Generated by All in One SEO v4.8.9, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Hope for Girls and Women in Tanzania ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [News from Hope for Girls and Women](/news-from-hope-for-girls-and-women/) - [Exciting News from Hope for Girls and Women in Tanzania!](/exciting-news-from-hope-for-women-and-girls-tanzania/) - **Excerpt (147 words):** 91 is proud to announce the groundbreaking of a new Safe House for vulnerable girls in Mugumu, Serengeti District. This important project marks a major step toward expanding protection, education, and opportunity for girls at risk of violence, child marriage, and other forms of abuse. The Safe House is being made possible through the generous support and partnership of Give a Future Foundation, Mapito Safari Camp Serengeti, Autograph Collection, Delaware Investments, and Marriott International. Together, these partners are helping create a safer, brighter future for girls and young women in the community. As we lay the foundation, we celebrate the power of collaboration and a shared commitment to dignity, safety, empowerment, and lasting change. We are deeply grateful to every partner, supporter, advocate, community leader, and friend who has helped bring this vision to life and strengthen hope for generations to come. - [7 Girls Make History, From Safe House to O-Level Graduation](/7-girls-make-history-from-safe-house-to-o-level-graduation/) - We’re proud to bring you good news from Hope for Girls and Women, Tanzania, about the journey of seven exemplary girls, who were rescued from vulnerable circumstances and have now completed their secondary education. This marks a huge step and creates new possibilities for girls who may otherwise have faced a range of gender-based issues, - [My Little Zen: Yoga and Digital Literacy](/my-little-zen-yoga-and-digital-literacy/) - Hope for Girls and Women has safe houses for girls escaping 91, GBV, child marriage, abuse and rape, in Mugumu (Serengeti) and Butiama, near Musoma. Across these safe houses, many of the girls actively participate in remote Yoga lessons over Zoom run by our friends My Little Zen. My Little Zen is an organisation which combines yoga - [16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence commences in Serengeti, Tanzania](/16-days-of-activism-against-gbv-serengeti/) - The Hope for Girls and Women (HFGAW) team has been involved in a number of key initiatives in recent days as we commemorate 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV). In Mugumu, Serengeti, we visited Mapindusu Secondary school, where girls from Hope for Girls and Women spoke about their experiences with GBV and Female - [How the 2022 Tanzanian Census / Sensa will impact efforts to reduce 91 in Serengeti](/2022-tanzanian-census-sensa-and-fgm-in-serengeti/) - In August there will be school closures in Tanzania whilst the 2022 Census is being conducted. Families will use this extended period to carry out 91 - [Hope's 16 Days of Activism against GBV and 91](/16-days-of-activism-against-gbv-and-fgm/) - Hope for Girls and Women worked with the Serengeti District Office and Gender Desk Police to create awareness of 91/GBV for 16 Days of Activism in Tanzania - [Bringing Hope to ending 91, via film](/bringing-hope-to-the-world-via-film/) - Liz and Alex came to Hope for Girls and Women to share their skills by producing a film that would reflect the work delivered here to end 91 in Tanzania - [Rhobi Samwelly participates in women’s health talk](/rhobi-attends-womens-health-talk/) - East African Education Foundation and TUHEDA hosted a Women’s Health Talk to discuss the impact of female genital mutilation (91). Hope founder, Rhobi Samwelly, joined a panel with OB-GYN specialist Dr. Leila Rusamba and international broadcaster Zuhra Yunus. - [Rhobi Samwelly selected for Human Rights Defenders Award](/rhobi-samwelly-selected-for-human-rights-defenders-award/) - Hope for Girls and Women's Founder and Director, Rhobi Samwelly, has been selected by France's President Macron for a Marianne Human Rights Defenders Award. - [How mapping is helping Tanzanian villages source water](/how-mapping-is-helping-tanzanian-villages-source-water/) - At the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team global conference, Herry Kasunga talked about the Water Source mapping project he has been running with Digital Champions - [Fighting 91 in Tanzania with Maps](/fighting-fgm-with-maps/) - Crowd2Map founder Janet Chapman and Hope founder Rhobi Samwelly, discuss using mapping tools to rescue girls at risk of female genital mutilation (91) Tanzania - [Debating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) with male villagers in Northern Tanzania](/debating-gender-based-violence-with-male-villagers-in-northern-tanzania/) - In December 2020, we