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Tanzania Mwandamo Women

Mwandamo Women CIC was co-founded by Royal African Safaris Partner Hannah Strand and Caroline Peterson, who is a midwife with over 10 years of experience working in Tanzanian government hospitals.

Both are hugely passionate about improving women’s health in Tanzania and helping women to feel confident advocating for themselves and their health. They host women’s circles, which create safe spaces for women to talk and learn about their health and support each other. They also partner with local women on projects to help improve healthcare services. They always take a listening-first approach, listening to needs and helping to respond to them, which aligns with our ethos and approach to projects.

So far, thanks to your generous support through our Royal African Foundation:

Educational Medical Equipment

You have enabled them to get educational medical equipment, which they have used for educational circle sessions with a number of women in West Kilimanjaro Enduiment Area, and in Oltukai and Esilalei villages near Manyara Ranch Conservancy.

Oltukai Dispensary and Primary School

You have helped Mwandamo to provide the Oltukai clinic team with equipment including weighing scales for children and mothers, stethoscopes, delivery kits, a steriliser, and a Neonatal Resuscitation/baby warmer machine. This equipment is being put to good use and has already helped the team to save the lives of mothers and their babies in this village.

They have also been able to install guttering and 19 x 5000-litre rainwater storage tanks at the Oltukai Dispensary, the Oltukai Primary School, including the teachers’ housing, and the village office.

This access to clean water is helping to improve the health of everyone in the village, and they are really grateful for the support. Below are some ceremonies they held to show their appreciation.

600 Sanitary Towels each for Oltukai Village and Esilalei Villages

You have helped Mwandamo distribute 300 reusable sanitary towel kits to 100 girls and 200 women in Oltukai village. Also, they have just distributed 300 more to 150 girls and 150 women in Esilalei village. These sanitary towels are helping these women’s well-being and helping the girls stay in school.

Indeed UNESCO’s research has estimated that one in ten African adolescent girls misses school while menstruating and that providing sanitary pads is a key way to keep girls in school. It is also well documented that when girls stay in primary and secondary school, they are less likely to have children at an early age and die in childbirth, and more likely to earn more and have healthier and better-nourished children (WHO, UNESCO).

Esilalei Village Maternity Unit Renovation

You have helped transform a crumbling, disused building into a dedicated Maternity Unit in Manyara. Improvements included structural reinforcements, electricity, water and sanitation upgrades, and essential medical equipment. It is now managed by the Monduli District Health Office, with support from Mwandamo, and offers prenatal, delivery, postnatal and neonatal care close to home. This reduces risks of women travelling long distances for care, which include the risks posed by the wildlife the Esilalei community live alongside.

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Mwandamo Women’s Health Mobile Platform

You have now helped Mwandamo develop their free, text-based menstrual health tracking USSD mobile platform!

With your support, they have worked in partnership with Primetel Health – a Tanzanian health‐tech consultancy specializing in accessible digital tools for underserved populations – to develop a mobile platform designed specifically for women and girls in remote areas in Tanzania, including Manyara.

According to a 2021 UNESCO report, over 60% of adolescent girls in the region had little or no understanding of menstruation before their first period. This lack of knowledge contributes to widespread stigma, shame, and even educational disruption, with many girls missing school during their menstrual cycles.

Through a simple mobile interface, users will be able to privately access menstrual health education, in Swahili and English, from even the most basic phones. The goal is to reduce stigma, improve reproductive health knowledge, and support girls to stay in school.

Next projects:

In the next two years, Mwandamo plans to:

– Educate 500+ women and girls via health circles
– Refurbish and equip 2 rural dispensaries
– Continue developing their menstrual tracking and sexual and reproductive health mobile USSD platform.
– Distribute 500 reusable sanitary towel kits
– Complete a feasibility study for a future Women’s Health Unit

If you would like to make a donation to support this work to make sure women aren’t left behind, please click the link below!

Donate

100% of your donation will go to the project you choose, and your donation to our registered 501(c)(3) organisation is tax-deductible as provided for by law. Please contact us if you have any questions.

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