Binti change project creates a platform for young women to access decision-making spaces and take part in political processes.  Young women are either neglected or are afraid of engaging in political activities due to cultural issues and fear. This project strengthens young women including indigenous young women, young women from minority ethnic groups, and young women with disabilities to see opportunities in political activities and decision making, in Tanga and Morogoro regions.

This is done through identifying 30 girls with leadership traits and conducting 3 days leadership skills training to university and secondary schools female students. After the training the university girl-students are linked to Nguvu ya Mwanamke network and the secondary school girls  form Voice clubs in their respective schools/localities. The participants are sought from indigenous ethnic groups and women with disabilities. Furthermore, the counterpart holds a 1 day discussion meeting between the Tanzania women parliamentarians group and two young women representatives from each region on a mentoring programme for young women’s participation in political engagement. The counterpart works with Furaha ya wanawake wajasiriamali Kwa viziwi Tanzania (FUWAVITA) to meet with women parliamentarians to echo out the issues that young women experience in leadership and politics.

Young women aged 18 to 24 were motivated to join political parties. In the Tanga region, 15 young women obtained membership cards from different political parties. In Morogoro, 11 young women joined political parties and got membership cards for Umoja wa Wanawake wa Tanzania (United Women of Tanzania), the women’s wing of Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM).  At the end of the project, other young women were still in the process of joining. Another ten women received political party membership cards from CCM, and two obtained membership cards from Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema). Twelve women were given the opportunities by some political leaders and experienced tremendous support from secretaries within the political milieu.

One of the rightsholders contested the position of ward councillor during the general elections in 2020 in the Kiluvya ward in the coastal region. This demonstrated a positive step as an example of more young women becoming interested in the political process and participation.

The organisation, during the project, increased its capacity by improving its systems and structure. VET created a five-year strategic plan and improved its organisation’s policies in financial and procurement manuals to increase transparency and accountability.

The project also enabled VET to establish contacts with young women at universities at a national level. During the project VET also collaborated with another Voice partner FUWAVITA to lobby for the inclusion of young women in the decision-making structure. The two organisations did this by holding a joint round table discussion with members of parliament. VET also established connections with political parties such as CCM, Chadema, NSSR (The National Convention for Construction and Reform) and ACT-Wazalendo (Alliance for Change and Transparency).

In the future, the organisation expects to scale up its work by supporting women in political participation by advocating against sexual harassment. Many young women have experienced sexual harassment, which prevents them from participating fully in the political arena. The organisation plans to continue supporting young women by advocating against sexual harassment and creating safe spaces to participate in politics.