Fourth Edition of the Run for Binti Marathon set for May

DAR ES SALAAM: THE highly anticipated Fourth Edition of the Run for Binti Marathon is set to take place on May 24 at the Oysterbay Grounds in Dar es Salaam.

This year more than 5,000 people are expected to take part in the event, competing in the half marathon (21 kilometres), 10 km and 5 km races.

The annual Run for Binti Marathon serves as a vital platform to raise resources and mobilise collective efforts toward empowering girls by ensuring access to education and reproductive health services.

The initiative focuses particularly on menstrual hygiene management and creating safe, supportive learning environments.

In the previous edition, over 4,000 participants helped raise significant funds, which were directed towards supporting Nanyamba and Chawi Secondary Schools in the Nanyamba Town Council.

These funds facilitated the construction of modern toilets and the distribution of sanitary pads, ensuring that girls could attend school regularly without interruption.

During the event’s launch, Lulu Ng’wanakilala, the Executive Director of Legal Services Facility (LSF), emphasised about the marathon’s impact in addressing the challenges girls face in accessing education and health services.

She noted the crucial role of the marathon in bringing together various partners to invest in community-driven solutions.

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“Through our access to justice programmes, we have seen how girls are often hindered by preventable and structural barriers to education, healthcare and basic rights. Our collaboration with Smile for Community and other stakeholders is essential in reducing these barriers and creating pathways toward a fairer and more equitable society, especially for girls,” said Ng’wanakilala.

She also highlighted the achievements of the previous edition, which benefitted over 2,500 students in the Mtwara region.

The initiative improved school sanitation, provided menstrual hygiene supplies and facilitated tree planting and awareness programs on menstrual and reproductive health rights.

The Executive Director of Smile for Community, Flora Njelekela expressed excitement for this year’s event. She shared the initiative’s goal to extend its impact by reaching 1,000 girls across three schools in Dar es Salaam and Geita regions.

“This year, the marathon will directly benefit 1,000 girls, with interventions in Dar es Salaam and Geita and We are focused on distributing 7,000 reusable sanitary pads, constructing modern school toilets, planting 500 trees and organising activities such as GBV awareness sessions,” said Njelekela.

Apart from that they will also conduct financial literacy training for girls and clean cooking sensitisation in Ukonga, Dar es Salaam while in Geita, the focus will be on menstrual hygiene management, financial literacy and improving sanitation.