held debates with 60 local men in Bonchugu village and Nyamburi village, Northern Tanzania, around the impact of 91 and GBV - [Detecting pests in Maize and Cassava with the PlantNuru app](/plantnuru-app-training/) - Agriculture is the backbone of the rural economy in Tanzania and the families of girls at risk of 91 and GBV are often farmers. - [Using technology to aid farming in rural Tanzania](/farmer-training-in-serengeti/) - On 26th April 2021, we commenced agri-technology farmer training in Matare, Serengeti. This is an exciting way of supporting the local community with their work, whilst also engaging the attendees in education and conversation around gender based violence. - [Cutter jailed for 10 years, with victim to receive compensation](/cutter-jailed-for-10-years-with-victim-to-receive-compensation/) - In April, a female genital mutilation (91) cutter from Kitarungu Village, Tanzania, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay 1,000,000 TZS (c. $430USD / €350) to the victim. A parent was also jailed for 5 years for their involvement in arranging for the 91 to take place. - [A weekend of education and empowerment for girls in the Serengeti District](/education-and-empowerment/) - On the weekend of 29th and 30th May 2021, the 91 team collaborated with Grumeti Fund to provide empowerment sessions for local school girls in the Serengeti District. - [Facilitating the creation of female entrepreneur groups in Serengeti and Butiama](/facilitating-creation-of-entrepreneurs/) - The Hope team recently organised a gathering for women and girls in Serengeti and Butiama to learn important skills to help them generate income. The entrepreneurship training included the sharing of information on how to work economically, ensuring a profit can be made from their industry of choice. - [New Digital Champions recruited and trained by Hope, with funding from UNFPA Tanzania](/new-digital-champions-recruited/) - In June, 91 and Masanga Center recruited 59 Digital champions in Butiama District, Tanzania. Each village has one Digital Champion who will educate girls and women in their communities about the impact of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Female Genital Mutilation (91). - [Hope for Girls and Women awarded a micro grant to help map Tanzania](/hope-awarded-a-micro-grant/) - 91 is among seven organisations that have be awarded an Open Map Development Tanzania (OMDTZ) Community Impact Microgrant of $5,000. OMDTZ - [Against my will: A collaborative effort to end gender inequality](/against-my-will-a-collaborative-effort-to-end-gender-inequality/) - In Against My Will, Rhobi Samwelly tells her harrowing story of experiencing near-fatal female genital mutilation (91) and seeing it kill a friend in Tanzania - ['End 91' Campaign at schools in Tanzania](/end-fgm-campaign-at-school/) - We are happy to share pictures of the first day of incredible youth power, using their voices and passion to end 91 in this schools campaign. 91 visited Kukilango Secondary School, Kiabakali Primary School and Kiabakari Secondary School at Kukilango ward. 91 managed to educate - [Improving the impact of our data on 91 in Tanzania](/improving-the-impact-of-our-data/) - ‘Female Genital Mutilation’ and ‘data visualisation’ might not be terms that you would immediately put together. However, Viz5 and MakeoverMonday did just that - [An exciting collaboration between FAWCO and Hope for Girls and Women](/an-exciting-collaboration-between-fawco-and-hope/) - The Hope for Girls and Women team is very grateful and humbled to confirm that we have been selected as the FAWCO Target Project running from 2020 until 2022. - [International Women's Day campaign kicks off](/international-womens-day-2/) - Our International Women's Day campaign starts today! Please support Hope for Girls and Women as we participate in the Girl Fund campaign. Hope provides 2 safe houses in Tanzania for girls who are desperately escaping female genital mutilation (91). Hope also offers our safe house residents and girls free classes to support women and girls. We help - [Neema Chacha educates 605 at Hope road show](/neema-chacha-on-fgm/) - Brave Neema spoke about 91 to Natta Villagers During 16 Days of Activism, Hope organised filming screenings and Roadshows at Natta Village for 405 people - [Cutting season: One girl's inspiring words](/last-news-from-the-safe-house/) - Hope for Girls and Women's Butiama and Mugumu safe houses in Tanzania receive girls who are fleeing from 91. During cutting season, which usually happens in school holiday/vacation time to allow the girls time to 'recover', there is an increase in cases of 91. This often leads to desperate girls escaping their families on foot, - [#16daysofactivism is celebrated by Hope](/16daysofactivism-is-celebrated-by-hope/) - 16 Days of Activism takes