It Takes Two to Tango – Supporting Boys’ Rights and Responsibilities in Tanzania
As the saying goes, “It takes two to tango.” In LiiKe’s sport-based education project in Tanzanian lower secondary schools, we address not only the rights of boys — but especially their responsibilities.
“Treat others as you would like to be treated” becomes a guiding principle, especially in how boys interact with girls their age.
The project updates outdated initiation training materials traditionally used for boys (known as Jando) for the 21st century, incorporates football and physical activity sessions with health education themes, and trains teachers to recognize and address gender inequality in the school environment.
In Lindi Region, where LiiKe supports 117 lower secondary schools together with local partners, school results have improved across the board.
You can support the boys’ education and empowerment project by donating any amount.
Why Focus on Boys?
Teen pregnancies remain one of the main reasons girls drop out of school, yet boys and men often avoid responsibility in these cases. At the same time, boys’ own educational outcomes decline after traditional initiation school (Jando).
Lindi’s lower secondary schools have some of the weakest academic results in the country. This project supports weekly sports and health education clubs for boys in all 117 schools. Through football and other activities, boys explore:
- gender equality
- sexual and reproductive health
- positive life choices and behavior
Updating Jando: Traditional Meets Transformative
A unique part of the project focuses on revising and modernizing the content of Jando, a traditional initiation rite practiced among ethnic groups such as the Yao, Makonde, and Makua. These month-long camps, typically for boys aged 9–12, are meant to teach them how to become “real men” — often reinforcing harmful gender roles and masculine stereotypes.
After attending these camps, boys’ attitudes toward girls often become disrespectful, and they may begin to seek early sexual relationships.
The project works to:
- train Jando camp leaders in modern health education
- rewrite and update teaching materials
- support the establishment of a Jando educators’ network with progressive values
Working Together for Gender Equality
This boys’ empowerment project works in close collaboration with LiiKe’s existing Empowered Girls Speak Out (EGSO) initiative, implemented with Sports Development Aid (SDA).
While EGSO focuses on empowering girls, gender equality cannot be achieved unless boys and the wider community also understand and respect girls’ rights, education, and freedom from gender-based violence.
EGSO has developed a new 160+ page health education book for girls, and this material is now being adapted for use in Jando training.
The project uses tested EGSO models and practices to help boys understand gender equality and build healthy male identities.
It also includes boys with disabilities, supporting their inclusion through training and awareness-raising.
Funding and Impact
The project operates in all 117 lower secondary schools in Lindi Region and is supported by Finland’s development cooperation funds (2021–2024, 2025-28) as well as private donations.
Support us in raising a generation of respectful, informed, and responsible boys.
10–15% of the project costs are covered by private donations.
The more support we receive, the greater impact we can make through our development cooperation efforts!
Your donation helps support and educate Tanzanian boys on gender equality through physical activity and health education.
It also promotes and strengthens the human rights of persons with disabilities.