In Tanzania, World Renew’s partner Asasi Ya Chagua Maisha has been working to help girls and young women caught up in sex work. The young women, ages 15-25, are living in three communities on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam.
The young women, ages 15-25, are living in three communities on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam.
ACHAMA and World Renew work together to provide vocational and living skills training to the girls so that they can leave the sex trade behind and earn a legitimate and safe living.
I recently visited a participant in this program.
Grace* lives with her elderly parents, who are very poor.
Grace completed secondary education but unfortunately was not able to continue her studies because her parents did not have money for her school fees.
She told me, “After I completed my secondary studies, I went back home but I had no income-generating activities to meet my small needs; this context influenced me to engage in sex work to meet my small needs such as clothes and food. Then one day our local government leader visited my home and shared with me about the ACHAMA sex workers program. I joined the project, and I received vocational skills training, learning to make fabrics, bar soap, chalk, baskets, wallets, and more. Now I use my new skills to make baskets. I make four baskets a day and market them. I am very happy with my newly gained skills because they enable me to meet my needs. I am also happy because I was able to leave sex work with its high risk of HIV transmission.”
Grace advises other girls who are still depending on sex work to leave it behind, telling them that it really is a matter of survival.
Prayer Request
Please pray for Grace and ask God to continue blessing her new business. Pray that other girls will also be able to leave the sex trade behind.
Blessings,
Zakayo Mwakipesile
Field Officer
World Renew Tanzania
edited by Jim Zylstra and World Renew Communications
*Grace’s real name and face are not shared to protect her identity