Stories
Youth-friendly services give adolescents a voice in Tabora
April 15, 2026
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Story
When young people lead, communities listen
Across Tanzania's Tabora region, adolescents are building businesses, sharing knowledge and helping their peers access information and services — strengthening their communities one conversation at a time.
Posted on August 10, 2026
Saidi, a peer educator with the BRIGHT project, began by building support for his work in his community. He now volunteers at a local dispensary, helping connect young people with health services.
When local leaders in Kasela Ward gather to discuss the health and wellbeing of adolescents, Ester is often among those invited to speak.
At 19, she has become someone young people turn to for advice and local decision-makers look to for insight into the challenges adolescents face. She runs a small business, mentors peer groups and connects young people with health services and opportunities to return to school.
That trust has been earned over time.
Growing up in Nzega District, Ester watched her single mother support six children through small-scale farming. The harvest kept food on the table, but opportunities were limited. Determined to continue her education, Ester became the first of her siblings to complete secondary school in 2022.
With few opportunities available locally, she began selling ice cream at a nearby primary school while weighing whether she would need to leave her community to find work.
“I was thinking of going far to search for jobs,” she recalls. “But I didn’t know where to go. I felt like everything was impossible and my dreams were slipping away.”
Around that time, Ester learned about the Building Rights for Improved Girls’ Health in Tanzania (BRIGHT) project and began participating in community activities. Her commitment led to her selection as a peer educator, where she received training in sexual and reproductive health, nutrition, gender-based violence prevention and basic entrepreneurship.
The BRIGHT project works alongside the Government of Tanzania to strengthen adolescent sexual and reproductive health and nutrition across Tabora Region. Supported by the Government of Canada, the project equips young people with knowledge and skills while working with communities and local systems to improve access to information, services and opportunities.
“As part of the BRIGHT project, adolescents are demonstrating that young people become powerful agents of change when they are given knowledge, skills and trust,” says Florian Fanuel, BRIGHT’s project director. “They are not only altering their own futures but also improving the well-being and resilience of their communities by mentoring their peers, connecting them with health and education services, and setting up new livelihood opportunities.”
For Ester, the training she received built on a determination she already had.
“I discovered myself. I became confident, open and I understood my community better. I now feel I have a responsibility to help transform it,” she says.
Using the stipend she received during training together with the entrepreneurship skills she developed, Ester opened a small business selling vegetables, fruit, drinks and ice cream. Over time, she built a steady customer base, increased her daily income more than fivefold and continued reinvesting in the business while helping support her household.
Today, she mentors 10 adolescent groups, creating spaces where girls and boys can discuss sexual and reproductive health, nutrition and life skills. She has also connected young people with local health services and education opportunities. With her support, four adolescents who had left school because of pregnancy have returned to secondary education, while another has rejoined primary school.
“I love my work,” Ester says. “I know my community’s issues, and I want to help change it.”
Ester’s experience is one example of how young people are helping shape healthier communities across Tabora Region.
In neighbouring Uyui District, Saidi began his work by meeting with local leadership before bringing together groups of adolescents.
“I started with the village leadership,” he explains.
Working alongside community decision-makers helped build confidence in the initiative and address parents’ initial concerns about participation.
“There was a challenge convincing parents to allow their young people to attend the sessions,” Saidi says. “But once the village leaders supported the initiative, it became much easier.”
Since then, Saidi has established and continues to mentor several peer groups, engaging nearly 200 adolescent boys. Through regular discussions, participants explore sexual and reproductive health, nutrition and gender-based violence prevention while reflecting on the role boys and young men can play in supporting girls’ health, safety and opportunities.
Recognizing that learning continues beyond structured sessions, Saidi volunteers at the Azimio dispensary, supporting adolescents to access health services.
He has also helped introduce Youth Village Savings and Loan Associations (YVSLAs), enabling young people to save together, invest in small businesses and pursue new livelihood opportunities, such as raising chickens and farming.
As groups have grown, Saidi has also supported eligible members in accessing government youth loans to expand their businesses. “I’m proud that some of the groups I mentored were able to access government loans and start businesses,” Saidi says.
Although their paths are different, Ester and Saidi are part of a growing network of young people helping their peers access information, services and opportunities. By sharing knowledge, building trust and creating space for others to participate, they are helping strengthen the health and wellbeing of adolescents across their communities.
Learn more about our work in Tanzania and adolescent health.
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