“Education is the most powerful weapon, which you can use to change the world”. Nelson Mandela
Image courtesy of pixabay
Today, December 10th people all over the world celebrate Human Rights Day – a day that brings people together to remember loved ones who were victims, have been victims or are still victims resulting from violation of various human rights. Each year, the day holds a different theme and the 2018 theme is #StandUp4HumanRights which you can use with as hash tag on social media to show your support.
According to the United Nations (UN), Human Rights day was adopted on its first ever General Assembly in 1948 which was called the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, marking this as its 70th commemoration. When one speaks of human rights it means all human beings being are born equal in dignity and rights regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
We have come a long way thus it is vital to laud Tanzania government’s initiatives to observe and uphold human rights within its borders such as free education to all in primary level – the basis of education and establishment of gender based violence (GBV) desks to end sexual harassment and violence to name a few.
It is a step towards the right direction though we remain with a mountain ahead to conquer; including getting girls back to school after falling pregnant as recent reports and trumpet blowers from both local and international human right advocates have shown increase in human rights violation in the country.
This is Lucy from our miniseries Harakati za Lucy, a 3D animation used in educating on sexual reproductive health and menstrual hygiene management to help reduce and prevent teen pregnancy in Tanzania (Photo courtesy of Tai Studio).
To refrain from any further political jabber, Tai Tanzania is a youth led organization that aims to provide sexual reproductive health education among secondary school students to core end result of reducing and preventing teen pregnancies. Through its 3D animated miniseries Harakati za Lucy which is loaded with stories that aims to inspire adolescents to make right decisions, learn life skills and promote positive behavior change that will result into empowering girls.
As the human rights declaration emphasizes right to education and free education, Tai in partnership with a German organization called Vipaji offers education scholarships to around 30 students at Mongola Secondary School in Morgoro region in Tanzania through its Education Scholarship Program. The program covers such school needs as meals, textbooks and other stationery, and sanitary towels for girls.
Some of the teachers at Mongola Sec. School having a chat with one of TAI facilitator (Photo courtesy of Tai Studio)
DID YOU KNOW?
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Document is the most translated document in the world, available in more than 500 languages.
A woman, Eleanor Roosevelt was the first and lead chairperson on the drafting committee of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She later won the United Nations Human Rights Prize in 1968 for her role in advocating human rights.