place annually from 25th November to 10th December. In 2019 6,000 organisations across 187 countries used this time to drive the call for the elimination of all forms of gender-based violence. Rhobi Samwell and the Hope team participate in the campaign each year along with girls who have escaped to - [Celebrating stories of success...](/celebrating-stories-of-success/) - On Friday, a very special graduation took place at HGWT. Congrats to the girls who finished the course of entrepreneurship and tailoring at HGWT. Our Guest of Honour for this graduation is the District Commissioner of Serengeti, Mr Babu. After an inspiring speech, he distributed tailoring machine and handed the certificates to girls who graduated - [Gender Desk Office Inauguration](/gender-desk-office-inauguration/) - Here are girls from HGWT together with Inspector General of police Saimon Siro, Rhobi Samwelly and Director of UNFPA Tanzania Jackline Muhon, standing in front of a new office during of gender desk office inauguration at Serengeti last week. - [#16daysofactivism Girls march in Butiama](/16daysofactivism-girls-march-in-butiama/) - [#16daysofactivism Opening of the gender desk police office](/16daysofactivism-opening-of-the-gender-desk-police-office/) - Jacklin Mahon, Director of UNFPA Tanzania, said in her speech: "UNFPA believe it is necessary to facilitate the construction of desk offices, to help eradicating genocide, child marriage, early pregnancy, rape, perverted practices, 91 and gender-based violence to facilitate sustainable development and well-being". She further encouraged the community in Tanzania: "Through this police gender desk - [Marching for Police Gender Desk Office](/marching-for-police-gender-desk-office/) - Here you can see some picture of HOPE girls on their way to a Mbuzi field for starting the march for opening the police gender desk office! - [16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence](/16-days-of-activism-against-gender-based-violence/) - The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day. It was started by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and continues to be coordinated each - [Words of encouragement to HGWT by our visitors](/words-of-encouragement-to-hgwt-by-our-visitors/) - Last week, HGWT were delighted to welcome Mr. Paschal Rubinga from UNFPA, Faidha Suleiman and Idd M Msangi from Gender desk police from Headquarter and Sophia Temba and Tafawa Baliwena from CDF. They met Safe House Manager Mr Mseti and the rest of Hope staff. As usual, the visitors were welcome by traditional dance and - [New visitors from Canada](/new-visitors-from-canada/) - Hope were delighted to welcome Mr. Richard McMahone and Ms. Maria Bishop from Canada last week. The visitors met Ms Rhobi Samwelly and Hope staff. They were initially welcomed with traditional dances. Later, Ms Rhobi presented and shared the history and background of HGWT, as well as challenges and future plans. Afterwards, our Visitor walked - [Entrepreneurship and mapping training at HOPE](/entrepreneurship-and-mapping-training-at-hope/) - Hope has managed to conduct entrepreneurship and mapping trainings last week for two days. They were conducted at Giraffe Hotel in Mugumu by Daniel, Anna Paul from Hope and Geoffrey from HOT. Below you can find some pictures of the event! The groups was of 46 people,of which 36 were women from the surrounding villages. - [Capel Y Nant Clydach visiting Hope](/capel-y-nant-clydach-visiting-hope/) - Hope were delighted to welcome Rev Alan from Capel Y Nant Clydach on Saturday, 26th. He met Ms Rhobi Samwelly and the staff from Hope. Rev Alan was welcomed by traditional dance from Hope Culture Group and saw the works done by HGWT, among which bags and soap. He was also able to have a - [Visitors from US Embassy](/visitors-from-us-embassy/) - On October, 22nd, we received visitors from the US Embassy who came to see the field work that our organisation is doing. In the pictures, you can see Andy Karas, as Mission Director, Grey Sagaas Health Project Officer and Alex Larrieux, Project Manager from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) greetings and talking - [Visitors from Switzerland](/visitors-from-switzerland/) - Some pictures of our team welcoming our visitors from Switzerland! As it is said in Tanzania: Karibuni sana! Thank you for your visit to Hope Mugumu safe house! - [Rhobi featured on Podcast Africa](/rhobi-featured-on-podcast-africa/) - Women are standing up against the plight of gender based violence and sexual crimes in South Africa. This age old crisis has been affecting not just woman but little girls around the globe for centuries. Our director, Rhobi Samwelly, joined the The Aubrey Masango Show to discuss about her personal experience of being forced to - [International Day of the Girl