Zuhra’s Choice: How One Safe Space Changed the Course of a Girl’s Life in Zanzibar - Tanzania

Zanzibar - Tanzania. When Zuhra (name changed) was just 17 years old, her future was being decided for her.

In her community in Zanzibar, plans were already underway for her marriage. School would end. Childhood would disappear. Like many girls facing child marriage, Zuhra had little power to refuseuntil a single intervention changed everything.

Through a Police Gender and Children Desk at Madema in Unguja, supported by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Government of Finland, in partnership with the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, Zuhra found protection, dignity, and most importantly a choice.

Responding quickly after Zuhra’s case was identified, trained service providers ensured her immediate protection and opened a formal case ensuring her safety and wishes are at the heart of every decision. The support extended beyond Zuhra herself. Her parents received psychosocial counselling and participated in guided discussions that addressed harmful social norms surrounding child marriage. Through this process, the family made a life-changing decision: the planned marriage was cancelled, the dowry returned, and both parents committed to keeping all their children in school.

Freed from the threat of child marriage, Zuhra returned to school with renewed determination. Today, she has completed her secondary education and is pursuing further studies in law. Her dream is to work with women and girls who have experienced gender-based violence and ensure that others facing the same risks she once did are protected.

“I want to help girls understand their rights and know that their dreams matter,” Zuhra says.

Her journey reflects the impact of Chaguo Langu, Haki Yangu (My Choice, My Right), a programme to strengthen prevention and response to gender-based violence across the United Republic of Tanzania. Through this partnership, more women and girls,including those with disabilities,are gaining access to survivor-centered services and safe spaces where their voices, rights, and choices are respected.

“Empowering a girl to realize her dreams is one of the most powerful investments we can make,” says Mark Bryan Schreiner, UNFPA Representative for the United Republic of Tanzania. “With partners like the Government of Finland, we are turning protection into opportunity and ensuring that no girl is left behind.”

Zuhra’s father, Zimbwe Msumi (name changed), says the experience transformed his understanding of what it means to protect his daughter.

“As a father, I once thought I was protecting my daughter by marrying her at an early age, but I have learned that true protection means listening to her dreams and keeping her in school. My daughter’s right to education is far more valuable than any tradition or dowry. I urge parents across Tanzania to stand up for the rights of the girl child, keep them in school, and support them in achieving their dreams. When we protect our girls, we protect our future.”

This International Women’s Day reminds us that when girls are supported to claim their rights and make their own choices, entire communities move closer to equality and justice. Through partnerships that invest in dignity, education, and opportunity, more girls like Zuhra can rewrite their futures and help build a world where all women and girls enjoy rights, equality, and empowerment. 🌍✨