Empowered Girls Speak Out II – Advancing Girls’ Education in Tanzania
LiiKe is implementing a sport-based health education project in 50+50 lower secondary schools across Tanzania, taking girls’ empowerment and gender equality efforts to new heights. In our pilot program (2017–2020), involving nine schools, the girls’ pass rate in the final national exam increased from 9% to 51% in just five years!
Support this impactful, gender-equal, and far-reaching education initiative for girls in Tanzania — donate any amount you choose.
👉 Watch a video about the girls’ success [here].
Why This Project Matters
For many girls, education ends as soon as secondary school begins. The reasons are many: poverty, long distances to school, early pregnancies, child marriage, and harmful attitudes.
Empowered Girls Speak Out II (EGSO II) and EGSO III build on the success of the original EGSO project (2017–2020), run in partnership with Sports Development Aid (SDA). This new phase has a far broader reach in 100 schools and places a stronger emphasis on inclusive education, particularly for students with disabilities.
The project empowers girls and youth with disabilities aged 13–19 to participate safely and equally in school and community life. It improves learning outcomes and raises awareness on girls’ rights, sexual health, and bodily autonomy — helping girls complete their education while reducing teen pregnancies and gender- and disability-based violence.
Importantly, boys, teachers, and community members are engaged as allies in supporting the empowerment of girls and youth with disabilities.
The Challenges We Face
While we’ve seen real progress in nine pilot schools and communities, the same issues persist elsewhere:
- Low academic performance
- Gender- and disability-based violence and harassment
- Unsafe journeys to school
- Negative parental attitudes toward girls’ and disabled children’s education
These challenges are rooted in traditional gender roles, lack of knowledge, and harmful cultural practices — such as Unyago, an initiation ritual that encourages early intimate relationships. The lack of sexual health education and contraceptive access leads to many teen pregnancies, contributing to high school dropout rates.
Our Approach: Inclusive Action Clubs
In each of the 50+50 schools, Inclusive Girls’ Action Clubs teach:
- Physical activity and life skills
- Human rights and gender equality
- Sexual and reproductive health
Each club reaches 40 girls, while nine of the schools are part of the successful EGSO I pilot, where the “Action Clubs” have already made a proven impact.
In addition:
- At least 200 teachers will be trained to build inclusive, girl- and disability-friendly school environments
- Key community members will be trained and encouraged to act as advocates for the project’s values
Funding and Support
This project is supported by Finland’s development cooperation funding (2021–2024, 2025-2028) and private donations.
Your support directly strengthens girls’ education and the rights of youth with disabilities in Tanzania.
Join us in creating lasting change — one school, one girl, one community at a time.
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 work!
Your donation supports and trains Tanzanian girls through physical activity and health education to become strong, self-aware peer leaders who understand their value and human rights.