CELEBRATING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH IN TANZANIA

Posted in the March 2023 Newsletter

March is Women's History Month and I wanted to share the amazing work that Wesley College is doing on a daily basis to promote female education and support. It is proven that empowering women enhances our communities. The United Nations states: "Increasing women’s and girls’ educational attainment contributes to women’s economic empowerment and more inclusive economic growth."

In honor of Women's History Month, Wesley College opened a Gender Based Violence Desk for female students. The desk will be a safe place managed by Ms. Teresa; but will also have the principal, Dean, tutors, and students helping.

"In Tanzania, 40% of all women aged 15-49 years have experienced physical violence, while 17% have experienced sexual violence. Of women aged 15-49, 44% have experienced either physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner."

-The World Bank, 2022

Gender-based violence is a problem in the community and can hinder females in their educational endeavors. Wesley College has found specific ways, like this desk, to combat the violence towards women. Wesley College will also have trainings for staff to spot gender-based violence, clubs for students to empower them to raise awareness with peers, and constant notifications around campus on identifying gender-based violence.

To show the seriousness of this violence- Wesley College will keep records from complainants and report these quarterly to the Wesley management and the Ministry of Community Development,Gender,Women and Special Groups to University and Colleges.

"This desk is important to the College, staff and students because it will help us to know in detail what is gender-based violence; help to reduce it among the community by providing education. Through reporting different cases -it will help us to know the situations about different violence happening within our college and reduce them. We will be ambassadors who are against any gender-based violence."

-Bocho Charles

I also wanted to share some numbers on what we've accomplished since 2017 with growth of female students and staff. In 2017, we had 51 female students that made up 41% of our student body. In 2022-- we've grown to 102 female students that make up 55% of our student body. This growth shows the desire for education in Tanzania for females and how Wesley College is meeting that need. Further- we started Wesley College with 2 female staff members, but now have 9 outstanding female staff leading our students.

We love highlighting our graduates- specifically this month one of our female graduates and a way she has transformed many communities through a great program. Veronica Marwa is a 2020 graduate with a diploma in Theology. She is currently serving as the Co-Director of Wesley House where she works to bring young adults of different nationalities together to grow to live a life of servant leadership.

"As the Women's Ministry Coordinator, I meet women in our neighborhood. I listen to their life stories and help them spiritually in terms of knowing God. But I also help their physical needs by assisting with small capital for starting a business."

Click HERE to read more about the amazing work Veronica is doing at Wesley House!

We celebrate the women that came before us who impact where we are today--as well as current females. More so- Wesley College strives to see the future that women have in our communities and strive to continue to empower them through education and support.

Blessings,

Eric Soard

Executive Director, Wesley College Foundation