Advocacy (campaigns and awareness-raising)

Program overview:

Mkombozi's advocacy campaigns are founded on research of the situation on the ground and our experience and practice working with vulnerable children in Tanzania.

A year before launching an advocacy campaign we begin conducting research, identifying the contradictions between Government policies and what is happening "on the ground", and making contact with strategic allies. Prior to campaign kick-off, we plan the objectives, messages, audience and tactics of the campaign. Tactics include:

• Engaging in public interest litigation for the reform of laws that violate children's rights.
• Raising public awareness through an advertising campaign on bus shelters and busses, radio programmes (e.g. radio plays, street interviews, phone-ins, panel discussion).
• Training of police, magistrates and lawyers about appropriate ways to deal with children in conflict/contact with the law.
• Organizing and hosting a street festival that publicizes individual talents, potential and success stories of street children.
• Publishing case studies / examples of success stories in the local media.

Importantly, as advocacy campaigns are implemented, we continually monitor and document the success of our strategies.

Current advocacy team targets:

• To undertake an advocacy campaign for the repeal of laws used to violate children's rights to protection (2007/8).
• To engage in a strategic and focused advocacy campaign that results in the allocation of sufficient funds for MEMKWA in one targeted district (2007/8).
• To engage in an advocacy campaign for the funding by Moshi Municipal Council for a foster care programme for vulnerable children who are on the streets (2008/9).
• To engage in an advocacy campaign for the funding by Moshi and Arusha Councils for children's protection services (2009/10).

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