Support street-connected girls & women in Tanzania

Thank you for continuing to support our partner Cheka Sana in Tanzania and their work with young women on the streets. For this update, we would like to share the story of a young woman, Jane (name changed) who transformed her life through the StreetBorn programme. Although many of StreetBorn's participants are already teenage mothers, Cheka Sana also supports girls who are at risk of pregnancy due to being trapped in sex work and abuse on the streets. 

Jane's Story

In 2024, Jane's parents were severely injured when their house collapsed, leaving them permanently disabled and dependent on others for daily care. As the eldest child, Jane dropped out of school at 17 to support them and took work as a domestic worker.

Instead of security, she faced severe abuse. She was beaten, denied food, and sometimes went a month without pay. She was then sexually assaulted by her employer's adult son, falsely accused of theft, and dismissed. With no income and her parents depending on her, she moved onto the streets. There, other young women encouraged her to engage in commercial sex work. She refused at first, but the harsh realities of street life eventually left her feeling she had no alternative.

Jane's life began to change when outreach workers from Cheka Sana Tanzania met her on the street and introduced her to the StreetBorn Project, which she willingly joined. Through one-to-one counselling and psychosocial support, and an individual care plan developed with a social worker, she began to heal, rebuild her confidence, and believe she deserved a better future. She also joined weekly peer support groups (see photo above) and received life skills, leadership, self-defence and reproductive health training. Health referrals gave her a full screening, and she was found to be in good health.

After careful assessment and preparation, Jane was reunified with her family, with follow-up visits and case management to keep both her and her family stable. She then trained as a tailor, and Cheka Sana Tanzania provided equipment and support to set up her own business.

Today, Jane runs a successful tailoring business with a stable income. She supports her parents, meets her family's daily needs, and plans confidently for the future. Free from violence, exploitation and life on the streets, she is a strong, independent young woman with hope and dignity.

"I had completely lost hope and could not see any future for myself. Cheka Sana Tanzania believed in me when I had stopped believing in myself. They held my hand, gave me another chance, and helped me believe that I could succeed. Now I have a business, I can support my family, and I look forward to a brighter future."