Media for Development and Advocacy (MEDEA)’s Sauti Zetu Project was born of an urgent need to address child marriage in Tanzania and to amplify voices demanding legal reform and social change. By integrating traditional bylaws, media-driven storytelling, and direct political engagement, the Sauti Zetu Initiative is making a lasting impact to end child marriage and protect girls’ rights in Tanzania.
Meaning ‘Our Voices’, this community-driven initiative in the Mtwara and Shinyanga regions amplifies the voices of young girls, using film, art, and open community dialogues to spark critical conversations and advocate for legal reforms and societal change to recognise child marriage as a violation of girls’ sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice.
Storytelling for Change
Tanzania has one of the highest child marriage prevalence rates in the world. Nearly two out of five girls are married before their 18th birthday, enabled by a 1971 law allowing it with parental or court approval. This perpetuates harmful practices, limits girls’ education, and strips them of decision-making power over their bodies and futures. With limited knowledge or access to SRH services, they are vulnerable to unplanned pregnancies, childbirth complications, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV.
The Sauti Zetu Project leverages the power of film as a storytelling and advocacy tool. In many areas, child marriage is deeply intertwined with religious beliefs, making it difficult to address as a social issue that requires urgent intervention. Some community members perceive discussions around ending child marriage as a challenge to their faith rather than an effort to protect the rights and well-being of young girls. Through organized community art events, MEDEA creates films, such as Nzowa and Ndoano, to share the difficult realities of child marriage. Stolen Innocence follows a journalist’s journey to uncover the root causes of Tanzania’s long-standing struggle against child marriage. You can watch the trailer below:
MEDEA and its beneficiaries organise community film screenings to initiate conversations about the harmful effects of child marriage and to mobilise collective action. After one screening, one pastor engaged in the project integrated child marriage prevention education into his church sermons, school teachings, and mentorship programs, demonstrating a ripple effect where community leaders are becoming direct agents of change. During two reflective meetings with 21 local leaders, it was discovered that some communities already have customary regulations and bylaws prohibiting child marriage. This realization presented a powerful opportunity to integrate traditional governance structures with legal frameworks, reinforcing local mechanisms to prevent early marriages.
Beyond film
MEDEA also works with Young Girls Advocate (YGA) networks, formed to serve as safe spaces for open dialogue where young girls and their communities could openly share their experiences and concerns without fear of judgment. Through these networks in schools as clubs and community based groups, the girls receive support, mentorship and a platform to raise their voices and demand for change for a brighter future. One girl, Hellena, was supported through the YGA and avoided dropping out of school, ensuring she remains in education despite the challenges she faced.
One of the most significant achievements has been the formation of the Sauti Zetu Forum, a network that now unites 20 civil society organizations from Mtwara, Shinyanga, and Dar es Salaam. This collective platform has strengthened advocacy efforts, amplifying voices in the fight against child marriage. These successes highlight the power of grassroots mobilisation, strategic media engagement, and cross-sector collaboration.
Recognising the knowledge gaps in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) during community dialogues, MEDEA aim to collaborate with SRH professionals to provide accurate information on fistula, cervical cancer, and the health consequences of child marriage. Expanding media and digital advocacy is another key strategy, as they plan to strengthen partnerships with community radios, while also leveraging social media influencers to spark wider conversations online.
