Haki Elimu - Tanzania

The civil society development organisation, HakiElimu, was formed in 2001 to promote citizens’ involvement in realising quality education by transforming schools, influencing policy development and stimulating dialogue.  HakiElimu’s vision is that every child in Tanzania is able to enjoy her or his right to basic education in schools that respect dignity, foster creativity and crucial learning and advance human rights and democracy.  They actively seek to achieve their vision by facilitating public participation in education governance.

 

Two studies undertaken by HakiElimu confirmed that access to information from government/public sources is very difficult for ordinary Tanzanian citizens. Both confirmed that when citizens asked for information, they typically face bureaucratic hurdles and apathy, which in turn creates distrust and lowers expectations. Many were unaware of basic information about key public policies, services and their rights. Newspapers and television were non-existent in rural areas.  Although radio service was available very few women or children had radio access.  In addition the study revealed that batteries were too expensive to buy on an ongoing basis.

 

In 2007, to address the issue of rural information access, HakiElimu began integrating 8,000 Lifeline radios in rural and isolated communities. Taking advantage of Tanzania’s growing and vibrant radio sector, HakiElimu is distributing the radios to distant towns and villages, where community listeners’ groups will tune into a variety of programming on government, private and community stations, to promote understanding of their rights to education and other services.

 

The Lifeline Energy assisted with radio distribution training, user manuals and other technical support.