Reshaping tradition: meet the community leaders in Tanzania who are breaking cycles of harm

In many rural Tanzanian communities, deeply rooted gender norms continue to limit women’s economic and social agency.

But in Mtwara, in southern Tanzania, a shift is taking place — one that is blending tradition with new knowledge and understanding.

Leading this change are Kungwi — women who work as traditional teachers of gendered topics who guide young women through cultural rites of passage related to marriage, sexuality, and domestic responsibility. Once considered to be reinforcing outdated practices, Kungwi like Saida are now reshaping their roles as community leaders and advocating for gender equality.

This story is part of the Advancing Gender Equality through Civil Society (AGECS) component of the Foundations for Education and Empowerment (F4EE) program. AGECS partners with local civil society organizations to address sociocultural barriers to gender equality and women’s empowerment.