About SPW - Information about who we are and our unique approach to youth-led development

Population: 36,766,356
Rural population (as % of total population): 64
Life expectancy (years): 42.7
Gross national income per capita (Ł): 300
Prevalence of HIV, total (% of population ages 15-49): 8.8
Prevalence of HIV, female (% of population ages 15-49): 0.78.1
Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births): 104

Statistics from: http://devdata.worldbank.org/data-query/

During the last eighteen years, Tanzania has undertaken many different approaches in attempting to slow the spread of HIV infection and minimize its impact on individuals, families and society in general. However, the HIV epidemic has rapidly spread into rural areas, increasing the previously low rural prevalence rate to more than 10% in some areas. The youth and women emerge as the two groups most affected by the AIDS pandemic, due to economic, social, cultural and biological reasons, such as early marriage and early initiation of sex among women, young girls having sex with older men, and peer pressure for high-risk behaviour. In addition, the failure of women to protect themselves from HIV infections due to economic hardships, repressive customary laws, beliefs and polygamy also contribute.

The Response:

Tanzania is SPW’s largest programme with over 240 Tanzanian volunteer Peer Educators working on our new ‘Kijana ni Afya’ (Swahili for Youth and Health) programme. SPW Tanzania is now widely recognised as the leading secondary school HIV/AIDS/ASRH (Adolescent Sexual & Reproductive Health) education intervention by a non-governmental organisation in the country.
Due to this success, SPW Tanzania has been able to focus on developing the Ex-Volunteer Network, currently comprising over one hundred Ex-Volunteers, who lead a vibrant multi-media awareness-raising HIV/AIDS campaign known as Afya Bomba (translated as ‘Stunning Health’) within Institutions of Higher Learning in Dar es Salaam and Morogoro. Through radio programmes, the Kiswahili ChezaSalama website, workshops and peer-counselling, the Ex-Volunteers ensure youth-friendly health information and services are widely available to undergraduates on campuses and to disadvantaged youth in poor urban areas.

Key Achievements:

In partnership with UNICEF, SPW Tanzania designed a Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) survey to assess whether the programme is achieving its objectives in terms of increasing knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and changing the attitudes and behaviour of young people. A total of 2887 students from all placement schools participated in the survey, the results of which have been used to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the programme, so as to improve design and maximise impact in the following areas:

Primary School Education
Community Seminars
School and Community Events and Festivals
Youth Development Centres
Community Action Groups
Income Generation Projects
Capacity Building for Service Providers

Case Study: Football for AIDS awareness

Peer Educators at Matola School set up a football league among the villages in Matola Ward. Local government representatives supported the idea and the league is now well established. Before each match, a local doctor conducts a short seminar on HIV/AIDS and family planning for the players and supporters. In this way, important messages about sexual behaviour are spread beyond the school boundaries into the local communities.

Visit SPW Tanzania's country website here

"I would like to commend SPW for recognising that educated young volunteers are ideally placed for this work. Young people are one of the most vulnerable groups, but they are also those with the energy and determination to lead the fight against HIV/AIDS."

Mrs Tatu Rutta, District Commissioner, Iringa