 |
| Maasai community leaders at the Women’s Chair in Kimokowa Ward are being supported by the Legal Services Facility (LSF). Pictured from left to right: the Chairperson of the Longido District Development Groups Union; Upendo Ndoros, Special Seat Councillor for Longido District; Laigwanan Lucas Sambeke; and Esupath Laizer, Village Executive Officer of Eworendeke |
Nambori Nabak, Chairperson of the Longido District Women’s Development Groups, commended the Legal Services Facility (LSF) for its role in educating and equipping women with the skills needed to improve their economic status, combat violence, and gain confidence to pursue leadership roles, similar to their male counterparts.
On September 11, 2024, during the Maasai Women’s Leadership Forum organized by LSF in partnership with Vodacom Foundation, Nabak expressed her gratitude.
"I extend my heartfelt thanks to LSF for enlightening us and instilling great courage. Today, I hold a land title, lead over 300 groups, and understand my rights. This represents a significant achievement, and I am committed to working tirelessly to ensure that women have opportunities for leadership in our community so that our voices and contributions are recognized," Nabak stated.
In Longido District, Arusha Region, Maasai women are now determined to run for local government positions, marking a shift from past practices.
Upendo Ndoros, Special Seats Councillor for Longido Division, encouraged women to be bold and prepare for upcoming local government elections:
"Recognizing the importance of women leaders in our society, I have already persuaded 11 women to apply for these positions. While it is challenging for the Maasai community to trust women in leadership roles, we must act decisively to be heard, advocate for our rights, and oppose violence," Ndoros emphasized.
Laigwanan Lucas Sambeke, a Maasai cultural leader, highlighted the significant changes brought about by women in leadership roles:
"Before receiving education from LSF, I thought that a female leader would be arrogant and neglect her family responsibilities. However, my view has changed. I now advocate for the community to trust women leaders, having witnessed their positive impact on family finances, wise decision-making, and advocacy for children’s and women’s rights. I am prepared to support them in the forthcoming local elections," Sambeke noted.
Esupath Laizer, Village Executive Officer of Eworendeke, discussed the evolving perception of women in the community and the government’s efforts to tackle harmful practices:
"We are actively working to eliminate female genital mutilation and have established confidential committees to gather information.
We educate women on how to speak out and report violence and other rights violations, while also ensuring that girls' education is not disrupted.
We appreciate the contribution of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in helping us broaden our vision and improve many lives," Laizer said.
 |
| On the left is Lulu Mwanakilala, Executive Director of the Legal Services Facility. |
 |
"Two years ago, LSF visited us and addressed our challenges. They constructed a girls’ dormitory, which was completed in May 2024, and provided 60 beds and 120 mattresses. This has alleviated overcrowding in the dormitories.We are very thankful for LSF’s support," Misana added.
The school has also excelled in district-level exams, with all students passing and advancing to further education, a testament to LSF’s impact.
Jackline Andrew, a Form Two student with disabilities at Namanga Secondary School, acknowledged the positive changes in how women are perceived:
"We receive education both in school and through community groups. It is evident that organizations play a crucial role in supporting girls. I particularly thank LSF for building the dormitory and providing beds and mattresses. We now sleep two per bed instead of three, which has greatly improved our comfort," Jackline said.
.jpeg)
0 Comments:
Post a Comment