Joanneema Laiser, a member of the Community Healthcare project at St. Walburg’s Hospital, is traveling for us in the Lindi region to educate women and young girls about their rights and opportunities within society. She travels to the various villages, organizes workshops with lectures and deals with individual people and their fates. A central component of this is so-called 'gender-based violence' - i.e. the violence that often takes place against women. This is still omnipresent in many rural regions in Tanzania, but is usually kept quiet by those affected. There are many reasons for this. Many are not even aware that any kind of violence - be it psychological or physical - is not permitted. Some also fear being rejected by their husbands, on whom most of them are financially dependent, if they were to report abuse. There is also a lack of knowledge about who to turn to with such concerns.

Joanneema is doing wonderful work to improve this situation. In April and May 2023, she reached around 300 people in five different villages for her presentations. During almost every visit, she was also able to help at least one woman in a seemingly hopeless situation. For example, 15-year-old Angela Paulo from Nyangamara, who was abandoned by her husband and is now on her own with her two-year-old daughter Karani and has to look after her 80-year-old grandmother. Joanneema took care of Angela and made it possible for the responsible authority to support the small family financially.

We are very touched every time we receive reports about the work on the ground and read about the many individual fates. In the last report, we particularly liked the fact that some fathers were also present at the workshops - this shows that there is also a growing interest among the male population in ensuring that things are harmonious and equal in families. An important step towards positive, sustainable development.