In Vilnius we said why every ring of the phone matters, and Zanzibar's proving we're all ears.

We attended this year's ISPCAN Congress and more specifically we shared our impact story at the Rise Up Policy Forum. The events took place this October 6 - 9, 2025 in Vilnius, Lithuania. And at the world’s largest event dedicated to child abuse and neglect prevention, KUWAZA impact was shared!

Think of a young girl in a Zanzibar village (shehia), still wearing her school uniform, her heart racing as she reaches for the phone to confide in someone about inappropriate touches from a neighbour that leave her feeling vulnerable and afraid. In communities where families often remain silent due to shame or entrenched customs (muhali), that single confidential call can begin to dismantle the barriers – not only for her, but for other children in the area as well. This is the transformative potential of the KUWAZA project, where Childline Zanzibar serves as a trusted platform, fostering change to protect children from sexual abuse.

KUWAZA focuses on primary prevention of child sexual abuse (CSA), which can occur both online and offline. It is defined as any contact or interaction between a child and an older or more knowledgeable child or adult that the child does not fully understand, cannot consent to, or is not developmentally ready for. CSA is a global concern that inflicts profound harm on a child's well-being. The project was developed in response to critical gaps: Tanzania's 2011 national survey on violence against children indicated that one in ten boys and one in twenty girls experiences sexual violence before the age of 18, with social norms serving as a primary factor in perpetuating it. In Zanzibar, the National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children reveals that only one in ten children who experience sexual violence seeks support. A prevailing culture of silence, coupled with limited awareness among children and adults of what constitutes CSA, exacerbates these issues, often linked to violence against women within households.

The initiative equips children aged 7 to 14, along with their support networks – including mothers, fathers, teachers, and community members – with knowledge and skills to identify and prevent CSA. Supported by targeted outreach in communities and schools to raise awareness of sexual violence against children and Childline Zanzibar services, the helpline has experienced a marked increase in calls. Children and adults are now more willing to reach out. Childline Zanzibar provides a confidential space for children to voice their concerns and connect with appropriate services across the country, while also serving as a mechanism to gather evidence on trends in violence and patterns of help-seeking behaviour.

Among the most compelling outcomes are the personal accounts gathered directly from the field. Mothers who once remained silent now speak openly about recognising early warning signs in their child's interactions and intervening promptly. Fathers who previously overlooked such incidents as mere children's matters now lead community dialogues on consent and safety. These narratives illustrate a profound shift in social norms, as parents demonstrate greater understanding and proactive responses to CSA-related issues.

The broader impacts are significant. Calls related to sexual violence against children at Childline Zanzibar have increased substantially, reflecting enhanced agency among children to report incidents. These field stories have also drawn in additional partners, including law enforcement agencies addressing gaps in prosecution procedures, frontline child protection service providers ensuring confidentiality, youth-led community-based organisations safeguarding whistle-blowers, and religious leaders providing essential information to parents and other caregivers. At the conclusion of the project's toolkit rollout, community action plans were implemented to mitigate identified CSA risk factors, such as unsafe school environments and the absence of toilets, while community members – including project facilitators – intervened to prevent impending child marriages.

The insights from KUWAZA align with international efforts, such as the United Kingdom's Online Safety Act, which entered into force in July 2025. This legislation requires platforms including X, Facebook, and TikTok to conduct child risk assessments, implement age verification measures, and remove harmful content proactively, thereby sharing the responsibility for child safety. Similarly, KUWAZA advocates for comprehensive systems that equip children with information on their rights while establishing robust mechanisms for prevention and response to CSA.

In the communities of Zanzibar, under the white-sandy-beaches & warm sun, KUWAZA is fostering environments where families converse openly, schools become genuine places of refuge, and vulnerabilities for children diminish. For C-Sema, this serves as a model for expansion – integrating these achievements into strengthened helpline services across the islands and deeper collaborations with stakeholders. In the global endeavour to end violence against children, every call to Childline Zanzibar underscores the importance of listening, and Zanzibar exemplifies this commitment in action.

Prepared by C-Sema's Communications Team