Child](/international-day-of-the-girl-child/) - We were delighted to participate in this important event! Thank you to everyone who took part. Moreover, we recently held a girls empowerment session at Mugumu in Serengeti District organised by Grumeti Fund! More than 900 girls attended, and 91 education, GBV and other topics were delivered. - [A Summary of Our Progress](/a-summary-of-our-progress/) - Interested in finding out more about our work this past cutting season? The challenges we faced? Our plans going forward? Hope has created a Progress Report to update our supporters, that you can find at the following link: http://www.tanzdevtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/HGWT-SEASONAL-AND-PROGRESS-REPORT-FEB-2019.pdf - [Cutters are dropping their tools because of HGWT](/237/) - Last week, Mohabe Mwita Marwa Simangwe, a cutter from Matare village dropped her tools at the HGWT safe house and swore not to cut any more girls in the Serengeti district. This adds to the already long list of cutters that have been impacted by Rhobi Samwelly's mission. In 2015, Christina, a circumciser who had - ['In the Name of Your Daughter' shown to at-risk girls in Tanzania](/in-the-name-of-your-daughter-shown-to-at-risk-girls-in-tanzania/) - 'In the Name of Your Daughter' continues to make a lasting impact in the global mission against female genital mutilation. Directed by Canadian Giselle Portenier, the documentary is centred around Rhobi Samwelly's active fight against 91 in rural Tanzania. Since its premiere at the Copenhagen Film Festival, the movie has gone on to garner rave - [Anti-91 training in the Butiama District](/anti-fgm-training-in-the-butiama-district/) - On October 30th, Hope for Girls and Women in Tanzania conducted an anti-91 training session to Butiama District officials and partners working against 91 in Butiama District. The training was supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) and was officially opened by Mara Regional commissioner Mr Adam Malima. Mr Malima insisted that all - [Rhobi’s Global Mission: Visit to the Canadian Parliament](/rhobis-global-mission-visit-to-the-canadian-parliament/) - Since September, Rhobi Samwelly has been on a global anti-91 mission. Her journey commenced in New York, where she spoke passionately in front of a high-level UN Panel, recounting her harrowing 91 experience as a teenager. From then, she travelled to London to join director Giselle Portenier for the UK premiere of In The Name of - [Rhobi's Global Mission: 'In The Name of Your Daughter' UK Film Premiere](/rhobis-global-mission-in-the-name-of-your-daughter-uk-film-premiere/) - Rhobi Samwelly has been spreading the word globally of her fight against 91. Starting in the General Assembly in New York, the next leg of her journey took her to London, to the UK premiere of In the Name of Your Daughter. The documentary, directed by Canadian Giselle Portenier, follows Rhobi’s active fight against 91 - [Rhobi’s Global Mission: Visit to the UN](/rhobis-global-mission-visit-to-the-un/) - At the end of September, Rhobi Samwelly was invited to speak in front of a high-level panel as part of the UN General Assembly in New York. This marked a major step in her fight for protecting girls and women against 91. As the powerhouse behind the Safe House project, Rhobi spoke about her personal - [Communities Coming Together for 2018's Day of the African Child](/communities-coming-together-for-2018s-day-of-the-african-child/) - On the 16th of June, 28 years ago the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now known as the African Union (AU), honored the 1976 Soweto student uprising and established Day of the African Child (DAC). Each year on June 16th a new theme is collaborated and agreed upon for DAC in order to honor that - [Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival (CPH:DOX)](/copenhagen-international-documentary-film-festival-cphdox/) - Canadian filmmaker Giselle Portenier's new documentary 'In the Name of Your Daughter' about our director Rhobi Samwelly's work to end 91 premiered this past March at the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival! The premier was attended by over 200 people, followed by two more screenings with Q & A sessions and screenings for students at - [International Women's Day](/international-womens-day/) - To celebrate International Women's Day on 8 March and raise awareness of the importance of gender equality, we held an event in Nyansurura in collaboration with the local Serengeti District government. Five girls staying at our safe house in Mugumu were presented with sewing machines at the event. These girls are in our vocational training - [Celebrating 16 Days of Activism](/celebrating-16-days-of-activism/) - The annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign originated out of the first