So They Can Continues to Lead on Child Rights and Access to Justice in Tanzania

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So They Can Continues to Lead on Child Rights and Access to Justice in Tanzania

17 Mar 2026

Access to justice is not a privilege, it is a fundamental right. Yet in many of the marginalised communities where So They Can works in Tanzania and Kenya, it remains out of reach.

So They Can was proud to recently participate in the East Africa Legal Tech for Aid & Access to Justice Symposium 2026 at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Our Tanzania Country Manager, Roselyne Mariki, was asked to join two panel discussions, where she took the opportunity to represent So They Can’s commitment to championing child rights and empowering students and communities through our “My Voice” project and Parent Champions’ Network.

So They Can’s Education Program provides access to quality education through improved school infrastructure, teacher training and school management. The “My Voice” project in Tanzania, which sits under the Education Program, is dedicated to achieving SDG 4: Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education and SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. The project empowers children in the Babati District of the Manyara Region of Tanzania to understand, claim, and protect their rights by building awareness, strengthening reporting and protection mechanisms, and promoting child participation through school- and community-based initiatives.

So They Can started the My Voice project in 2019 to ensure that the children we work with know their rights, have the confidence to speak up, and to ultimately enhance their learning journey. This was identified as a project priority in response to devastating statistics on violence against children (VAC) in Tanzania and the Manyara region more broadly. Approximately 1 out of every 3 girls, and 1 out of every 7 boys in Tanzania has experienced sexual violence before the age 18 (United Republic of Tanzania VACS, 2024). Emotional abuse, neglect, and harmful traditional practices, such as child marriage and female genital cutting (FGC), also continue to threaten Tanzanian children’s safety and well-being (World Bank, 2022). The World Bank estimates that the rate of FGC/M in the Manyara region is at 58% (World Bank, 2022).

During the two-day event, Roselyne was joined by Ms. Anna Fisoo, the Manyara Regional Coordinator of NPA-VAWC (National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women & Children), two of our Parent Champions, and our Community Development Officer. Together, they brought forward the lived realities for many in the communities we partner with – including what justice truly means and the multiple barriers individuals face to accessing justice. They also highlighted how, when justice systems fail to reach the grassroots level, violence against children (VAC) and gender-based violence (GBV) will persist.

At the heart of the discussion was also our active Champions’ Network – a dedicated network of 116 volunteers (local mothers and fathers) who advocate for access to quality education in their local communities. These Champions are trained on how to access law enforcement, report crimes against children and support their communities.

In 2025 they were formally recognised and registered by the Government of Tanzania for their work.

Overall, the event marked a meaningful opportunity to strengthen our impact – particularly by linking our Champions and staff with organisations providing legal aid to victims, Universities and positioning So They Can as part of the national discussion on access to justice. Asante sana to the organisers of this year’s event, to Professor Sarah Stephens at the University of Sussex and to Dr. Cecilia Ngaiza at the University of Dar es Salaam (Dada Wakili lead in Tanzania) for welcoming us to participate in this important conversation.