Partners :: Publications :: Twaweza.org

Celebrate youth views

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 07:31:00 +0000

Tamasha and Twaweza have released a set of popular booklets on social change from a youth perspective.

The booklets, published in Kiswahili, cover a range of topics, including:

maternal health

teen pregnancy

education quality

investment in resources

governance and youth participation in decision-making

health, hygiene and sanitation

The issues put forward in the booklets draw from research conducted in 9 districts that the two organisations published in 2011. The aim is to popularise young people's views on these issues (see research briefs).

The booklets are also part of the promotion of the Open Government Partnership competition.

Safe schools, productive students: New booklets from Raising Voices and Twaweza

Tue, 08 May 2012 02:52:00 +0000

Ugandan NGO Raising Voices and Twaweza have collaborated on publishing four booklets on issues in East African education: corporal punishment, positive discipline, what makes a good teacher, and how to create a positive learning environment. The booklets will be distributed in Tanzania and Uganda.

Our objective with publishing these booklets is twofold: to create an understanding that day-to-day actions of students, parents and teachers contribute to making a positive education system and to improve the quality of teaching and learning in schools. Each booklet explores an issue and provides simple solutions. Readers are encouraged to discuss the issue with others. The goal is for schools to be full of have happy, productive students who are eager to learn.

Twaweza provided support to print the booklets, translated them into Kiswahili and customized them to the Tanzania context. Posters and a teacher’s guide are in the works.

Get a first look at the soon to be released booklets in English and Kiswahili below.

Are the youth in Tanzania healthy?

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:26:00 +0000

In this policy brief, Tamasha presents findings about the different environments that influence young people’s health in Tanzania. The brief explains that Tanzania cannot expect to produce a new generation that is physically, mentally and socially healthy if they study in school environments that leave them to their own devices for most of the day. It also recommends that more needs to be done to protect young women from sexual harassment. There is also a need for many more health facilities, as well as improved roads, forms of transport, and communication that will enable young people to utilize health facilities. Read the full policy brief here.

Is water and electricity serving the deserving?

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 13:25:00 +0000

Water and electricity are the lifeblood of development. Tamasha did a village survey of eight districts in Tanzania to find out how young people access water and electricity services. The findings show that in many places there are multiple water projects, but electricity remains a rare commodity. Despite the multiplicity of water sources, methods of tapping it for domestic and commercial use remain largely inefficient. As a result, young men have to cut schooling hours and interrupt other economic activities in order to spend time looking for water. This policy brief recommends that young people be trained and employed to maintain water projects. The private sector should be given incentives to invest in solar power so that more people will have access to reliable electricity in rural and remote areas. Read the research brief.

When is a school not a school?

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 13:22:00 +0000

In the Secondary Education Development Programme (SEDP), Tanzania’s Ministry of Education and Vocational Training outlined minimum standards for public secondary schools and all public schools were required to meet these standards by 2009. The same ministry has set criteria that all private secondary schools have to meet before they can be registered and if they fail to meet any criteria at a later stage, they are deregistered. Yet, many public secondary schools continue operating without meeting the SEDP minimum standards. This policy brief proposes that unless substandard public schools are upgraded or closed down, students and parents are being cheated. It also recommends changing the language of instruction to Kiswahili and giving special incentives to teachers who work in difficult environments. Read the full brief.

Are young people in Tanzania connected?

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 13:14:00 +0000

Network and electricity reliability determine how young people can access and utilize different media and new forms of communication, including mobile phones and the internet. Reliable infrastructure and electricity also facilitate youths’ ability to use these forms of communication to transform their lives and boost the economy. In this policy brief, Tamasha presents findings about the status of communication infrastructure and the supply of electricity in eight Tanzanian districts. Many young people in Tanzania have limited access to media and other forms of communication due to poor infrastructure and unreliable electricity. Read the research brief for detailed findings.

Do Young People in Tanzania Participate in Development?

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 09:57:00 +0000

In Tanzania, youth make up approximately one third of the population. Tamasha surveyed youth from eight districts in Tanzania and found that the rights and needs of young people are not being addressed. Young people have few resources and lack institutions that would enable them to advance their interests or negotiate with the Government. In most cases, young people are being used as voluntary (unpaid) labour to execute decisions reached by elders. The survey also found that when young people are given the chance to participate in governance, they are enthusiastic and effective. The policy brief recommends several actions to address this situation, including nationwide advocacy to change attitudes towards young people and build the understanding that they are key players in development. Read the full research brief.