Saturday, October 1, 2011

Work, Rest and Play (well work and play in any event!)

Hi Everyone

Since my last post I have gotten back into the swing of things pretty quickly workwise and my holiday with my parents feel like a distant but very nice memory now!

I'll begin this post with an update on progress with TAWLA, but of course with some social commentary to follow!

Progress with TAWLA

Over the past couple of weeks in addition to continuing my research and putting together summary manuals on various pieces of important legislation that I spoke about previously, I have also been more involved in writing funding proposals on behalf of TAWLA. The success of these funding proposals are crucial to the sustainability of TAWLA and to allow it to continue with its work in assisting vulnerable women and children through the delivery of frontline legal services.  It is vital that we can demonstrate on paper in concrete ways how we intend to assist women and children and why international donors should assist us financially.  It is a very steep learning curve for me but one that I am really enjoying!

In addition, this past week we had a meeting with representatives from the Gender Team from the Irish Embassy.  The meeting was very positive and I believe we delivered the content of our strategic plan for 2010-2014 in a very clear manner...so much so that we have now been granted an opportunity to deliver a presentation to the Development Partners Working Group on the 24th of October.  The Development Partners Working Group is comprised of representatives from fifteen of the largest donors in Tanzania.  This is a wonderful opportunity for us at TAWLA and we will be working hard over the next couple of weeks to ensure that we are ready for the meeting!  Currently, our strategic plan is only 60% funded so in order for us to carry out all of our activities fully it is necessary for us to secure additional funding.  Fingers crossed will be successful in this endeavour.  Our strategic plan has five core objectives: 

  • Legal aid services to indigent women and children provided
  • Land rights and women and children rights promoted
  • Good local governance enhanced
  • Policy and legislative research and advocacy undertaken
  • Capacity and Sustainability of TAWLA strengthened
By way of example under our first strategic objective one of the ways in which we wish to extend legal services to women and children is through the training of paralegals.  Currently in Tanzania there is no co-ordinated education program for paralegals, notwithstanding the fact that they are the primary providers of legal assistance and advice outside of the main urban areas.  Our goal is to provide training to 90 paralegals and to provide them with bicycles and some remuneration so that more people in rural communities can be reached and have real access to justice.  I hope that we will be able to achieve these goals...I will of course keep you updated on this progress!

Cycle Caravans and Goat Races and Birthday Parties

So for anyone who has been on facebook recently you will have known that I attended the annual Dar Cycle caravan.  The cycle caravan is in it's sixth year and attracts in excess of 200 hundred cycles.  This year the theme was combating climate change.  We cycle through the streets of Dar es Salaam and raise awareness...You can check out photos through the following link which were taken by a talented American artist who is based here in Dar: http://www.greggae.net/life/uwaba2/index.php.  

So following on from the cycle caravan we had a quick shower in the Holiday Inn (many thanks Peggy for the facilities) and off we headed to the Goat Races!  Yes you heard me correctly the Goat Races...they really are not so different to the Galway Races at home...Everyone drinks far too much and leaves at the end of the day having not seen one horse (well goat in the case of Dar!).  Plus there is a fancy dress element to the Goat Races...although I actually just believe that the guys use it as an excuse to dress up in women's clothes!

It was also my housemates' Elaine's birthday last weekend and after the Goat Races we had a party at an Italian friend's house in Kigamboni...So yes I should have gone home after the party but no went into town dancing!  However, despite the incredibly hectic Saturday I still got up to watch the rugby on the Sunday morning.  I am a very proud Irish woman after all!

So anyone better finish up this little update and get ready for some dinner!

Until next time, hope you are all well.

Eithne xxx


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