Doing Hope in Tanzania

Doing Hope in Tanzania | May 2024

Katie Hagley writes about how Cheka Sana in Tanzania are bringing hope to young mothers and at-risk women on the streets of Mwanza.

Stories of Hope
Doing Hope in... Tanzania

Words:
Katie Hagley

Main image above:
Young women in Tanzania receiving psychosocial support and entrepreneurship training. Photograph: Christoph Stulz
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Bringing hope to young mothers and at-risk women on the streets of Mwanza

This month, we’re focusing on Cheka Sana in Mwanza, Tanzania, who regularly send us reports on their work. Here are a few highlights, including Neema’s* story of hope.

Amos Trust has worked with Cheka Sana for 15 years. Currently, Amos supports Cheka Sana’s Street Born project, which focuses on working with young mothers on the streets and their children, as well as girls at risk of early pregnancy. It provides psychosocial support and counselling, entrepreneurship training to generate income, support to access vital health services and self-defence training.

This spring, the Street Born programme has been busy, focusing its support on 37 young mothers and at-risk women from the streets of Mwanza. The young women have been able to join weekly life skills sessions with the Cheka Sana team. “Through these sessions, the young women learn how to solve their problems, make informed decisions, gain control of their behaviours and improve their good communication skills.” (Taken from Cheka Sana’s spring report).

A small group of Tanzanian women sitting on the floor smiling and laughing.

Skills Sessions: The Street Born programme has been busy, focusing its support on 37 young mothers and at-risk women from the streets of Mwanza
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They have also provided psychosocial support services and one-to-one and group sessions. Trust and friendship are built with the women and Cheka Sana’s team during these sessions. They are given techniques to use when they face challenges on the street and Cheka Sana’s social workers help them to understand the reasons why they came to the streets and why they got involved in sex work, as well as providing advice about family planning and sexual health.

Currently, Amos supports Cheka Sana’s Street Born project, which focuses on working with young mothers on the streets and their children, as well as girls at risk of early pregnancy.

Cheka Sana’s wrap-around, holistic programme means that alongside these sessions, they have also supported the women in finding alternative work. All the women have taken part in business training and 27 have now started apprenticeship courses, with ten studying tailoring, thirteen in hairdressing, two in catering and two in decorating.

Finally and central to Cheka Sana’s approach, all 37 have attended self-defence sessions. Through this programme, girls not only learn how to protect themselves, but also that they have a right to say ‘No!’, that they have choices and that they can take control of their own futures.

A young Tanzanian women with her sewing machine.

Holistic Programme: All the women have taken part in business training and 27 have now started apprenticeship courses
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Positive Minds for Positive Change
Neema’s story*

This month, we wanted to share Neema’s story, a 21-year-old mother with a 5-month-old baby whom Cheka Sana supports. Her story demonstrates the transformative power of support, empowerment, and positive change in the face of adversity.

Growing up, Neema faced a difficult time and had a tremendous amount of responsibility. She lived with her sister in Kayenze, and together, they took care of other family members after their parents passed away from HIV-related complications. However, her sister was also sick with HIV, leaving Neema as the sole provider for the family.

“To be honest, I was desperate and had lost hope when I got pregnant, but now I see myself in a new version, with a good mindset and a picture of my future life.” Neema*

Despite facing adversity, Neema was determined to pursue an education and completed her seventh grade at Kabangaja Primary School. However, she couldn’t continue to secondary school and became engaged in commercial sex work. This led to her becoming pregnant and unsure of the baby’s father due to her interactions with multiple partners without protection.

A group of women in Tanzania sitting on chairs talking together.

Support: Cheka Sana’s wrap-around, holistic programme means that they have also supported the women in finding alternative work
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In April 2023, Cheka Sana staff identified Neema during their night street outreach at Villa Park Resort (a famous place in Kirumba, Mwanza, for night sex work activities). At the time, she was pregnant and still engaged in sex work. After talking with her and explaining how they could help, Cheka Sana invited her to join the Street Born programme. Neema registered and underwent HIV testing and counselling. Sadly, she received the news that she, too, was HIV-positive.

“To be honest, I was desperate and had lost hope when I got pregnant, but now I see myself in a new version, with a good mindset and a picture of my future life.”

Cheka Sana continued to support Neema through life skills, mediation, self-defence and one-to-one counselling sessions. After two months, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy, who tested negative for HIV, bringing joy and positivity into her life. Witnessing these changes, Neema decided to pursue vocational training and chose a tailoring course to fulfil her dream of becoming a skilled designer and give her the ability to support her family and future.

“At first, I feared a lot when I was told I have HIV. But when I attended a meeting, I realised I was not alone; I gained the courage to go on, take my drugs, and I gave birth to an HIV-negative baby. Thank you, Cheka Sana, for bringing back my smile, happiness, and peace of mind.

To be honest, I was desperate and had lost hope when I got pregnant, but now I see myself in a new version, with a good mindset and a picture of my future life.”

* Name changed.