KUWAZA Project is Inspiring Community-led Change.

In the North Region of Unguja, Zanzibar, something powerful is happening. Children are finding the courage to speak up, and communities are learning how to listen. At the heart of this transformation is the KUWAZA IV Project, an initiative that champions child protection and builds safer spaces for young people to grow.

Young girls showcasing a dance during one of KUWAZA's school outreaches

One story from the Shehia of Pale stands out. A girl, hurt by the nickname her mother gave her “kikojozi,” meaning “a child who wets the bed” decided to report it to the police. Before she could, a community member intervened and spoke to her mother about the harm such language can cause. The name-calling stopped that day. It was a small moment that showed the power of awareness and dialogue.

In Kazole, another child showed what empowerment looks like in practice. When a stranger on a boda-boda offered her a ride, she refused. Alarmed and afraid, she ran to her teacher and shouted for help until her mother arrived. What could have been a dangerous situation ended safely because this child understood her right to say no.

Communities are changing, too. In Mtambile, parents who once saw corporal punishment as acceptable are now working with madrasa teachers to stop it.

One community member from Mkokotoni shared, “Since KUWAZA started, there have been fewer cases of violence, less beating in madrassas, fewer child marriages. This is a big change from the past.”

Child protection is understood and prompt action taken. In Mkokotoni, where children once helped fishermen process madagaa (small fish) for money or food, fewer young faces are seen on the docks. Instead, those children are staying in school, where they belong. Safety is becoming part of the physical environment as well. In Mkwajuni, the community and the School Management Committee built a protective fence around a school to prevent road accidents. Before this, motorbikes and pedestrians passed through the school grounds, putting children at risk every day.

Community members during one of the lessons.

At grassroots level, Reflection Action Circles (RACs) are solving problems that affect children. In Fujoni, RAC members stopped a practice where teachers sent children home to buy paper supplies, something many families could not afford. Now, every child stays in class, no matter their ability to pay.

One of the young girls who has been empowered by the SVAC prevention training programme.

Another interesting story is from a 33-year-old Sichana Othman Suleiman from Zanzibar, a passionate advocate for children’s rights and an active participant in the KUWAZA project. Through community awareness sessions and activities during the 16 Days of Activism, Sichana and school-based drama clubs traveled across Shehias using creative performance and community dialogue to raise awareness on the prevention of sexual violence and the protection of children’s rights.

One of the most powerful outcomes of these efforts unfolded on January 10, 2024, when a 14-year-old girl from Kitope walked into the Police Gender Desk in Mahonda, alone and determined. Her courage stunned officers: she was reporting her own parents for denying her the right to education.

Previously a student at a private school, the girl had excelled and earned a place at Bembela Secondary School. But her academic success was met with resistance at home. Her mother claimed she could no longer afford the fees, and her father, often absent and intoxicated, refused to engage or support her schooling. As tension escalated, so did her resolve.

Thanks to the training she had received through KUWAZA’s school-based activities and the 16 Days of Activism, she understood that being denied an education is a form of violence and she knew where to seek help.

“My father works at a hotel but comes home drunk every day and beats my mother. My mother said she’s tired and I should stay home. But I want to go to school,” she told the officers.

The police acted swiftly. The father was summoned along with the child’s aunt. Upon confrontation, he acknowledged his neglect and agreed to a plan. He was instructed to provide TSHS 15,000 every week for his daughter’s transportation costs. He complied and the young girl returned to school.

This story illustrates more than just one girl's bravery. It highlights the transformative power of community-led awareness, the effectiveness of school-based empowerment, and the critical role of interagency collaboration in protecting children. KUWAZA is not only shifting knowledge, but also power to the very people who need it most.

“This child had the confidence and knowledge to stand up not only for her right to education but for a better life,” says Sichana. “That’s the real impact of KUWAZA.”

This is a clear signal that, when children and communities are equipped with knowledge, they become agents of change. Projects like KUWAZA do not just prevent violence, they empower communities for scalable impact.

Prepared by C-Sema's Communication Team.