International Day of the Girl Child
Happy*, a 12-year-old girl, lives in Karatu town with her parents and younger brother (her only sibling). She attends a day school with classes from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fortunately, she benefits from a comfortable school bus that picks her up from home in the morning and drops her back after school.
Happy's parents are highly educated; her father works as a Town Planner (responsible for the design and development of urban areas) and her mother is an auditor. Because of their educational background, they place great importance on Happy's education and are committed to her success.
“My parents are quite strict when it comes to exams and homework. They closely monitor my progress in school. During holidays, they arrange for a tutor to visit our home for a few hours to help me with my studies.”
Happy enjoys her school, where her class has a fairly balanced gender ratio: 14 girls and 16 boys.
“I really love my school! I learn something new every day. While I enjoy mathematics, I consistently score the highest in English. I also love hanging out with my friends. They mean a lot to me.”
Tanzania is a predominantly patriarchal society. When asked how she is treated compared to her brother, Happy said:
“My brother and I are treated equally. Our parents don’t show favoritism based on gender. At home, we all have our assigned responsibilities. I mainly handle household chores like cleaning and dishwashing, but my mom also helps since she cooks for us every day. My brother’s duty is to care for the chickens and ducks, ensuring their well-being. Sometimes, when there’s a lot of housework, such as when we have visitors, my brother helps me. I’d say we support each other, with no one doing more than the other. Our parents provide us with a lot of support as well.”
Happy also takes great pleasure in her identity as a girl.
“I absolutely love being a girl! I enjoy going shopping for dresses and shoes with my parents. Spending hours braiding hair is something I find joy in. My brother doesn’t share my enthusiasm for these activities and I believe he’s missing out!”
As she grows up, Happy aspires to become either a doctor or an auditor, inspired by her amazing mother.
Unfortunately, not all girls are as fortunate in northern Tanzania as Happy. She recognizes the privilege of having educated parents who understand the value of education and wholeheartedly support her, regardless of gender, in reaching her full potential.
“My dad took me to FAME today because I had a stomach ache, which kept me from going to school. I’m glad he decided to take time off work to bring me here and ensure I recover quickly and return to school. I don’t like missing school! I’m grateful to him for looking out for me. He cares about my education and my health, too! I’ve seen the doctor, got some medicine and am feeling slightly better. I think I will be okay to go to school tomorrow.”
FAME provides comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and education services for adolescent girls. As a hospital, FAME plays an important role in providing accessible and confidential services to help all young girls grow into healthy, knowledgeable and confident individuals.
*The patient's name has been changed to protect her privacy and permission was secured to share her story. This interview was conducted in English.