Emmanuel Initiatives to Empower Families and Ensuring Access to Education in Mbogwe District

In 2022, Emmanuel Shilagwa a rural youth from Mbogwe District in Geita Region had an opportunity to receive training on education challenges focusing in his locality. From the training provided by Policy Forum in collaboration with CADA (a member of Policy Forum), Emmanuel and other rural youth learned vital communication skills and strategies to address the struggles facing local families. Determined to make a difference, Emmanuel began visiting primary and secondary schools, as well as places of worship, to speak with parents and encourage them to support their children’s education.

In early 2024, Emmanuel encountered two families that needed support relating to education. The first family he met had two school-aged children who were not attending school. When he spoke to their mother, she explained that she couldn’t afford to send them to school since their father had left for the mines five years prior. Emmanuel informed her that basic and secondary education in Tanzania does not require fee and that she only needed to secure uniforms for her children to start school. The mother took his advice, and by January 2024, the children were enrolled and attending school regularly.

The second family he assisted faced a different challenge. After the loss of the father, relatives had seized the family’s property, denying the children their rightful inheritance. Emmanuel worked with the Social Welfare Office, which helped resolve the issue, ensuring the children’s future security.

In addition to these personal encounters, Emmanuel joined forces with other community members to visit three primary and four secondary schools, raising awareness and promoting education. His dedication and involvement also took him to the nation's capital, Dodoma, where, through Policy Forum, he had the opportunity to meet with various leaders of the local government,among the was the village chairperson, the ward chairperson, and ward committee members to advocate for improved support for education in Mbogwe, this led to the leaders and committee members to conduct initial meetings to discuss matters concerning improvement of education in Mbogwe, with hopes of getting permanent solutions in the near future,

The journey of Emmanuel Shilagwa highlights the power of youth in transforming lives and the community. Through empathy, action, and collaboration, he brought meaningful change, reminding us of the positive impact that dedicated young leaders can have on society.