TANZANIA’S landscape is breathtaking, but the reality for many young women living there is far less picturesque. Poverty, limited education, and societal expectations that often relegate women to domestic roles create a cycle of hardship.
Yet, amidst these challenges, a single woman’s dream has sparked a movement empowering thousands. Lydia Charles Moyo, a young Tanzanian woman, knows this struggle intimately.
Growing up in poverty, she witnessed the limitations placed on women firsthand. But Lydia refused to be defined by circumstance. Inspired by her own experience, at the young age of 17, she started a campaign at her school – a seed planted with the simple, yet powerful, goal of boosting girls’ self-confidence.
During her university studies in Dar es Salaam – she studied public relations and advertising – she organised socalled panda events – panda is Swahili for the verb ‘to plant’.
She invited popular speakers for these events who inspired the girls to become more financially independent, for example by starting their own business.
Once she graduated, she worked as a radio host for an NGO working on leadership. But she soon returned to her campaign work, which she developed into a full-fledged NGO called Her Initiative.
This NGO has become a beacon of hope for countless young women in Tanzania. The organization’s philosophy revolves around a holistic approach to empowerment.
They don’t just equip women with skills; they transform mindsets. “The mindset has to change!” Her Initiative emphasizes. This involves building self-awareness, understanding rights, and developing skills.
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Once empowered, young women can create their products and services, learn to market them effectively and access the financial resources they need to thrive. Recognizing the transformative potential of technology, Her Initiative champions digital literacy.
Programs like “Panda Digital” provide e-learning platforms in Swahili, allowing young women to learn at their own pace and receive personalized coaching for their businesses.
Financial literacy is another crucial pillar. Through “Mishiko Clubs,” young women in secondary schools learn about budgeting, saving, and generating income – knowledge that can help them stay in school and pursue their dreams.
For those who have already dropped out, the “Plan B Project” offers a lifeline, providing support and combating gender-based violence.
To achieve its goal, Her Initiative developed 9 programmes, targeting different audiences, but all interconnected. Now more than 5,000 young entrepreneurs have already qualified for Panda Digital.
Through this e-learning platform in Swahili, they can learn skills at their own pace and receive personal coaching for their business.
The Mishiko Clubs have so far taught financial literacy to more than 1,000 girls in 10 secondary schools in Dar es Salaam.
They were also given tips on how to save and earn money on the side. After just 5 years of operations, Her Initiative can be justifiably proud of its impact.
The NGO has reached over 15,000 young women. 2,805 young female entrepreneurs have started working digitally, and 210 of them have started a new business.
Furthermore, 18 organisations run by young people have received support. Lydia’s dream hasn’t just empowered individuals; it’s sparked a cultural shift.
Her Initiative advocates for policies that support women and encourages society to recognize their potential as valuable contributors. Her Initiative has found various sponsors.
These include UN Women, the Malala Fund, the Netherlands and the Roddenberry Foundation. Nevertheless, the NGO is still aiming for more financial independence, so its work can continue long-term. It therefore set up an investment fund and wrote to potential donors.
On 27 June this year, the NGO was awarded the KBF Africa Prize by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, which comes with the sum of which comes with the sum of 200,000 euros (over 560mil/-).
The organisation was selected from a pool of more than 400 applicants by an independent committee of 12 international experts, including past winners of the KBF Africa Prize. Among other things, this money will be spent to scale up their programmes.
Lydia and her team plan to expand Panda Digital across the Swahili-speaking region and broaden their reach within Tanzania. The NGO is currently physically active in 6 of Tanzania’s 26 regions.
But the KBF Africa Prize means much more than a sum of money; it is a total package. It comes with technical assistance, and offers the opportunity to connect with other funders and to better understand global challenges.
The recent award of the prestigious KBF Africa Prize is a testament to Her Initiative’s incredible achievements. This recognition, along with the accompanying financial support and network access, will fuel further growth. In any case, Lydia and her 4 staff remain highly motivated.
Not least because there’s no shortage of amazing success stories. Rosy, for example, makes floral arrangements to decorate wedding parties.
She didn’t have a shred of self-confidence before she took part in Panda Digital. She now posts beautiful photos of her work on social media and has more than 100 clients.
“We already support young women to build their financial resilience in six Tanzanian regions, but with the KBF Africa Prize we will be able to scale our work to help so many more women to achieve their dreams in Tanzania and beyond.” Says Lydia All lives are transformed in incredible ways with a remarkable boost in self-confidence! And that’s what Her Initiative is all about.
One woman’s dream, fuelled by a desire to see young women reach their full potential, has blossomed into a movement.
Her Initiative is rewriting the narrative for young women in Tanzania, offering them the tools and confidence to build a brighter future, not just for themselves, but for their communities and the nation as a whole.