The Embassy of Japan in Tanzania Commemorates International Women’s Day by Launching 2 Projects

The Project for the Construction of a Girls’ Dormitory Block at Itona Secondary School in Mufindi District, Iringa Region

There is no any dormitory at this school and most of the students are required to walk long distances to reach the school because their homes are located more than 10 kilometres away. Most of the form 4 female students have to sleep in one of the classes on a temporary basis. The class-cum-dormitory is congested and does not provide conducive environment for learning, which contributes to their low academic performance.
Due to this situation, the Government of Japan decided to provide up to 101,360 USD, approximately 234 million Tanzania Shillings in order to construct a girls’ dormitory at Itona Secondary School.

The UNHCR Covid-19 Preparedness and Response for Burundian and Congolese refugees and other asylum seekers in refugee camps in Kigoma Region in Tanzania.
With and important component of “Participation of Community in Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Prevention”

In this project, the Government of Japan has provided USD 1,069,212 which is equivalent to 2.47 billion Tanzania Shillings as a Supplementary Budget of the Fiscal Year 2021 to the UNHCR. Given that the population density in the camp is considerable, the risk of COVID-19 transmission remains high. The project's main purpose is to strengthen preventive and community-based health care services necessary to protect refugees and asylum seekers against the detrimental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, within this significant objective, there is an important component of “Participation of Community in Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Prevention.” Women must be protected in all contexts and circumstances, however, they are especially vulnerable to sexual and gender-based abuse in the refugee camps.
As of 31 January 2022, Tanzania hosts over 247,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, mainly from　Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Of these, some 83% live in the Nduta and Nyarugusu refugee camps located in the northwestern region of Kigoma. In this project, there will be training for the police, community workers, refugees and staff on SGBV issues. Women centers will be constructed in Nduta Camp, also awareness sessions, support to victims and counselling services will be provided.
In Early March 2020, the H.E. GOTO Shinichi, the Ambassador of Japan, paid a visit to Nduta, Mtendeli and Nyarugusu camps. During his visit, the Ambassador learned a lot from the UNHCR staff, community workers, and the refugee themselves. Ambassador GOTO was informed about many challenges facing the refugees in the camp which included limited livelihood activities, energy, and environment, food, shelter, education, and health issues. It is Ambassador’s expectation that this project will provide a major solution to health issues as well as a reduction, if not entire elimination, of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

This commemoration cannot pass without mentioning the name of one special woman and a visionary leader – the late Madam Dr. OGATA Sadako, the former UN High Commissioner for Refugees from 1990 to 2000 and former President of JICA. Madam OGATA led UNHCR through one of its most pivotal decades, implemented effective strategies and transformed the lives of millions of refugees and others displaced by wars, ethnic cleansing and genocide, and helped to redefine humanitarian action to the form that we know it today. Madam OGATA co-chaired the Commission on Human Security, which underlined and popularized the concept of Human Security in 2003 with their report "Human Security Now." Since then, JICA has worked to make Human Security a reality through its programs. Through Madam OGATA, we learn the importance of huge contributions brought by women at the top leadership positions. In addition, it is truly wonderful to see that in today’s projects, one project is under the Grassroots Human Security Scheme and another under the UNHCR as envisioned by Madam OGATA.

THE POLICY

The Government of Japan has always had a friendly policies towards women empowerment. This was strongly emphasized by the former Prime Minister ABE Shinzo in his address at the Sixty-Eighth (68th) Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations on 26 September, 2013, when he said “the Government of Japan will cultivate the power of women as the greatest potential for the growth of the Japanese economy, and further strengthen cooperation with the international community as well as assistance to developing countries with the belief that creating "a society in which women shine" will bring vigor to the world.” Also, since 2014 the Government of Japan has annually joined hands with the UN-Women and other countries all over the world to participate in the World Assembly for Women (WAW!), the conference that puts emphasis on achieving 'A Society where Women Shine'. Since Fiscal Year 1979, the Government of Japan has contributed to UN Women and UNIFEM (one of the predecessor of UN Women). Japan has funded not only to their core fund but also to their projects such as promotion of gender mainstreaming in humanitarian assistance and elimination of violence against women. For example, in the recent past 5 years only, Japan provided assistance amounting to USD 33.8 billion to projects with a primary objective to solve gender equality and women empowerment challenges around the world. In those projects, women were empowered through projects in education, agriculture, forestry, fishing, health and other sectors.

EXAMPLE PROJECTS

The Government of Japan has been providing various assistance for women across the country through grant assistance for grassroots human security project scheme since 1989. However, in the recent past 5 years only, specifically from 2017 to 2021, there have been many project to support women in various sectors. In the education sector, a total of USD 1,635,970 (equivalent to 3.78 billion Tanzania Shillings) has been provided to support more than 8,300 women through 19 projects. In the health sector, USD 709,432 (equivalent to 1.64 billion Tanzania Shillings) has been provided to benefit more than 206,000 women through 8 projects. And in other sectors, USD 252,921 (equivalent to 585 million Tanzania Shillings) has been provided to support more than 3,200 through 3 projects.

(i) GIRLS’ DORMITORIES

In this category, the Embassy of Japan has contributed to the construction of 55 girls' dormitories in Tanzania over the last 15 years. The total grant amount of these 55 girls' dormitories is USD 5,498,460, which is the equivalent of 12.7 billion Tanzanian shillings. The Itona Secondary School Girls' Dormitory will be the 56th to get support from the Japanese government in only recent 15 years.

