So far my work at TGNP has been divided between the Information Technology Communication department which includes working to update the social media, websites, and blog sites so that all who are online can have access to the work of TGNP.
Then the work in the Advocacy and Activism area of TGNP which also involves a documentation and interview of all of the organizations work in engaging the community on the writing of Tanzania’s new people-centered constitution. For the first time in Tanzania’s history as an independent republic, the policy makers are looking to the people for issues to include in the new Constitution. In a process that started in 2010, TGNP has been at the forefront of ensuring that women’s issues and other marginalized groups have access to the new Constitution and that it is reflective of their voices as well. Through various other feminist centered and civil society groups, TGNP has worked to ensure that the policy-makers are checking in with people’s voices through their navigation of writing the constitution. The first wins for the women’s rights and for all Tanzanians really has been the translation of the Constitution into Kiswahili as it was previously written in English. Considering that most Tanzanian’s speak Kiswahili even though English is the official language, this was a major win for ensuring that all Tanzanian’s regardless of linguistic background can access the information in the Constitution.
TGNP submitted their own manifesto that included their own list of demands for the new constitution including: Gender responsive constitution, the right to dignity, oppressive laws to be nullified, automatic domestication of all international, regional and sub regional instruments which Tanzania has ratified. The Manifesto is inclusive of civil society organizations, grassroots women, and groups who were bright together to view the old constitution and awareness of the new constitution and its shortcomings.
Overall though, as enthusiastic I am about my role in documenting these significant changes to Tanzanian political history, my favorite part of working in TGNP is the connections between staff. Even though I am a part time staff member, I am still largely included in briefings, staff meetings, and other brainstorming sessions. I love feeling so closely involved to the work, the people, and the overall mission to provide for a transformative feminist movement in Tanzania.
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