A gender transformative step in the fight against gender-based violence has begun in Tanzania’s Kigoma region, as Wezesha Binti, in collaboration with Plan International, officially kicks off the implementation of the SASA! approach to address violence against women and girls (VAWG). SASA!, is an acronym that stands for Start, Awareness, Support, and Action, focusing on shifting social norms and power dynamics that perpetuate VAWG.

Following a successful proposal selection, the SASA! initiative—a proven community mobilization methodology—is now being rolled out by a consortium of three organizations: Plan International, Kivulini Women’s Rights Organization, and the Women Promotion Center. These organizations has a long term programs and roots in the Kigoma region, working on gender justice.  

The program aims to mobilize communities in Kigoma to recognize and address the underlying drivers of gender inequality. Through grassroots engagement and cross-sector collaboration, the SASA! model encourages individuals, families, and institutions to examine beliefs around power and equality. With the Kick-Off meeting to start the  implementation taking place in Kigoma, Enabel and partners are working to align workplans and discuss how the partners’ actions contribute to the broader goals and measurable outcomes of the Wezesha Binti (WB) program. The aim is to accelerate implementation and increase efficiency.

By bringing together civil society, academic institutions, and international development actors, this project sets the foundation for a sustained, evidence-based response to violence against women and girls in Kigoma. “This collaboration is not just about delivering a project—it’s about building a movement,” said a representative from Wezesha Binti. “Through SASA!, we’re empowering communities to take ownership of the change we all need to see.”

As the program unfolds, its success will serve as a model for broader replication across Tanzania and beyond—helping create a world where women and girls can live free from violence and discrimination.