Celebrating and Empowering Young Girls
In the 21st century, it is essential for young boys and girls to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge that will enable them to excel in their chosen industries. However, being a girl living in a remote area of an African country poses numerous challenges, including limited access to important opportunities for personal development and growth.
Unfortunately, Zanzibar currently lacks sufficient opportunities that support the acquisition of 21st-century skills for young individuals from disadvantaged communities. This limitation prevents passionate and talented boys and girls from realizing their full potential and making a meaningful impact on society.
On this year's International Day of the Girl Child, we were incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to introduce tennis as a sport to thirty young girls from Kumba Urembo School in Kiwengwa, a remote fishing village in Zanzibar. This achievement would not have been possible without the support of Melia Hotel, and former Wimbledon Tennis Professional, Kim Sands, who generously dedicated her time and effort to positively influence these girls' lives on this special day.
WAJAMAMA Staff, Kim Sands and young girls from Kumba Urembo School in Kiwengwa.
Sports, in general, have long been depicted as a male-dominated activity in various African communities, including Zanzibar. However, there have been recent efforts to promote and involve young girls in sports. Despite these changes, there is still a need for collective action, particularly in remote areas of Zanzibar where these young girls lack visibility compared to those living in urban areas.
Our Founder, Nafisa Jiddawi, speaking with the girls.
This year's International Day of the Girl Child was truly unique, as we not only introduced tennis to these young girls but also provided education on menstrual health and hygiene. Our day began at Melia Zanzibar, where we eagerly awaited the arrival of the girls to kick-start our tennis sports activities on Melia's Tennis Court. Upon their arrival, our founder Nafisa Jiddawi and the team warmly welcomed them and explained the purpose of their presence and why it was important to celebrate them on this special day. Ms. Kim Sands, a former Wimbledon Tennis Professional, was introduced as the instructor who would teach them how to play tennis. The young girls appeared excited and ready to learn since tennis was a completely new concept for them.
Former Wimbledon Tennis Professional, Kim Sands.
“I am so happy to be a part of bringing tennis to Zanzibar. I am so grateful for this opportunity to be here”
-Kim Sands
Introducing sports to young girls is crucial for their physical and mental well-being, and it exposes them not only to opportunities but also to victories. Sports, in general, are beneficial both in terms of health and economy. They provide a means for the younger generation to earn money and support themselves and their families, especially since the majority of the population in Zanzibar comes from a low economic background.
In comparison to other sports, tennis is not well-known in Zanzibar, and there have been no medals won in international tournaments. In fact, the statistics from 2016 to 2020 regarding the number of medals won in international tournaments by type of sport do not include tennis. This highlights the necessity of introducing this sport to the younger generation and promoting it across the island.
A girl from Kumba Urembo School in Kiwengwa.
“Watch out for the next Serena Williams from a tiny little fishing village”
-Nafisa Jiddawi
We concluded our Tennis event by presenting the top four participants with rackets and balls, recognizing their outstanding performance. We sincerely hope that receiving these tennis equipment will encourage them to continue practicing and not let their journey end here.
Kim Sands with the best four players.
After having breakfast, the girls actively took part in a session on Menstrual Health & Hygiene Management. In Zanzibar, numerous young girls encounter difficulties during their menstrual cycles due to a lack of knowledge and resources such as soap and menstrual sanitary pads, which are crucial for safely managing their periods. Research has also indicated that menstruation contributes to school dropouts and the underrepresentation of young girls in various sectors beyond education.
The workshop was led by our teammates, Dr. Radhia and Registered Nurse, Edna. They discussed the significance of menstruation and emphasized the necessity of maintaining hygienic practices throughout one's menstrual cycle. The session proved highly interactive, with the girls actively asking questions and sharing their own experiences - some had already experienced menstruation while others had not yet gone through it. This diverse participation allowed for adequate preparation among those who had not yet encountered it.
Most importantly, we were able to provide sanitary kits to these remarkable young girls. We sincerely hope that the knowledge shared during the session, along with the resources provided, will have a positive impact on their lives.
Registered Nurse Midwife, Edna Josephat, demonstrating how to wear a pad.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Melia for selecting us as their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partner. The day dedicated to promoting physical activity, tennis, and combating period poverty was not just a source of enjoyment for us but also made a positive difference in the lives of the girls involved.