Women's Global Leadership Institute in 1991 at Rutgers University in the United States. One initial goal of this campaign was to emphasize that violence against women is a violation of human rights. This point seems obvious today, but was a ## Pages - [Welcome to Hope](/) - Hope for Girls and Women provides a safe environment for girls escaping Female Genital Mutilation (91) in Tanzania Girls often arrive at Hope’s Safe Houses late at night with their only possessions being the clothes they have run away in. Those arriving on foot have to navigate from remote, rural villages in the dark. We - [About 91 in Tanzania](/about-fgm-in-tanzania/) - Girls from our Butiama safe house participating in a march Female genital mutilation/cutting (91/C) is widely regarded internationally as a violation of human rights. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines 91 as including all ‘procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons’. It reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes, and constitutes an - [Learn more about how you can support Hope for Girls and Women, Tanzania](/donate-to-hope/) - Thank you in advance for your kind donation to Hope for Girls and Women and for playing a role in ending 91 in Tanzania - [Upcoming events](/upcoming-events/) - Hope for Girls and Women, along with our partner Crowd2Map, takes the opportunity to participate in events throughout the year, and around the world, in order to raise awareness of 91 and our work to eradicate the practice in Tanzania. There are currently no upcoming events, but keep checking for future events. Past events Map Tanzania - [Updates from Rhobi](/updates-from-rhobi-2/) - Rhobi Samwelly provides updates on the progress of Hope for Girls and Women, Tanzania, and associated initiatives which can be downloaded here - [Our Safe Houses - for girls at risk of 91 and GBV in Tanzania](/safe-houses/) - Hope runs two Safe Houses, both in rented buildings in the North of Tanzania. One in Mugumu, and the other in Butiama. The number of girls increases dramatically during ‘cutting seasons’ as we never turn anyone away. Cases include 91/risk of 91, battery/GBV, rape, child marriage, orphans. The ages of the girls in our care - [Contact](/contact/) - Thank you for your interest in Hope for Girls and Women, Tanzania. If you would like to make contact with a member of the team, please do so via the form below and we will get back to you as soon as possible. You can also call us at +255 752535909 or +255 756 600 - [Register for our monthly newsletter](/newsletter-registration/) - Register for Hope for Girls and Womens' monthly newsletter to be updated on our work to end 91 in Tanzania, educate communities, and help girls and women - [Hi, I'm Jenga](/sponsor-jenga/) - Jenga arrived at Hope for Girls and Women in 2022, having lost both of her parents and facing child marriage. She has focused her attention on studying for O Levels and now wishes to progress to study Community Development so that she can help people achieve more. Here is Jenga’s handwritten biography, where she explains - [Help a girl achieve her career aspirations and a life without 91](/sponsor-a-girl/) - Education isn’t always deemed an option for girls in Tanzania, particularly in remote, rural areas. 91 is conducted to help secure a higher dowry, with those girls who are cut often then married to older men from a young age. At this point their education will usually stop. When welcoming girls to our safe houses, - [Using maps to help girls at risk of 91 and GBV in Tanzania](/mapping/) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_XF436QWMg&feature=youtu.be Girls fleeing 91 arrive or are brought to Hope for Girls and Women’s safe houses from very remote villages, which until recently were not on any map. Often we get phone calls in the middle of the night saying girls are going to be cut tomorrow in a certain village, “please come and rescue - [Hi, I'm Angelina](/sponsor-angelina/) - Angelina has been working very hard to achieve Form 4 and now wishes to go on to study to become a Community Development Officer in Tanzania. Through this role her ambition is to empower community members and their families and to help them understand their role in society. Here is Angelina’s handwritten biography, where she - [Hope team members](/hope-team-members/) - Hope is supported by a number of staff members as well as volunteers who are all committed to providing a safe environment and future for the girls who arrive in our care. We also conduct community outreach programmes and participate in events to raise awareness of the dangers of 91 and the importance of moving - [Hi, I'm Tasiana](/sponsor-tasiana/) - Sponsorship: Tasiana arrived at Hope for Girls and Women in 2018, she has worked completed Form 4 and now wants to become a