Tanzania: Advocating for Women's Rights and Empowerment
Work with NGOs to advance and advocate for women's rights and empowerment in Tanzania
Project description
Despite ongoing policy reform, life for women and children in Tanzania remains challenging on many levels, especially in rural regions where more than 80% of the population live. Women who are neglected or abused have access to few resources or opportunities for support. Those seeking divorce, rights to property or marital possessions face endless obstacles with little chance of success. Because of traditional ideologies and cultural practices, women face many hardships with few opportunities for economic empowerment or upward mobility.
Yet, many organizations and leaders within Tanzania are committed to supporting women, and advocating for a more just and equitable society. Gerald Noah, attorney and instructor at Buhare Community Development and Training Institute (CDTI) in Musoma Tanzania, addresses these challenges through his legal and community work. In 2018 Gerald visited UB through the ELN Global Partner Studio (GPS) Institute, connecting with other global partners to discuss opportunities for collaboration and engagement. He spoke to classes about the challenges facing women and girls in rural Tanzania, and invited our students to get involved, making contributions through collaborative projects.
As UB students continue to engage with NGO partners throughout Tanzania through virtual projects and visiting through the UB Tanzania Study Abroad course, Gerald is committed to helping us develop a deeper understanding of women's rights and advocacy while working to address challenges through engaging with related NGOs and leaders.
Specific projects will be customized to align with student interests and goals but may include:
- Researching trends and issues within specific regions or areas of focus
- Establishing engagement with NGOs and other organizations that address related issues and needs
- Creating educational and communications materials related to this work
- Other projects or ideas for collaboration suggested by students
Project outcome
The specific outcomes of this project will be identified by the faculty mentor at the beginning of your collaboration.
Project details
| Length of commitment | Variable |
| Start time | Fall, spring, or summer |
| Level of collaboration | Individual, small group, or large group |
| Benefits | Academic credit, volunteer experience, or work study |
| Who is eligible | All undergraduate students |
Project mentor
Mara Huber
Associate Dean, Undergraduate Research and Experiential Learning; Director, Experiential Learning Network
Start the project
To apply for one of the limited spaces, send an interest email to ubeln@buffalo.edu with the following information and one of our staff will respond with more information via email :
- Share relevant background information about yourself and why you are interested in a global project.
- Review the list of current global partnerships, list the three you are most interested in working with and explain why for each.
- Explain what you hope to contribute to and gain from a global project.
Note that global partners rely on the contributions associated with ELN student projects and commit their limited time and resources to working with students. Accordingly, different projects will require varying amounts of time and strong commitment and follow through.
Preparation activities
Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase.
- Examine the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the history of the framework. Then select one SDG to focus on as you work through your project.
- Download and complete this PowerPoint template.