performing plays on gender-based violence. Through their artistic messages they have been able to reach thousands of community members and educate them on gender-based violence.

Rachel Emmanuel Nzengo – JOURNALIST CHAMPION IN ENDING GBV

Is a young journalist from Mlimani Radio through a program called “Sauti ya Haki” whereby she prepares radio content on Gender, Violence and Women’s Rights She has been working as a journalist and activist against gender-based violence for three years now. One of her working modalities is by inviting various experts and activists to discuss on gender-based violence in the community, and to prepare an Investigative Article on incidence of gender-based violence.

Flora Lauo – CHAMPION IN ENDING ONLINE GENDER BASED VIOLENCE

Flora Lauo, is a women’s rights activist, she has been at the forefront defending women’s rights. Through the institution she founded Nitetee she has been exposing the difficulties of victims of sexual violence. Apart from exposing she has been at the forefront in ensuring access to appropriate services and actions for victims and offenders addressed. Through online campaigns, Flora has been able to help thousands of people, including the disabled, by raising funds for medical bills, providing scholarships for them and providing them with temporary housing as a result of the violence. But for more than 15 years she has been providing education on the upbringing and development of girl child through social media and she has been able to attract many girls and help them gain self-esteem and self-confidence.

Angela Benedicto – CHAMPION IN ENDING GBV AGAINST DOMESTIC WORKERS

After becoming a housemaid and experiencing sexual violence and abuse the situation that has been troubling many domestic domestic workers. Angela has been instrumental in defending justice and opposing sexual violence against domestic workers. She has also been reporting cruelty to the relevant authorities. Through these movements she has been able to save and rescue many girls by setting up safe houses to provide shelter and training for victims of sexual and domestic violence.

Veronica Lymo – CHAMPION IN ENDING GBV AGAINST PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS

Veronica actively advocating for people living with HIV/AIDS for a long time especially in Chamwino, Mpwapwa, Dodoma City, Kilosa Municipality, Kibaha and Chalinze, Morogoro as well as Dar es Salaam.Through these movements she has been at the forefront in educating women and girls living with HIV/AIDS on self-acceptance, acceptance of treatment and economic recovery as well as access to HIV/AIDS testing services, mother-to-child transmission and the whole issue of HIV/AIDS and sexual violence.she has also been able to connect many young people in schools, colleges who are infected with HIV/AIDS.

Joyce Kiango – CHAMPION IN ADVOCATING CHILD RIGHTS

Joyce has been a teacher who uses participatory methods to teach children without punishing and hurting them, instead the children enjoy the teaching methods she uses and understand better.Through her teaching, she has been able to prove that children can be taught and understand without resorting to harsh punishment. She has also established a “primary teachers connect” platform that aims to educate other teachers so that they know the right technique to teach children friendly and avoid corporal punishment or other forms that do not build a child’s well-being.

Benjamin Stephen Mzinga – CHAMPION IN ENDING HUMAN TRAFFICKING

For four years now, Benjamin has been making a personal effort to compile a special article on the whole issue of human trafficking, including compiling a special report on the trafficking of people deported to India where they were sexually exploited and subjected to forced labor, free of charge.

Through these efforts the girls were able to be liberated and repatriated to Tanzania, he was also able to trigger a debate in parliament and the government to intervene and issue a statement. This has helped reduce the incidence of many girls wish to work abroad without proper information and proper procedure.

David Msemwa – CHAMPION USING INNOVATION IN ENDING GBV.

David Msemwa, is among of the four students from St. Joseph University who invented the machine (ATM) female towels. The machine gives girls the ability to buy pads directly at a a cheaper price, and also helps in emergencies and for those who feel embarrassed to go shopping especially in stores with male dealers.

Angela Edwinio Kilasi – CHAMPION IN ENDING GBV AGAINST PERSON WITH DISABILITIES

Is the author of a book called “Nimepoteza Macho Sio Utu” which aims to motivate and encourage people with disabilities Also, by composing songs, she managed to educate people with disabilities and also, she is an ambassador of fimbo nyeupe campaign. Furthermore, she has been able to provide support for people with disabilities to attend various events and conferences which are productive to them.

Through her life Angela has demonstrated in action that the disabled can also do great.

Janeth Mwasawala – GBV CHAMPION OF CHANGE

Is one of the women who have experienced various forms of sexual violence. Through violence, she has been able to free herself and explain her life through a book called “MAISHA YANGU YAOKOE UHAI WANGU “something which is common and tolerable for victims to share their stories to educate others.

She is a hero to many women to whom their rights have been violated, and gave them hope and courage to fight against gender-based violence

Eliwilimina Buberwa – SEXUAL AND PRODUCTIVE HEALTH CHAMPION

After recognizing the importance of girls attending school, Eliwilimina has been designing and training tailoring pads by using local materials for over 300 students, community members and 40 groups in different regions such as Shinyanga, Kilimanjaro and Arusha and also distributing pads to students with disabilities.

Through this method she has been able to solve the challenge that many girls have been facing, especially poor families, that leads to not attending school failure to buy pads.

She also runs weekly classes in her office to enable girls to learn about reproductive health and to make pads.