lawyer to help others in Tanzania. - [Hi, I'm Happiness](/sponsor-happiness/) - Sponsorship: Happiness arrived at Hope in 2017, she has worked hard to complete Form 4 and now wants to become a journalist in Tanzania - [Hi, I'm Florida](/sponsor-florida/) - Sponsorship: Florida has been staying at Hope for Girls and Women since 2018, completing form 4 with a grade B! Florida now wishes to study to be a nurse - [Community Road Shows](/community-road-shows/) - Rhobi Samwelly has lived all her life in the Mara, Serengeti, community and understands it well. She has been delivering outreach work in the villages about the dangers of 91 for over 10 years now. These consist of village community forums where people debate about various issues around the status of Women and Girls’ right - [Background](/overview-how-we-work/) - Rhobi Samwelly, and most of the staff, are Kuria and have lived in Mara all of their lives, so they understand our community well. Attitudes to women are entrenched in our community and girls are seen as the property of their families, who can be sold as brides to raise cattle, changing these attitudes takes - [Meet Rhobi Samwelly](/about-rhobi/) - Rhobi Samwelly founded Hope for Girls and Women (Matumaini kwa Wasichana na Wanawake in Swahili) in 2017. Although she has faced threats over the years for the incredible work she does for women’s rights in Tanzania, this hasn’t stopped her and she remains passionate about saving more Girls and Women. She still recalls being a - [Privacy Policy](/hope-privacy-policy/) - Last updated February 04, 2022 Thank you for choosing to be part of our community at Hope for Girls and Women, Tanzania (“Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our“). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. If you have any questions or concerns about this privacy notice or our practices with regard - [Alternative Rites of Passage](/alternative-rites-of-passage/) - What is a rite of passage? The Cambridge Dictionary describes a rite of passage as: "...an official ceremony or informal activity that marks and important stage or occasion in a person's life, especially becoming an adult." Rites of passage in Tanzania For many girls in Tanzania, their rite of passage involves the circumcision procedure of - [Re-educating cutters](/re-educating-cutters/) - Persuading cutters, or Ngaribas, to stop the practice is an important part of the fight against 91. Ngaribas are appointed by the village leaders. Families pay them approximately $15 to cut one girl, $5 dollars of this is given to the village leaders. These are large amounts of money to subsistence farmers in the villages - [Former Cutter: Mama Mohabe Marwa](/former-cutter-mama-mohabe-marwa/) - Mama Mohabe Marwa is a former cutter who decided to drop her tools. Here she shares her story. My name is Mohabe Marwa, I hail from Matare village in Mugumu town in Serengeti District. I was born in 1972, and I went to Kibeyo Primary school from 1980. When I was 12 years old, walking - [Digital Champions](/digital-champions/) - Hope also ran an in-person training session when the women came together in Mugumu town, a journey of up to 3 hours on muddy, rough roads, often impassable during the rainy season. The women learned more about their role, and how to better support women and girls in the villages. There were also sessions about - [Film Screenings: In the Name of your Daughter](/film-screenings/) - Rhobi’s work features in the award-winning and incredibly powerful film In the Name of Your Daughter, by Giselle Portenier. The docu-film explores Rhobi’s outreach and advocacy work in the remote villages around Mugumu, and the process of rescue and reconciliation during and after cutting season. https://youtu.be/2Mf9TywdvuE With funding from Canada Fund for Local Initiatives Hope were able to - [The impact of COVID-19 on efforts to end 91](/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-efforts-to-end-fgm/) - On 22nd April 2020, we hosted a webinar on the impact of COVID-19. As well as Hope Director, Rhobi Samwelly, we also heard from Dr. Annemarie Middelburg, a passionate consultant from the Netherlands with unique expertise on women’s rights and the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (91), Anna Holmström, the Regional Manager for Development Cooperation at Felm, - [Marketing material](/marketing-materials/) - Help us to raise awareness of Hope for Girls and Women and the work we are doing to end 91 and GBV in Tanzania. We produce marketing material for volunteers, fundraisers, partner organisations, students and journalists to reference and utilise. If you have a specific requirement for marketing support or materials, please do get in - [About Hope](/about/) - Hope for Girls and Women (Matumaini kwa Wasichana na Wanawake in Swahili) was founded by the