Youth in Arusha sensitized on regional integration opportunities and hygiene
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 24h July, 2020: The East African Community in partnership with Arusha City Council conducted a community service on 24th July 2020 at Maweni Primary and Mkonoo Secondary Schools in Terat Ward, Arusha, Tanzania.
The event earlier as part of the celebration of the International Women’s Day 2020 themed “#EachforEqual” could not take place in March due to the outbreak of Covid-19. The event featured the donation of sanitary pads to about 600 students and created awareness on menstrual hygiene and benefits as well as the opportunities of East African Community Integration.
Ms. Habiba Madebe, Community Development Officer, Arusha City Council thanked the EAC Secretariat and EAC-GIZ Programme for organizing the event which is in line with the government’s effort in empowering girls and enhancing their academic performance. Ms. Madebe added that the sensitization session on the EAC integration was an eye opener which exposed the students to regional integration opportunities.
Mr. Godfrey Kishota, Principal, Maweni Primary School and Mr. Endru Mwakanosy, Principal, Mkonoo Secondary School welcomed the delegation and appreciated the efforts by the EAC Secretariat and Arusha City Council in creating awareness on regional integration to the students and the donation of sanitary towels. “It’s important for the pupils to tune their mindsets to upcoming opportunities and prepare adequately to tap them”. The duo appealed to the EAC Secretariat to support the students of the two schools to visit the EAC Secretariat, East African Legislative Assembly and the East African Court of Justice to gain practical knowledge on integration.
“The ultimate objective of the East African Community is to improve the lives of the EAC citizens including the youth from cross border trade, educational exchange programmes, access to employment opportunities and free movement across the border” noted Ms. Ruth Mtoi Simba, Director Human Resources, East African Community.
“Menstrual hygiene is an essential element for improving quality education for girls in schools” alluded Ms. Joyce Kevin Abalo-Kimaro, Senior Advisor, IIDEA, EAC-GIZ. She advised the youth to focus on their education to enable them to prepare to tap opportunities in life and contribute meaningfully to the integration process”.
Ms. Janice Benson Kimaro, Project Coordinator, East African Women in Business urged the young girls to dream big and remain focused as future successful women in business in East Africa. Mr. Odero Charles Oderos, Executive Director, Civic and legal Aid Organization steered the boy’s students to value and respect their female colleagues and support them in realizing their educational dreams.
Note to Editors
The sensitization and sanitary pads donation to Maweni Primary School and Mkonoo Secondary School was part of the community service performed annually during the regional commemoration of the international women’s day celebration by the EAC Secretariat in collaboration with Arusha City Council with financial support from EAC-GIZ Programme.
This year’s international women’s day theme was #EachforEqual, #IWD2020”. The themed guided the international women’s day Committee to donate sanitary pads, create awareness on menstrual hygiene as in-kind gesture to enable school going girls to stay in schools during their menstrual days as their boy counter parts with the view of bridging the education drop out by girls.
The sensitization session on the benefits and opportunities of the EAC regional integration was meant to create awareness on the EAC integration tangible opportunities to the citizens and to enable the youth to prepare themselves to take advantage of these benefits soon.
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For more information, please contact:
Generose Minani
Principal; Gender and Community Development Officer, EAC
EAC Secretariat,
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255757657248
Email: gminani[at]eachq.org
OR
Ms. Joyce Kevin Abalo-Kimaro
Senior Advisor, IIDEA, EAC GIZ
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 752224570
Email : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of six Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The EAC Secretariat is ISO 9001: 2015 Certified