Tanzania: A Peace-Advancing Nation — Youth Leading the Way on World Humanitarian Day

HWPL and IPYG Join Tanzania’s Prime Minister’s Office and UN Agencies to Promote Youth-Led Disaster Preparedness and Environmental Cleanup Activities

 

 

On August 19, an event commemorating World Humanitarian Day (WHD) was held at Danken Hall in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The event was jointly planned and organized by HWPL and IPYG, together with the Tanzania Disaster Management NGO Network (DINGONET), the Disaster Management Department under the Prime Minister’s Office of Tanzania, United Nations agencies including UNICEF, the Green for the Future Community (G4TC), and SISI Tanzania. Approximately 180 government and UN officials, NGO representatives, youth, and community members participated in the event.

At the heart of the event was the Youth Engagement & Peacebuilding Working Group (YEPW) in Tanzania. YEPW youth directly planned a plogging activity exhibition and disaster preparedness and environmental protection campaigns to raise the local community’s awareness of disaster preparedness and environmental protection. The event featured an interactive exhibition showcasing the plogging projects and environmental and disaster preparedness activities carried out by the youth, as well as Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) education, an environmental protection picket campaign, and a community environmental cleanup around the event venue.

 

 

On the day of the event, Hon. Palamagamba J. A. Kabudi, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office of Tanzania, visited the HWPL exhibition booth and learned about youth-led humanitarian activities and efforts to promote a culture of peace. Emphasizing the importance of citizen participation in disaster preparedness, he stated, “Reducing the impact of disasters requires the participation of citizens who follow the precautions and guidelines provided by experts and relevant authorities.” He also highlighted that “a country’s disaster response capacity depends on effective systems and concrete cooperation between the government and humanitarian actors,” adding that the Tanzanian government continues to collaborate with various institutions and the private sector in responding to disasters. He further noted that “there are few countries like Tanzania that have maintained such a strong spirit of unity and harmony,” and encouraged all citizens to continue upholding solidarity and unity.

Federika Mazinge, HWPL’s representative in Tanzania, stated, “In order for human dignity to be truly respected and valued, peace must come first. Together with young people, we aim to create a peaceful environment where everyone can become one without discrimination.” She further explained that if the Parliament and other government institutions embrace and support Article 10 of the DPCW, “Spreading a Culture of Peace,” together with youth-led initiatives, this could become an important opportunity for Tanzania and the world to achieve sustainable peace.

 

 

These youth-led activities in Tanzania are not achievements accomplished in a short period of time. The WHD event was also the result of a foundation of collaboration that HWPL and IPYG have built with local institutions, which has developed into meaningful community-based action.

On November 16, 2024, when a four-story commercial building collapsed in the Kariakoo area of Dar es Salaam, youth volunteers provided clean drinking water and emergency relief supplies to rescue workers and volunteers. Following this incident, HWPL and IPYG worked with DINGONET to support young people in utilizing their capabilities to contribute to disaster preparedness and address community challenges.

 

 

In recognition of these contributions, HWPL and IPYG received an official Certificate of Appreciation from the Disaster Management Department under the Prime Minister’s Office of Tanzania at the DINGONET seminar, “Disaster Management is Everyone’s Responsibility,” held on January 5, 2025. At the time, major local media outlets, including Azam TV, ITV, Channel 10, Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC), and Star TV, gave significant coverage to the event.

Since then, the IPYG Tanzania Branch has expanded locally tailored, youth-led activities centered around YEPW. One notable example was a large-scale plogging campaign held on April 25 this year at Mwenge Bus Terminal, in collaboration with the Kinondoni Municipal Council, Juhudi Mwenge Group, G4TC, Coca-Cola, and DINGONET, among others. Approximately 200 youth and community members participated in the campaign. In addition, IPYG operated the “Educate Peace, Ensure Safety” program in cooperation with the Tanzania Fire and Rescue Force (FRF), combining fire safety education with peace education and presenting a model for a youth-led culture of safety.

 

 

Major Tanzanian media outlets, including Mwananchi, Channel 10, and TBC, covered this activity. The youth demonstrated that they are not merely participants in events, but key actors in creating safe, sustainable, and peaceful communities. HWPL and IPYG will continue to work with government institutions, UN agencies, and civil society organizations to support Tanzanian youth in taking the lead in disaster preparedness, environmental protection, and the promotion of a culture of peace.