Two Safe Houses in Northern Tanzania

Care Provided

Family Reconciliation Process

Throughout the year girls are educated on personal and social development topics including health issues and girls' rights, as well as general school subjects. Most have low self-esteem and confidence, so Rhobi and her team work hard to address this, with the help of some amazing older girls who act as role models. There is a lot of singing and laughter and time to socialise with new friends.

Some of the girls have never been to school, or have been forced to drop out very young. So there is also a vocational programme for them, where they can learn tailoring skills, and make beautiful bags and clothes.

Rhobi Samwelly and her team often get phone calls from activists in villages around Serengeti saying girls will be cut the next day. Previously these remote villages were very hard to find (which is why they started mapping).

Rhobi then alerts the Police Gender Desk and Social Welfare and they attempt to rescue the girls, often this is very last minute and late at night. They are brought to the nearest Safe House.

Girls often arrive at Hope's Safe Houses late at night with just the clothes they have run away in. Those arriving on foot have to navigate from remote, rural villages in the dark. They frequently arrive with only the clothes they are wearing, sometimes not even that.

Hope runs two safe houses, both in rented buildings in the North of Tanzania. One in Mugumu, and the other in Butiama. The number of girls increases dramatically during 'cutting seasons' as they never turn anyone away.

Cases include FGM/risk of FGM, child marriage, and other forms of violence. The ages of the girls in care ranges from infants through to teenagers.

How Girls Arrive

After the cutting season is over there is a period of reconciliation with the girls' families, who are educated about the dangers of FGM, their daughter's right not to be cut and to continue with her education, as well as the legal consequences of breaking the law by cutting her. Most parents then sign an affidavit saying they will not cut her and the girl is returned home.

In some cases, the families refuse to do this, or the Hope staff and social welfare don't trust them not to cut the girl. So they remain at Hope, either going to school and into further education, or learning a skill like tailoring to make a living.