Tanzanian activist Rhobi Samwelly in 2017. Rhobi’s personal experience of being forced to undergo female genital mutilation (91) as a child inspired her lifelong commitment to fight for the rights of girls and women. Our organisation runs two safe - [Challenges](/challenges/) - Running costs We are running 2 safe houses, in Mugumu and Butiama, currently sheltering 123 girls, but this rises sharply during “cutting seasons”. The police also regularly bring us girls who have been raped, beaten or threatened with child marriage. We never turn anyone away. We get no government funding and rely on donations, so - [Awards, recognition and special events](/awards-articles/) - Rhobi Samwelly has been a fearless campaigner against 91 since she almost bled to death from the practice aged 13. Over the years, Rhobi and her team have won awards, recognition and have been asked to participate in special events, as a result of their tireless work to protect girls from GBV and end 91 - [Our Supporters](/our-supporters/) - Hope for Girls and Women receives no government funding and so relies on the generosity of the donors listed. Thank you for helping us to fight 91 in Tanzania. - [News from Hope](/news/) - My Little Zen: Yoga and Digital Literacy Hope for Girls and Women has safe houses for girls escaping 91, GBV, child marriage, abuse and rape, in Mugumu (Serengeti) and Butiama, near Musoma. Across these safe houses, many of the girls actively participate in remote Yoga lessons over Zoom run by our friends My Little Zen. My - [Sample Page](/sample-page/) - This is an example page. It's different from a blog post because it will stay in one place and will show up in your site navigation (in most themes). Most people start with an About page that introduces them to potential site visitors. It might say something like this: Hi there! I'm a bike messenger - [The Tanzanian school system](/the-tanzanian-school-system/) - Basic Structure School in Tanzania lasts for 13 years and is based on the British system of education. Primary level (Standard 1 to 7) Secondary level has two categories: Ordinary Level (Form 1 to Form 4) Advanced Level (Form 5 and 6) It is compulsory for every child who has reached age seven to be - [Exploring the data around the girls we have rescued from 91](/safe-houses/rescue-overview/) - Hope for Girls and Women collates important data relating to the girls in the region who need rescuing from 91 and find themselves in our care. This data is captured every year in arrival forms, medical checks and the recording of information throughout each girl's stay. We use the data to try and plan for - [Meet the girls who are being sponsored to help meet their career aspirations](/sponsored-girls-at-hope/) - Many of the girls who stay at the safe houses have big and impressive ambitions. We actively encourage this - after all, gender equality is something we believe in and want those around us to help champion. Further education in Tanzania can be very costly, and traditional beliefs around the role of women in the - [Sponsor a girl - help her achieve her career aspirations](/sponsorship/) - Education isn't always deemed an option for some girls in Tanzania, particularly in remote, rural areas. When welcoming girls to our safe houses, we ensure education plays a key role. By educating girls - their opportunities as women are broadened. In order to help them achieve their career dreams and aspirations, you can now sponsor - [Make a donation to the campaign](/make-a-donation-to-the-campaign/) - Thank you for helping us this International Women's Day. Your donation will help provide the Hope Safe Houses with basic provisions. If we also become one of the 8 Girl Fund 2020 cohort, it will be an added bonus that will allow us to achieve a lot more for the girls in our care. If - [Organise a collection 6th - 12th March](/organise-a-collection-6th-12th-march/) - Thank you for helping us this International Women's Day. Funds raised will help provide the Hope Safe Houses with basic provisions. If we also become one of the 8 Girl Fund 2020 cohorts, it will be an added bonus that will allow us to achieve a lot more for the girls in our care. Below - [Former Cutter: Rhobi Gichama](/former-cutter-rhobi-gichama/) - Rhobi Gichama a former cutter who dropped her tools, shares her story here. My name is Rhobi Gichama, I’m 38 years old and I come from Merenge village, Serengeti district Mara region. I used to be a cutter. I remember how I became one, as when I was 22 years old, I started seeing dark - [Tanzania Employees](/tanzania-employees/) - Hope for Girls and Women employees based in Tanzania: - [Articles](/articles/) - Below are links to articles about 91 / C, particularly the work we are doing to help prevent it and support those who have already been through cutting: - [Awards](/awards/) - The 2019 Malkia wa Nguvu (Powerful Queen) Honour Award was given to Rhobi Samwelly, with her first hand story of her own very traumatic Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (91/C) experience and how this powered her determination to do so much to help others, really touching everyone in attendance at the event. The ceremony was graced by - [Impact](/impact/) - [Staff Profiles](/staff-profiles-4/) - Frank Barnabas Maro Accountant Frank is in charge of bookkeeping and budgeting. His work includes preparing financial reports, managing payments, assisting with funding applications, and maintaining donor reporting requirements. - [Staff Profiles](/staff-profiles-3/) - Vicky Mbuna Entrepreneurship Instructor Vicky is a teacher in our free vocational training programme for girls living at the safe houses. She instructs the girls on embroidery as well as how to make batik fabrics, carpets, candles, and baked goods. During this year-long training programme students gain small business experience by selling products they have made - [Staff Profiles](/staff-profiles-2/) - Elibariki Kitundu Tailoring Instructor Elibariki is a teacher in our free vocational training programme for girls living at the safe houses. She instructs the girls on how to create dresses, shirts, aprons, bags, and other tailored items. Elibariki is also our games teacher and coaches our safe house residents to play football, netball, and volleyball. - [Staff Profiles](/staff-profiles/) - Neema Meremo Samuel Social Worker As the social worker for the Mugumu and Butiama safe houses, Neema has numerous responsibilities to ensure the welfare of our residents. She coordinates with other organizations including the police, serves as the liaison between girls and their school teachers, provides counseling, and guides the reconciliation process so that girls - [Staff Members](/staff-members-2/) - Our Butiama safe house is based in the village of Kiabakari and our Serengeti safe house is based in the town of Mugumu. In addition to our staff members, we are helped by many volunteers. Ninety-two local village volunteers locate girls and women in need of assistance in their communities across the Mara Region and - [Our Team](/our-team/) - Our Butiama safe house is based in the village of Kiabakari and our Serengeti safe house is based in the town of Mugumu. In addition to our staff members, we are helped by many volunteers. Ninety-two local village volunteers locate girls and women in need of assistance in their communities across the Mara Region and ## My Templates - [Default Kit](/?elementor_library=default-kit) ## Categories - [Uncategorized](/category/uncategorized/) - [Event reports](/category/event-reports/) - [Human Rights](/category/human-rights/) - [Technology](/category/technology/) - [Maps](/category/maps/) - [Events](/category/events/) - [Campaigning](/category/campaigning/) - [Training](/category/training/) - [Legal cases](/category/legal-cases/) - [Funding](/category/funding/) - [Recruitment](/category/recruitment/) - [Cutting season](/category/cutting-season/) - [91](/category/fgm/) ## Tags - [Africa](/tag/africa/) - [East Africa](/tag/east-africa/) - [Education](/tag/education/) - [Education in Tanzania](/tag/education-in-tanzania/) - [End 91](/tag/end-fgm/) - [entrepreneur](/tag/entrepreneur/) - [Equality](/tag/equality/) - [Event](/tag/event/) - [farmer](/tag/farmer/) - [farming](/tag/farming/) - [fawco](/tag/fawco/) - [91](/tag/fgm/) - [GBV](/tag/gbv/) - [Gender rights](/tag/gender-rights/) - [hope](/tag/hope/) - [Tanzania](/tag/tanzania/) - [technology](/tag/technology/) - [Traditions](/tag/traditions/) - [training](/tag/training/) - [travel](/tag/travel/) - [Village](/tag/village/) - [Volunteer](/tag/volunteer/) - [volunteering](/tag/volunteering/) - [Webinar](/tag/webinar/) - [women](/tag/women/) - [Women's rights](/tag/womens-rights/) - [womensday](/tag/womensday/) - [African](/tag/african/) - [business women](/tag/business-women/) - [Charity](/tag/charity/) - [Digital](/tag/digital/) - [entrepreneurs](/tag/entrepreneurs/) - [Gender](/tag/gender/) - [Gender Based Violence](/tag/gender-based-violence/) - [Gender Equality](/tag/gender-equality/) - [law](/tag/law/) - [map](/tag/map/) - [Mugumu](/tag/mugumu/) - [NGO](/tag/ngo/) - [OSM](/tag/osm/) - [Phone](/tag/phone/) - [smartphone](/tag/smartphone/) - [Smartphones](/tag/smartphones/) - [Tech](/tag/tech/) - [Tech for Good](/tag/tech-for-good/) - [Tech news](/tag/tech-news/) - [film making](/tag/film-making/) - [film for good](/tag/film-for-good/) - [data visualisation](/tag/data-visualisation/) - [tableau](/tag/tableau/) - [data](/tag/data/) - [apps](/tag/apps/) - [farmers](/tag/farmers/) - [Female Genital Mutilation](/tag/female-genital-mutilation/) - [Census](/tag/census/) - [Sensa](/tag/sensa/) - [Yoga](/tag/yoga/)