Anna Tibaijuka is a founding chairperson of Barbro Johannson Girls, Education Trust (Joha Trust), which advocates for quality girls' education in Tanzania and Africa and operates a model secondary school for poor girls, mostly orphans.
Joha Trust is an independent, not-for-profit organization created to promote and run girls' schools and training centres, conduct research and analyze public policies with regard to girls' education in Tanzania and eventually in other parts of Africa. It is registered as an NGO under the Trustees Ordinance Cap. 375. In addition to training, JOHA-TRUST will work to broaden understanding among policy makers, donors, the media, education professionals, other organizations and the public
Trust History
In February 1996 a group of women rights activists from all regions ll regions of Tanzania met in Dar es Salaam under the auspices of Tanzania National Women Council (BAWATA) to discuss the unsatisfactory situation of girls’ education in the country.
Although the deterioration of education in the country is a general phenomenon, statistics show that the situation is worse for girls than for boys. One major outcome of that meeting was a decision to establish an independent organization, which would promote the access of girls to quality education. The meeting decided unanimously to name the proposed girls' education foundation after Dr. Barbro Johansson, known popularly in Tanzania simply as Mama Barbro in recognition of her significant contribution to girls' education in the country. It was noted that the history of girls' education in Tanzania is profoundly associated with the lifetime work of Mama Barbro Johansson.
Objective
- To promote good quality education for girls in Tanzania.
- To maintain, run and generally manage high standard girls' schools and other relevant educational facilities in Tanzania.
- To establish and own pre-schools, primary and secondary schools on behalf of members.
- To solicit and grant scholarships to female students as well as other talented candidates from resource poor families with priority to those coming from women managed households.
- To act as owner of property on behalf of members.
- To generally promote adult education and training which can enhance the possibilities of girls to participate actively, effectively, and equally with boys at all levels of socio-economic, political and cultural leadership.
- To conduct research, seminars and workshops geared to encourage and give opportunity to girls to pursue scientific and technological training which currently limits the knowledge they require for their daily lives and their employment opportunities.
- To work towards the elimination of all barriers which prevent girls from developing their full potential and skills by promoting equal access to education and training, nutrition, mental health care and related information.
- To encourage Tanzanian communities to overcome cultural barriers which limit girls’ access to education and generally to cultivate interest in supporting education on self-help basis with particular emphasis on girls’ education.
- To recruit teaching and other staff of JOHA-TRUST and of schools and institutions under JOHA-TRUST.
- To conduct training and other activities aimed at building capacity for the promotion of JOHA-TRUST's aforesaid objectives on behalf of the members.
- To engage in income generating economic activities for the purpose of using such income for promoting the objectives of JOHA-TRUST
