Strong women of Tanzania

On Semtema Street in the center of Iringa, women sell fruit, vegetables, rice and charcoal – and at the same time bear great responsibility for their families. Two of them are Eva (43) and Joyce (37). Their stories are exemplary for many women in Tanzania who cope with everyday life under difficult conditions and are also there for others.

Eva – mother of three daughters

Eva is the mother of three girls: Catherine, Britney and Given. When she became pregnant at the age of 15, she had to drop out of school. She later married young. But after the birth of her third child, her husband left the family – on the grounds that she had “only given birth to girls”. Since then, Eva has lived alone with her children.

She works daily at the market in Semtema Street. By selling food, she ensures that her daughters can go to school. Catherine is now studying at the university in Dodoma, Britney is a scholarship holder in the SCHULBANK program and attends secondary school, Given is still in elementary school.

Eva has spent years building a small house with three rooms. She is frugal with her income and tries to make education possible for her children – even if it is sometimes difficult. is hardly enough.

Joyce – aunt and guardian

Joyce is also a market woman in Semtema. After the death of her sister in 2019, she took in her son Daniel, who is now also a SCHULBANK scholarship holder. Joyce continues to live in her small rented apartment to give Daniel stability.

The decision to take Daniel in had consequences: Her husband rejected the child and the marriage broke up. Joyce stayed. She takes care of Daniel and her own two children – and, like Eva, is solely responsible for them.

Like Eva, she also works at the market every day. The two women are friends and support each other.

Strong together in everyday life

Eva and Joyce show what responsibility means in difficult life situations – without big words, without public recognition, but with reliability and a clear view of what needs to be done. Their strength lies not in heroic deeds, but in carrying on day after day.

Anyone walking through Semtema Street quickly realizes that this form of neighbourly support is not an isolated case. Women help each other, stand in for each other and carry many burdens together. Solidarity is part of everyday life here.

Another problem that affects Eva and Joyce – and many other women – is the lack of reliable partners. Men who leave their families or shirk their responsibilities are no exception. As a result, it is often the women who carry the country – economically, socially and emotionally.

Nevertheless, leadership positions and decision-making power are mostly reserved for men. Although women’s achievements are recognized, they are rarely reflected in structural participation. In this respect, the country’s female president is the exception rather than the rule, at least at first glance.