PO-RALG, TACAIDS, TIE and USAID Kizazi Hodari Project Northeastern Introduces Enabling DREAMS Program in Mwanza
Mwanza Thursday, 14th March, 2024. The President’s Office-Regional Administration and Local Government Authority (PO-RALG), Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE),Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS), and USAID through the Kizazi Hodari (Brave Generation) Project - Northeastern Zone, has introduced the PEPFAR’sEnabling DREAMS program in Mwanza Region.
The introduction of Enabling-Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) program targets to empower in school Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) and Adolescent Boys and Young Men (ABYM) aged 10-17 to reduce their risk of HIV and achieve their full potential.
The acting Mwanza Regional Administrative Secretary Mr. Emily Kasagara speaking during the Enabling DREAMS’ introduction meeting, addressed the need to continue with the fight against HIV/AIDS. He noted that Mwanza Region has had a tremendous decline in new transmission cases from 7.2% in 2012 to 4.7% in 2023. “We see the importance of this program as vital intervention that will support the government efforts towards reducing HIV transmission through such preventive interventions. We also hope that even those with HIV will be able to access and adhere to Antiretroviral Therapy Treatment (ART),” insisted Mr. Kasagara.
The TACAID DREAM Coordinator Mr. Kelvin Kisoma explained about the program and the complementing aspect of the program to the government efforts in capacitating its citizens. “The government has given the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) the role to support implementation of this program in Mwanza. The ELCT with funds from USAID will work with its implementing partners to rollout this program. DREAMS is a more comprehensive program that will not only focus on the children and youth but also looking into the systems and behavioural change to enhance HIV prevention, access to health and care services and enable the young generation realise their full potential,” Mr. Kisoma explained.
On the other hand, the Director of Curriculum Training from the Tanzania Institute of Edecation (TIE) explained that the Enabling DREAMS curriculum has been reviewed by the institution and that the initiatives by USAID through ELCT is to support the government in rolling out the newly approved curriculum.
The ELCT Associate Director of Zones Mr. Issa Murshid expressed the institution’s gratitude to USAID for enabling implementation of the Enabling DREAMS program which will focus on supporting both boys and girls in the seven councils of Mwanza Region. “This program is made possible through USAID funding. The collective efforts of the government and other stakeholders makes us confident that the Enabling DREAMS program will make a significant impact on the lives of adolescent girls and boys in Mwanza Region. This will ultimately contribute to the broader goal of achieving an AIDS-free generation,” explained Mr. Murshid.
The Enabling DREAMS program will be rolled out in seven districts of the Mwanza Region, with a focus on providing comprehensive support to adolescent girls and boys in the areas of education, economic empowerment, gender-based violence prevention, sexual and reproductive health services, and social protection. By addressing these key areas, the program seeks to empower girls and boys to stay HIV-negative and achieve their aspirations for a healthier and more prosperous future.
About USAID Kizazi Hodari Project- Northeastern Zone
USAID Kizazi Hodari (Brave Generation) NEZ is a child-focused and family-centred project with the main goal of improving health, well-being, and protection of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) and youth aged 0-17 years in high HIV-burdencommunities along four key domains which are health, safety, schooling, and stability.Kizazi Hodari NEZ utilizes Faith Community Engagement platforms as an approach to promote behavior change at the community level hence facilitating the identification of OVC, prevention, and response to HIV and GBV/VAC. The project also employsPalliative Care (PC) principles in providing psychosocial support among OVC, AGYW, ABYM, and caregivers.
Enabling DREAMS is implemented by ELCT through the USAID Kizazi Hodari (Brave Generation) Project.