Dreams IC: Tanzania worked in Dar es Salaam with public secondary schools to reduce dropout rates for girls and with communities and local government authorities to support girls who have already dropped out of school.
JSI THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAR ES SALAAM DISTRICT, TANZANIA
2016 - 2018
Teen mothers are among the most vulnerable adolescents in Tanzania, where a staggering 44% of adolescent girls have given birth or are pregnant before the age of 19 and are effectively “locked out” of accessing public education.
In response to this situation, we worked in Dar es Salaam with public secondary schools to reduce dropout rates for girls and with communities and local government authorities to support girls who have already dropped out of school. In schools, we trained teachers to prevent and respond to gender-based violence to create a safe and supportive school environment for girls.
We also supported girls and boys directly with Protect Our Youth Clubs that helped adolescents build confidence and learn important life skills to help them stay and succeed in school. To support girls who have already dropped out of school and cannot re-enter, Bantwana provided life skills and non-formal education, entrepreneurship training, and linkages to health and support services. The program taught vulnerable young mothers early childhood stimulation skills and helped to keep them and their babies healthy and safe.
