About the Programme
This 14-month initiative, jointly led by UNICEF and Restless Development Tanzania, is designed to improve school retention and learning continuity among 4,000 adolescent girls and boys aged 10–19 in some of Tanzania’s most underserved communities. The programme focuses on addressing the systemic and social barriers that prevent adolescents—especially girls—from accessing and completing their education. Implemented across Songwe, Tabora, and Kigoma regions, it provides a holistic package of support tailored to meet both educational and personal needs, with a strong emphasis on gender equity, inclusion, and community transformation.
Key Components of the Programme
1. Direct Financial Support
The programme offers financial assistance to vulnerable families to help cover basic school-related expenses, reducing the risk of dropout due to poverty. This support ensures that adolescents can attend and remain in school without the burden of fees or hidden costs.
2. Provision of Learning Materials and Menstrual Hygiene Supplies
To promote both academic success and dignity, students receive essential learning materials such as books and stationery, along with menstrual hygiene products for girls. This helps tackle period poverty, one of the key reasons girls miss school.
3. Teacher Training and Capacity Building
Teachers are equipped with skills to create more inclusive, gender-sensitive, and supportive classroom environments. Training focuses on understanding students’ needs, safeguarding practices, and improving engagement with marginalised learners, including those with disabilities.
4. Community Engagement and Social Norm Change
The programme works directly with parents, community leaders, and local stakeholders to challenge harmful social norms such as early marriage and gender-based discrimination. Through dialogues, workshops, and awareness campaigns, communities are encouraged to support girls’ education and well-being.
5. Inclusion of Adolescents with Disabilities
With support from SHIVYAWATA and other disability-focused organisations, the programme ensures that adolescents with disabilities are not left behind. Accessibility, appropriate learning tools, and inclusive engagement are integrated into the programme’s design.
6. Menstrual Health Management
In collaboration with AfriPads and Femme International, the programme provides menstrual health education and supplies to ensure that girls are equipped to manage their periods safely and confidently, reducing stigma and school absenteeism.
8. Mass Awareness and Media Outreach
To extend impact beyond direct beneficiaries, the programme includes community-based campaigns and radio broadcasts, reaching over 1.2 million Tanzanians with messages about the importance of education, gender equality, and youth empowerment.
Why It Matters
This programme is not just about keeping children in school—it’s about transforming the systems, beliefs, and environments that hold them back. By focusing on practical support, inclusive education, and social change, the initiative contributes to national efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4: inclusive and equitable quality education for all. It recognises that educating girls and boys is essential to building stronger, healthier, and more prosperous communities across Tanzania.
