Ambassador Theresa Zitting (seated, third from the right) with IKIWA participants, trainers, government representatives and the SAWA team.
The Ambassador of Finland to Tanzania, Mrs Theresa Zitting, commended the progress of the IKIWA Project during her visit to SAWA Wanawake Tanzania in Morogoro Region. The project is funded by the Embassy of Finland.
As part of its visits to projects funded by the Government of Finland in Tanzania, a delegation from the Embassy of Finland, led by Ambassador Theresa Zitting, visited SAWA on the last Saturday of January 2024. At SAWA’s headquarters in Kilakala Ward, Morogoro Municipality, the delegation saw IKIWA’s entrepreneurship training for young women who had completed secondary education but had been unable to continue their studies. Speaking to journalists, the ambassador praised the project’s progress.
Theresa Zitting said: “We are here at SAWA to see the activities of the IKIWA Project. We decided to fund SAWA last summer for a two-year project. Today I have seen encouraging examples of women training in tailoring, computer maintenance and mobile phone repair, as well as fish farming. Once trained, these young women will teach others in their communities. We still have a year and a half ahead, and we hope to see continued progress. We will visit again. I am happy with what I have seen.”
Ambassador Theresa Zitting views clothing made by young women participating in the IKIWA Project.
IKIWA stands for Inawezekana Kijana Wajibika, conveying a message of possibility and responsibility for young people. The project aims to reach 360 girls over two years. SAWA’s Executive Director described the entrepreneurship skills offered through the project.
“We started with 20 young women and are preparing them to train others. We provide training in hairdressing and beauty services, machine sewing, poultry and fish farming, and mobile phone and computer maintenance. We are pleased to offer this training and grateful to the Embassy of Finland for funding the project,” Hellen said.
Hellen Nkalang’ango, Executive Director of SAWA Wanawake Tanzania
Tanzania Kids Time also interviewed a young woman who had completed the initial IKIWA training. She described her experience before the training and how she had begun to benefit from learning hairdressing and beauty skills.
“I was a homemaker and knew nothing about hairdressing and beauty. After joining the training, I began learning to braid hair. I can now work with different hairstyles and have been trained to teach others,” said Dorcas Yamba.
Dorcas Yamba, an IKIWA participant trained in hairdressing and beauty services
Speaking to journalists during the ambassador’s visit, Delfina Thomas Pacho, Community Development Officer at the Morogoro Regional Office, said: “As a government, we have great confidence in the IKIWA Project’s ability to help young women achieve their dreams.”
Delfina Thomas Pacho, Community Development Officer at the Morogoro Regional Office
The IKIWA Project is implemented in Morogoro Municipal Council and Mvomero District Council.
A training room for computer and mobile phone repair