#ReclaimingInnovation: Innovation is Inclusivity for Young Women in Southern Tanzania

Forty-six years ago to the day, thousands of Black school children protested the poor quality of their education in Soweto, South Africa. Hundreds of students were shot and killed that day and in the following weeks as they fought for this basic right to education. International Day of the African Child was born in 1991, initiated by the Organisation of African Unity, to honour those who took part in the Soweto Uprising, to promote children’s rights, and to focus on the challenges facing the continent’s children and youth.

In Southern Tanzania, Caroline confidently explains the challenges her and other youth like her face, “When I was 16 I had my first child, I was passionate about learning, but couldn’t because I needed to take care of my kid. I didn’t have enough money or any way to gain income. At home, there was a sewing machine but I didn't know how to use it. During my second pregnancy, I heard about a sewing training so I went, but afterwards still wasn’t sure how to start a business. After this [the GRREAT Program] I knew how to start my sewing business and that I wanted to be able to help girls like me.”

UNICEF Tanzania’s GRREAT Programme, funded by Global Affairs Canada and facilitated in Mbeya by implementing partner RLabs Tanzania, promotes children’s rights in a different way. The environment that children grow up in impacts all aspects of their life– their health, nutrition, education, and later, professional opportunities. The GRREAT Programme focuses on innovation (particularly in innovative ways!) like making sure that those members of society who are not normally included–?out of school girls, adolescent mums, and girls with no digital literacy– are given an opportunity. 50% of participants only have a primary education, while a?further 18% didn’t complete primary school.

In May, participants of the GRREAT Programme, including Caroline and other young mums like her, took part in a Girls Digital Innovation Bootcamp. During the two weeks, the girls deepened their understanding of nutrition and adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) and were challenged to think about how they could expand their business ideas. After the two weeks, Caroline had figured out how to include a sewing training with nutrition and ASRH lessons for young girls into her initial sewing business.

“I don’t want girls to go through the same thing as me. By offering them both sewing training and specific health knowledge, they will see there are so many other things they can do if they don’t get pregnant until they’re ready.”

In Southern Tanzania, innovation is inclusivity. Young mums and out of school girls are most often not seen as the changemakers in their communities. Providing them access to training programmes like GRREAT empowers them to not only take charge of their lives, but to become innovators and change the lives of others. They are able to tackle the challenges facing their communities and make the world a better place for their children.