Hadija Juma Kibwana was born in 2001, and she is one of a family of 2 children. The family is Muslim and they speak Swahili. Hadija lives in a house made of mud walls with a zinc roof.
Families in Bagamoyo district depend on agriculture, fishing and livestock rearing for their livelihoods. Cassava and maize are among the vegetables grown for food, and are usually made into local porridge called ugali and served with fish or vegetables. Crops like mango, orange, pineapple and coconut are grown for sale. For families who keep animals, cattle, sheep and poultry are the most common.
Families are often large, as polygamy is commonly practiced, stretching a poor family's resources to the limit. Education is not a priority for girls, who are discriminated in most aspects of life. They are needed to help at home and in the fields alongside their mothers. There are few schools in the area - at distances of up to 5km, and they are dilapidated with untrained teachers, lacking furniture and materials. She attends nursery school.
Water is collected from wells that are unprotected and a source of disease. Many people fall sick with waterborne diseases like diarrhoea and intestinal parasites. But health care is also inadequate - a few health posts exist locally, but lack medicines and staff.
ActionAid Tanzania is working in Bagamoyo district with the communities and local government to address the root causes of poverty in the area. By providing training and raising awareness among the communities about their basic rights and ways to tackle the problems facing their families, we can bring real change in this community. Children like Hadija can look forward to a brighter future. |
