Internews in Tanzania under the Boresha Habari (Better News) project brought together media and civil society organizations in Mwanza, Tanzania to discuss the issue of domestic workers’ rights.

In this video (produced by Amini Suwedi), the participants share their insights on the role of media and civil society on the issue, including the problems faced by domestic workers and how to empower them.

“When a woman sees a way paved by another woman through the media, say when a journalist does a success story of the successful woman through highlighting her struggles and the like, it can be a road map for the woman who also seeks success,” says journalist Clara Matimo.

Full text transcript:

Intro note: Internews in Tanzania brought NGOs and local media together in Mwanza, Tanzania to speak about young domestic workers.

Cecilia Nyangasi, Program Manager, Wote Sawa: The children who are domestic workers don’t have definite laws protecting them. But there exists policies and laws derived by policymakers that help protect them in a way.

So, as “Wote Sawa,” our aim is to persuade the government to act upon those existing policies.

Jennifer Nelson, former domestic worker: “Wote Sawa” has given me access to various things. Firstly, by educating me on my rights, my responsibilities and the laws that can protect domestic workers.

“Wote Sawa” has also given me the courage to educate the young generation of domestic workers on their rights and to educate society as well.

Joyce Kiria, Founder & Director, Haki za Wanawake (HAWA): In short, my journey started as a domestic worker due to my incapacity to continue with school. Domestic work has a lot of challenges, and I went through them. These included cruelty and harassment, but it also paved my way towards success. So a girl who is a domestic worker should know that the work can help her towards success. But we also have to speak up on the issues of sexual harassment, rape, violence and the like.

Clara Matimo, journalist, Mtanzania: We are aware that women face a lot of problems but they’re also in need of a way out. When a woman sees a way paved by another woman through the media, say when a journalist does a success story of the successful woman through highlighting her struggles and the like, it would be a road map for the woman who also seeks success.

Kamilius Onesmo, radio presenter, Metro FM Radio: Some ladies spoke today, for example how for three years they wake up at 3:00am and sleep at midnight, being the first to wake up and the last to sleep. But they didn’t know where to go to claim their rights. This show that the media has a big role to play, especially in the rural areas, to raise awareness on such matters, especially towards the youth which is the future generation.

End note: The USAID project Boresha Habari (“Better News”) helps civil society advocate for youth and women’s issues through the media.