AHADI project reaches over 13,000 adolescents
DODOMA: OVER 13,000 adolescents in Dodoma Region have benefitted from reproductive health education, gender based violence prevention training and life skills development.
The achievement is part of the AHADI project, which is being implemented by World Vision Tanzania in collaboration with the Tanzania Home Economics Association (TAHEA).
The project is currently operational in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma.
Speaking during the launch of a new community empowerment approach through faith-based leaders in addressing gender-based violence, Acting Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS) CPA Eric Ntikahera said the project has made significant contributions over the past three years.
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“Out of the 13,218 adolescents reached, 2,639 are out-of-school youth,1,394 girls and 1,245 boys, while 10,579 (5,504 girls and 5,066 boys) are enrolled in 20 primary and secondary schools,” said CPA Ntikahera, who also serves as Assistant RAS for Monitoring, Evaluation and Inspection.
World Vision Tanzania’s Senior Director, Dr Joseph Mayalla, emphasised the positive outcomes achieved by engaging religious leaders in the project’s implementation.
“In my experience with World Vision, I have seen faster transformation where religious leaders are involved. Their places of worship provide unique platforms to influence communities effectively,” he said.
On behalf of the TAHEA Executive Director, Mr Peter Mapunda said the project has also supported youth through entrepreneurship training.
“A total of 409 youth from 10 wards received entrepreneurship training. We also reached 138 youth groups with business education, trained 363 young people in backyard gardening and linked 2,639 adolescents to essential health services,” he said.
Mr Kasei Msuya from World Vision Tanzania said the project also aims to reach more than 274,000 parents and over 2,110 faith leaders in Dodoma and Dar es Salaam.
“Following this session, faith leaders will be tasked with delivering this knowledge to their communities to ensure the targeted youth are reached,” he said.
The AHADI project runs from April 2024 to March 2029 and focuses on promoting reproductive health awareness and economic empowerment among adolescents aged 10 to 24.
In Dodoma, it is being implemented across 12 wards Iincluding Chamwino, Nkuhungu, Mnadani, Msalato, Mkonze, Nzuguni, Kizota, Nala, Kikuyu South, Kikuyu North, Chang’ombe and Makole.
