Economic empowerment as a vehicle for poverty eradication
Poverty cannot be eradicated if the people are not economically empowered. MyLEGACY’s focus is on empowering women and youth because they are marginalized economically while they are the majority. Interventions include increasing skills for employability and entrepreneurship, enhancing access to productive resources and advocacy for improved enabling and supportive policies, legal and institutional frameworks.
Inclusive Leadership as a strategy to address community challenges
Good leadership is that which is inclusive and participatory and should be about capitalizing on the ideas and skills of as many individuals (males and females, mature adults and young people) as possible and appropriate in a given situation.
MyLEGACY believes that it is strategic to invest in inclusive leadership due to its potential to promote participatory democracy in which an ever-increasing majority of ordinary citizens could be involved in addressing critical social and economic challenges and lead social change.
Advocacy for the promotion and protection of women and children rights
Inequality keeps poor people poor and powerless and weakens the capacity for economic growth to eradicate poverty. Women and girls are subjected to multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and violence, and are confronted with a systematic denial of rights which leaves them inferior to their male counterparts.
Consequently, they lack a full realization of their fundamental human rights. MyLEGACY is strategically focusing on advocacy for the protection and promotion of women and children’s rights so as to have genuine social inclusion and meaningful family/household and community.
New global challenge – COVID 19 Pandemic
Although MyLEGACY focus is around the three thematic areas, COVID-19 which continues to spread around the globe, has presented a significant challenge, particularly in regard to health and social protection systems. This will disproportionately affect especially women and girls, who are at high risk of infection as they make up the majority of healthcare workers and cares.
The measures in place to prevent the spread of infection such as staying at home and limited movement are posing additional challenges including gender-based violence. LEGACY and other NGOs have to align their work and comply with preventive and response measures including government restrictions to travel and gatherings by exercising the duty of care to avoid staff being exposed to COVID-19 and transmitting the virus to communities.
MyLEGACY must also support efforts geared towards supporting communities to cope with COVID 19 challenges.
The Nawa Mikono Boresha Makazi Project (Phase I)
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, MyLEGACY has entered into a partnership with Habitat for Humanity Tanzania (HFHT) to promote handwashing awareness campaign called Nawa Mikono Boresha Makazi which commenced on April, 2021.
The project directed efforts for sensitization based on Ministry of Health’s and WHO’s advice on how everyone can reduce the chances of being infected or spreading COVID-19.
The Nawa Mikono Boresha Makazi campaign aims to increase awareness about the existence of COVID 19, and personal hygiene practices as preventive measures.
Through our hand washing and hygiene project, we supported local schools, markets and local government offices in Dar es Salaam region, with the aim of improving school water, sanitation and hygiene.
The first phase of the project is currently being implemented in Kinondoni, Dar es-Salaam which is the most populous city in with a population of over six million residents. Kinondoni District is the most populated amongst the five districts of Dar es Salaam, with half of the city’s population residing within it.
MyLEGACY is working with other stakeholders including government authorities such as the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MoHCDEWC) which has the role of promoting public health.
A total of 3,500 liters of liquid soap have been provided in the 70 hand washing centers that was established in 3 wards benefiting 8 schools, ward offices, a local government offices and two markets which have benefited over 18,771 people. Among them 10,262 are female and 8,509 are male.
Beneficiaries are Kisauke ,Twiga and Kondo Secondary Schools: Jangwani Beach, Ukwamani, Kawe, Wazo and Mtongani primary schools.