WE-BE
Supports
A family friend and WE-BE supporter, Joanne Allgoewer, serves as a Trustee
of a small Canadian charity, Sauti Moja (“One Voice” in Swahili). We were
deeply touched by her first-hand account of challenges faced by young
women in the pastoralist (livestock keeping) tribes of East Africa. Meeting
and hearing the stories of these girls, inspired the creation of Sauti Moja's
'Girl-Mother Program' in the Maasai village of Longido, Tanzania.
!
Teen pregnancy happens in all countries and societies, but for a wide range
of reasons, is rarely the 'fault' of the young woman. The consequences
however, for young women in Tanzania, are severe. At the beginning of each
term, secondary school girls are tested for pregnancy, and as required by
Tanzanian law, pregnant girls are immediately and permanently expelled.
Even though fees in government-funded school are quite low, many families
are unable to afford to send their children to school. Many charitable
organizations understand the value of educating young women, so they
sponsor many Maasai girls to attend government-run secondary schools.
Girls are so appreciative of having this opportunity that their families could
not afford, so they work hard to do well at school; they begin to dream
dreams of a bright future and being able to contribute to their communities
and families after graduation. And, then...some discover they are pregnant,
and all their dreams are shattered! At this point of despair, most sponsoring
organizations turn off their support due to prejudice and/or the high cost of
funding a girl to attend a private school. Pregnant girls are sent back to their
home village where, in many cases, the next step is forced marriage to
someone unlikely to be their choice; often, this man is much older, who
expects the girl to perform the traditional role of a Maasai wife. Her new
responsibilities, as one of several wives, include all aspects of family food
and shelter, including fetching wood and water to meet family needs.