HakiElimu Tanzania has trained stakeholders across the country to strengthen gender inclusion and inclusive education under its SAUTI ZETU project.
The initiative aims to ensure no group especially women, girls, persons with disabilities, or marginalized communities is left behind in development programs.
The training brought together staff from partner organizations, including Child Support Tanzania (CST), Sawa Wanawake Tanzania (SAWA), Organization for Community Development (OCODE), MTWANGONET, Save Education and Future Development Trust, as well as local leaders, head teachers, and education officers from Bagamoyo, Mtwara, Ifakara, Mbeya City, and Mvomero.
Speaking at the event, HakiElimu’s Gender and Development Specialist, Ms. Nuria Mshare, said the goal was to equip stakeholders with tools to implement programs that respect gender equality and inclusivity.
“We expect institutions to prioritize groups often overlooked in development planning, including women, girls, people with disabilities, and remote communities,” she said.
Dr. Hildergade Mehrab, Head of Projects and Advocacy at CST in Mbeya, stressed the importance of involving communities from project design to evaluation.
“Including beneficiaries at every stage ensures that citizens, experts, and government all contribute to better outcomes,” she noted.
Ms. Leonora Ngowi, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at SAWA, said community involvement strengthens children’s education.
“When communities participate fully, children gain better support and a conducive learning environment,” she said.
Teachers also lauded the training for motivating them to advocate for inclusive education. Mr. Jangson Mwang’ombola, Head Teacher at Lusanga Primary School in Mvomero, said, “Inclusive education brings together children with and without challenges, giving everyone an equal opportunity to learn.”
Mr. Renatus Kisenha, Head Teacher at Nianinjema Primary School in Bagamoyo, added that the training improved understanding of how to eliminate stigma and enhance collaboration between teachers, parents, and students.
HakiElimu confirmed it will continue nationwide training to ensure equality, inclusion, and child rights are central in education and community development initiatives.