While visiting EBLI's former students at their business places, Lucy Metha not only checks and discuss the progresses the young people make in enlarging or improving their businesses, but also listens carefully to their needs, challenges and problems. The results of the individual monitoring visits made in March, were internally discussed and influenced the topics of this week's Refresher Course, led by Lucy Metha and supported by Loyce, a former student, young mother and business woman. Besides discussions and information about business topics such as business goals, keeping records etc., there were also tutorings in make-up and styling as well as in the production of liquid soap. These teachings were chosen by the participants and will give them opportunities to enlarge or improve their businesses.
As special guest we welcomed Sr. Editha Binamungu Joseph from Sekou Toure Hospital Mwanza. She was teaching the young business people in SRHR with focus on family planning and as an experienced nurse and tutor, she was able to answer all of the participants questions.

Youth out of School: every 3 months, we invite them to participate in our workshop. So today, about 50 young people learn about Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and Gender Based Violence (GBV) at EBLI. As usual, apart from discussions and theory, we teach by playing games and skits as well.

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is an office-level agency in the federal administration of Switzerland and a part of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. The SDC supports Swiss NGOs working globally, such as terre des hommes schweiz and INTERTEAM. This week, Reinhard Ludwig Pfeiffer from the SDC was visiting projects in Tanzania, who are supported by terre des hommes schweiz and INTERTEAM. Main focus of the visit was to make sure, that all project...s run accordingly to the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations and also that the projects focus on gender equality. Together with Constantine Nyambajo from terre des hommes schweiz (Dar es Salaam) and Obura Elihuruma from INTERTEAM (Mwanza) he talked to EBLI's staff members and students as well as to former students who are now running their own businesses.
We thank everybody for providing them an impressive insight into EBLI's programs.

Education does not always have to take place in classrooms only. Today, Olivaleah Uliki teaches Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) by playing games, songs and dances. And the students enjoy it!

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) training forms a basic component in all EBLI programs. Here's Andrew the Project Manager and trainer, seen engaging young people on dangers of abortion.

EBLI's students of Secondary Education had their examination in November 2018 and it's our great pleasure to let you know, that about 84% of the Form II students passed successfully and have the possibility to continue their studies for the Certificate of Secondary Education. Congratulation everybody, hongereni sana, we are so proud of you!

Some of the participants of our programs are definitely no "victims". They have made some bad decisions in their lives, they have chosen a wrong way to go. But they deserve a second chance - if they are ready, to catch it. Like 18 years old Jackson.

On January 7th, over 50 young people, most of them young mothers, started with the actual class of Computer Literacy at EBLI. This year, we enlarge the part of tuition in life skills, so the students will learn more about SRHR and GBV and how they can change their behavior. And they will also be taught in business skills to start an independent, successful life - even if they dropped out of school and do not have a Certificate of Secondary Education.

Would you like to know more about EBLI’s students? Let us present you some of them. Today, we like to introduce you Jackline. Jackline is 18 years old and lives together with a female relative in Mabatini, Mwanza. In March 2018, she had to leave Secondary School, because she attended classes not regularly, due to a lack of financial support from her parents for school material, uniform and transport fees as well as the family needed her to help at home. Jackline was happy, to find a job at a bar, where she earned some money and also found new female friends at her age. She also met a young man, 25 years old, who became her boyfriend. Soon, Jackline became pregnant and her boyfriend refused to meet her again, as he had no intention at all to marry her. Jackline was seeking support and advice from her new friends. They were telling her, she could not give birth to that child. She would lose her job, would get problems with her family and - most important - would lose them as her close friends. Finally, the girls convinced Jackline, to have an abortion and to do it at one of the girls’ home. Luckily, Jackline survived the procedure and does not seem to have any health issues due to the self-made abortion, but until today, she has not met a gynecologist. As time passed by, Jackline began to doubt about her friendship with these young women. And when she got a flyer with information about EBLI’s Computer Literacy program, she decided, to quit her job at the bar, to left these girls behind and to start the program. After finishing the program, she wants to work as a secretary to earn enough money to support her family and to have a family of her own - one day.

Two of EBLI's staff members, Lucy Metha and Andrew Mwakibolwa, had the chance to take part in seminar organized by Terre des Hommes Schweiz, to become official Practitioners in Solution Focused Approach. Today, Constantine Nyambajo from Terre des Hommes Schweiz (Dar es Salaam) took the chance to congratulate them both to their success and Catherine Hollinger handed over the certificates personally. Hongereni sana, Lucy and Andrew, we are so proud of you!