Dar resorts to music, drama, creative arts in  promoting road safety

DAR ES SALAAM: IN a bid to enhance road safety for students, NafasiArt Space and energy firms have officially launched the 2025 edition of the VIA Creative project, an initiative that uses music, drama, and creative arts to educate and raise awareness among students about road safety.

The project also involves  Total Energies Marketing Tanzania Limited, which has collaborated with the TotalEnergies Foundation.

Speaking during the launch event held today in Dar es Salaam, Acting District Administrative Secretary of Temeke, Ms. Saadati Mohamed, representing the District Commission,r praised the firm for its continued commitment to protecting young lives and empowering them through education.

“Road safety is not just about having good roads. It also requires an understanding of traffic laws, responsible behavior, and the collective involvement of the entire community. The VIA Creative project is unique and commendable for using art to deliver this important message to students,” said Ms. Mohamed.

She further emphasized the importance of the project, noting that secondary school students are among the most frequent road users walking, riding bicycles, or using motorcycles (bodabodas) all of which contribute significantly to road accidents.

“It’s encouraging to see that these efforts align with the government’s initiatives, as well as those of the Police Force’s Road Safety Unit and other stakeholders, in reducing road accidents,” she added.

Ms. Mohamed also stressed that providing road safety education to students at an early age is a valuable investment in creating a safety-conscious generation, which in turn supports sustainable national development. She called on other private institutions to follow TotalEnergies’ example by investing in education and social development.

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On her part, TotalEnergies’ Director of Legal and Public Affairs, Ms. Getrude Mpangile, stated that between 2022 and 2024, the VIA Creative project targeted primary school students, reaching more than 22,000 pupils across 60 schools in Dar es Salaam, Coast Region, and Morogoro.

“This year, we’ve taken a step further by expanding the program to secondary schools, starting with Ndalala Secondary School and extending the initiative to Dodoma Region,” said Ms. Mpangile.

She explained that the project will give students the opportunity to participate in a national competition where they will showcase their road safety knowledge and creative skills.

“The winning school at the national level will represent Tanzania in a regional competition a source of national pride and a platform for regional collaboration on road safety values,” she noted.

Ms. Mpangile added that the national winners will also see their road safety improvement proposals implemented.

“This was first done in 2024 when Makuburi Primary School suggested building a protective wall around the school to prevent accidents caused by vehicles and motorcycles. We successfully fulfilled that request, and today the school has a secure perimeter wall protecting its students,” she explained.

The VIA Creative project continues to serve as a vital platform for youth creativity and engagement in building safer communities that prioritize the well-being of road users.