The discussions in Maseru also looked towards the forthcoming Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children in Manila. Marwa urged African governments to include clear commitments to establish, strengthen and sustainably fund child helplines in their national pledges.

The visit brought C-Sema into an international conversation on protecting children online and marked its participation in the emerging Global Alliance to Protect Children in the Digital Environment. Moscow, Russia | 8–10 October 2026 C-Sema participated in the II Global Digital Forum (GDF 2026), held in Moscow, Russia, from 8 to 10 October 2026, following an invitation from Nina Fedorova, Head of International Affairs at the Alliance for the Protection of Children in the Digi

In Maseru, Lesotho, five colleagues from Praesidio Safeguarding partner organisations in Kenya, Uganda, Benin and Tanzania came together during the October child rights gatherings. Standing side by side in their Praesidio T-shirts, the smiles reflected more than a reunion. They represented organisations working in different countries, with different contexts and communities, but with a shared responsibility: making sure children are protected in a world that is increasingly d

What does it take to make national commitments to end violence against children meaningful in the lives of the children they are meant to protect?

Young people are often described as the future. But what happens when we give them the space to shape the present?

Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) requires more than laws, policies and national commitments. It requires communities to understand the harm, question the social norms that sustain the practice and, most importantly, see themselves as part of the solution. It is within families, villages, faith communities and local institutions that decisions affecting girls are made, and it is in these same spaces that lasting change must take root.

The gathering brought together African-led organisations, philanthropists and social impact leaders to strengthen connections, share ideas and explore the future of locally led change. Nairobi, Kenya | 21–24 July 2026 C-Sema was among the invited organisations at Segal 2026: The Next Beat, a four-day gathering convened by the Segal Family Foundation in Nairobi, Kenya, from 21 to 24 July 2026. C-Sema was represented by Kiiya JK joining fellow African leaders, nonprofit organis

From 16–17 July 2026, C-SEMA was represented by her Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Michael Marwa at the ARISE Africa II Validation convening held at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Like many organisations, we spend a lot of time thinking about programmes. We think about children, families, communities, activities, outcomes and impact. Fundraising often sits somewhere in the background. Necessary, of course, but separate from what feels like the real work.

For decades, an invisible engine has kept families, communities, and economies running across Tanzania: unpaid care work. From fetching water and preparing meals to providing round-the-clock assistance to family members with disabilities, this labor is essential. Yet, it remains largely unrecognized, undervalued, and drastically unequal.

As online risks grow, so does the need for stronger case management systems that move at the speed of harm, faster, coordinated mechanisms to identify and apprehend perpetrators, accessible, long-term MHPSS services for child survivors and sustained investment in helplines as critical child protection infrastructure.

Nearly six in ten young women in Tanzania have experienced online harassment. Many have faced threats or non-consensual sharing of their images. Some have responded not by speaking out, but by stepping back.

We were reminded that shared values, those shaped by history, culture, and collective experience are the true entry point for meaningful engagement. That when we build from what communities already hold, rather than what we think they lack, something shifts. As the days unfolded, we moved deeper into the heart of the Tostan Model.

What does it take to ensure that adolescents and young people have the information, support and services they need to make safe and informed choices? In Kisarawe District, the answer begins with conversation, collaboration and leadership commitment.

Watoto wetu wako likizo. Milango ya shule imefungwa, ratiba za kila siku zimebadilika, na nyumbani kuna muda mwingi zaidi wa pamoja. Katika kipindi hiki, ni rahisi sana sisi kama wazazi kuruhusu simu na runinga kuchukua nafasi kubwa ya siku hasa tunapojaribu kupumzika au kutekeleza majukumu mengine ya maisha.

Kipindi cha likizo na sikukuu huwa na mvuto wake wenyewe: vicheko, harufu za chakula, pilikapilika za wageni, na watoto kukimbizana kila upande. Ni msimu unaojaza nyumba furaha hadi pale tunaposikia. “Mama! Amenichukulia kitu changu!” “Baba! Amenisukuma!”

Have you ever received a call saying your child was involved in a conflict at school and your heart jumped to your child's defense before you even heard the other side of the story?

Research shows that when children learn how to handle bullying early, they build resilience, an inner strength that helps them throughout their lives. Experts like Dr. Dan Siegel explain that when we teach children how to protect themselves emotionally and logically, we help strengthen the part of their brain that supports confidence, self-control, and decision-making.

For us, a team member is never just a “human resource”. They are the very foundation of our mental health mandate, the steady voices, the gentle hearts, the people who offer a listening ear for children when no one else can.

Tunapobaki watulivu, watoto wetu huanza kutulia. Tunapowapa matumaini, mioyo yao huanza kupona. Na tunapowaonyesha upendo, wanajifunza kwamba hata baada ya maumivu, dunia bado ni mahali salama.