UNESCO The Dar es Salaam office manager, Mr. Tirso Dos Santos, handed over to the Tanzania Interfaith Partnership on 18 October 2021 560 copies of the Toolkit for Adolescent, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Religious Leaders (TRICK). Two versions of the toolkit, one for Muslim denominations and the other for Christian denominations, were developed after the adaptation to the Tanzanian context of the generic toolkit developed in 2019 by the World Council of Churches (COE). This decision was made in order to make the toolkit user-friendly for the target groups. Therefore, each version of the toolkit included different quotes from the Holy Quran and the Holy Bible.

The involvement of religious leaders is of paramount importance to reach more young people, including those who are not in the mainstream education system. In fact, they are among the most influential groups of leaders and are a perfect vehicle for relaying the message to the public. TRICK greeted UNESCO for the support and for his approach to create links with the clerics because they are the right entry point to reach the soul and bring changes in the young.

“SDSR is a crucial issue for empowering young people in Tanzania to create a more aware, respectful, equal and informed community ”, Saida Mukhi, Executive Director of the Tanzania Interfaith Partnership (TRICK)

The toolkit aims to empower religious leaders to engage with their communities to address the needs and challenges of adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (ASSRH). Clerics who attended the handover said that SDSR is essential to empowering young people in Tanzania to create a more aware, respectful, equal and informed community. This observation was given by Saida Mukhi, Executive Director of the Tanzania Interfaith Partnership (TRICK). The UNESCO The head of the Dar es Salaam office believes that education is one of the most powerful ways to improve people’s health and if it is of good quality and relevant to the lives of learners, it will contribute to the sustainable development. Both versions of the toolkit will help Muslim and Christian clerics meet the needs and challenges of SSR, HIV/AIDS and prevention of gender-based violence.

The adaptation of the toolbox took place in the UNESCO AIDS funded project entitled “Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future”, commonly known as O3. UNESCOS interventions aim to empower adolescents and young people by developing the skills, knowledge, attitudes and skills required to prevent HIV/AIDS, reducing early and unwanted pregnancies and eliminating GBV.

The handover ceremony brought together representatives of the Tanzania Interfaith Partnership, Tanzania Muslim Council (BAKWATA), Christian Council of Tanzania, Office of the Mufti of Zanzibar, Episcopal Center of Tanzania, UNESCO as well as members of the press.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Download logo