In Conversation with Winifrida for International Women's Day

Meet Winifrida, Filbert's (our manager and master-carvers) daughter. We recently interviewed her to find out more about her dreams, aspirations and challenges she faces living in a rural town in Tanzania. We were incredibly blown away by her interview. She was only 13 when we started QÄSA QÄSA and she is now living in Dar es Salaam, studying for a bachelor's degree in Marketing and Public Relations.

Winifrida proudly holding the pose for this year's IWD theme #acceleratedaction

She is the first in her family to go to university and is very aware that she must use this privilege as a force for good. 

"Something that makes me happy, and continues to make me happy is that I get the freedom to learn what I love whether it is a certain subject, or a new skill like computer skills. I get excited about widening my knowledge, being more effective, and it makes me happy and motivated to do more". 

She talked to us about how Tanzania has made great progress in ensuring women have equal opportunities in education, health and politics, but that in other areas of employment, leadership and ownership of resources such as land, there are challenges. "Social customs and traditions also continue to be a barrier for many women, especially in rural areas where men are still given senior positions in high-level decision making". Another barrier is the way inheritance works within a marriage. If a husband dies the inheritance is given to her husbands siblings, rather than the wife.

Images L-R: Filbert, his wife Mary and daughters Winifrida, Agnes, Neema | Village views | Aniqah and Naeema at Winnie's family home in Mtwara.

Despite her young age, she has ambitions to address the following issues in her community;

 1. Poverty and Underdevelopment

"I wish to create job opportunities and training and mentorship programmes to avoid these challenges"

2. Crime and safety concerns

"I would like to educate residents on crime prevention and conflict resolution."

3. Environmental issues

"I would like to organize the community to clean-up and tree-planting events."

4. Affordable housing shortages and rising housing costs    

"I have to think about how to make a difference as through educating and skill developing for example by offer tutoring, career guidance or workshops to help others grow. Also supporting local businesses like buying goods from local shops to strengthen the economy and creating jobs"

A compassionate soul and an eager reader, Winifrida is a force for good, using her admiration for Mother Theresa, and her faith to make brave and exciting changes. We are so proud of her, and what she stands for, and see her as a perfect flag waver for what International Women's Day represents. We can't wait to see what the future holds for her.