(ii) SAKURA GIRLS’ SECONDARY SCHOOL

Out of the 55 projects mentioned above, one that stands out is the “The Project for the Construction of Sakura Girls’ Secondary School in Arusha District, Arusha Region (JFY2014 and JFY2015)”, which was led by Ms. Frida Tomito, Chairperson of “Hope for Better Future Initiatives in Tanzania” in cooperation with the late Prof. IWAO Sumiko, Chairperson of “Group Kilimanjaro Incorporated” for the purpose of improving girls’ education and the school has a vision that they will grow up female students who can be expected to play leading roles in Tanzanian society in the future.
In Sakura secondary project, the Government of Japan provided more than 1 billion Tanzania shillings to build classroom block, dining hall, dormitory, security fence, renovate existing building for a staff House, Administration Block and purchase of furniture. Sakura Secondary school has turned up to be a very good school for girls and offers opportunity for exchange programs with Japanese secondary schools. In December 2020, Ms. Frida M. Tomito, the Director of Sakura Vision Tanzania (SVT) who had shown very good management and leadership for the Sakura Girls’ Secondary School, received Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation Award for her significant contribution to promotion of mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and the United Republic of Tanzania by holding Japanese culture classes, accepting Japanese teachers, and actively conducting student exchange programs. She has always accepted and welcomed visitors from Japan at the school and her contribution has helped in creating a friendship bridge between the two countries.

Messages from Sakura Girls’ Secondary School to Commemorate the International Women’s Day

1. MESSAGE FROM MS. FRIDA TOMITO – DIRECTOR OF SAKURA VISION TANZANIA

Let me start this short note by thanking the Honorable Ambassador of Japan for considering me to be among the Tanzanian Women to give my contribution of what I think about the International Women’s Day.
The International Women’s Day is a special day for women celebrated worldwide to see how far women have reached and achieved since the inception of this campaign. The idea of this day is to support and increase the awareness that can help bring positive change for women.
My perspectives as a Tanzanian woman, one of the key issues that I care the most  is girls’ education. I take it as a top priority for empowerment of human beings as it directs people to take charge of their lives and it gives voice to the disadvantaged. It is also a necessary base to the creation of a democratic society.
As a stakeholder of education for girls, I appreciate so much the support the Government of Japan has been providing to many schools in Tanzania and Sakura Girls Secondary School being among them. It was established through financial and technical support from Japan with the mission of preparing young women to become future leaders, medical doctors, teachers and entrepreneurs who would be the engines of social economic development of Tanzania. Education is very important as it is a powerful tool that can bring positive change to the society.
Thank you very much and Happy International Women’s Day!

2. MESSAGE FROM MR. FURUYA OBUMI, CHAIRPERSON OF GROUP KILIMANJARO

Konnichiwa. This is Obumi Furuya from Group Kilimanjaro, an NPO in Japan supporting the operation of Sakura Girls Secondary School in Arusha.  I am delighted to send this message to you on this special day where women worldwide are recognized and celebrated, mostly, appreciated for their achievements in various aspects of life.
Please let me introduce Sakura Girls Secondary School, which is a boarding school established by my late mother, Dr. Sumiko Iwao.  As the chairperson of the Council for Gender Equality in Japan, she was delegated to present Japan for the United Nations Special Session of Gender Equality, and her lifework was to promote women’s empowerment worldwide.  She strongly believed that the future depends on educating women, which in effect will educate the children and lead in enhancing the economy.  Her thoughts lead to establishing Sakura Girls Secondary School, to create a high-quality and competitive education that emphasizes on STEM subjects even to underprivileged girls by providing scholarships and educate them as future female leaders with a good knowledge of Japan, hoping to create a bridge between Tanzania and Japan.  
Sakura Girls Secondary School has become one of Arusha’s top prestigious secondary school within the five years since its establishment.  Sakura Girls Secondary School was honored to be presented by Japanese Former Prime Minister Abe within his speech at the United Nations.  Also, Sydney’s Women Marathon Olympic Gold Medalist Naoko Takahashi visited Sakura Girls Secondary School, and was overwhelmed with the students’ enthusiasm and deeply moved that each student had their own dream at such a young age.   We are so proud that the majority of the students are in Division 1 on the National Exam, even in STEM subjects.
For the future of Tanzania and Japan, Group Kilimanjaro is honored to assist Sakura Girls Secondary School and we wish to establish an A-level School in addition to its current Secondary School.  Your cooperation is deeply appreciated, and lets together create a bright future for the women of Tanzania and a bridge to Japan. 

(iii) LADIES FIRST

Another project by the Government of Japan that aims at empowering women in Tanzania is known as “Ladies First”. This is Tanzania's first women's track meet that aims to provide female athletes who have potentials with an opportunity to showcase their talents. The Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports of Tanzania and JICA have been cohosting this official track meet since 2017. The track meet has indeed been successful at discovering hidden talents among women in Tanzania. Through “Ladies First” track meets, the higher-ranked athletes in the middle and long-distance events at the track meet in 2017 and 2018 were invited to Japan to participate in Nagai Marathon held in Nagai, Yamagata prefecture, and some of them won high ranking positions. These athletes also visited primary schools and junior high schools in Nagai to participate in exchange activities where cultures of the two countries were presented. Nagai city was a host city for Tanzania athletes during the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics which were held in August 2021.
Juma Ikangaa, a famous marathon runner who won the Tokyo Marathon in 1984 and 1986, and participated very well in both the Los Angeles and Seoul Olympics, once said "There is a preconception in Tanzania that sports are something only men do, and there are limited opportunities for women to compete in track and field events". Mr. Ikangaa is now the PR advisor to the JICA Tanzania Office. The previous three “Ladies First “track meets gave more than 500 female athletes from different regions in Tanzania an opportunity to participate in the competition. And about 4,500 athletes, event officials, and audience participated in the side event promoting sports, gender equality and women’s empowerment. The side events included seminars for young girls on how to prevent early pregnancies.