ARUSHA: THE Minister for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Dr Dorothy Gwajima, has urged communities to work closely with the government to eliminate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Speaking during a visit to Compassion International Tanzania projects in Arusha Region, the minister praised the organisation for investing in children and youth through education, health, positive parenting and family economic empowerment noting that investing in children directly safeguards the country’s future.
The organisation currently supports more than 120,000 children across 22 regions.
Gwajima also stressed the importance of the “Mtoto ni Malezi” (A Child is Upbringing) campaign, saying positive parenting at home is key to preventing child abuse, teenage pregnancies, early marriages and moral decline, while reminding parents that upbringing begins within the family.
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Monduli District Commissioner Gloriana Kimath said the projects have improved community welfare, reduced household poverty and strengthened efforts to combat child abuse, particularly FGM and child marriage, while pledging to address water access challenges in the district.
Acting Compassion International Tanzania Director Mary John Kasanga said the organisation will continue partnering with the government and stakeholders to support children through positive parenting initiatives and family economic empowerment, while backing national efforts to end FGM.