Celebrating Women's History Month

This Women's Month, we're partnering with global nonprofit organization Girl Effect to provide entrepreneurial skills training and nutritional support to young mothers in Tanzania.

By the Industrie Africa Team

March 8, 2025

Young women in Arusha, Tanzania, face many challenges, including poverty, gender-based violence, and limited access to education and economic opportunities. Many adolescents and young parents aged 15-24 struggle to provide for their families, resulting in limited access to nutritious food and essential resources for their children’s growth and development.

This economic hardship directly impacts the health and well-being of children aged 0-3 years, highlighting an urgent need for a dual approach that combines financial empowerment and nutrition education.

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THE OPPORTUNITY

In partnership with the Hilton Foundation, the Ministry of Community Development, and PORALG, Girl Effect is implementing the Mzazi Hodari project, which focuses on empowering adolescents and young parents.

The project aims to enhance responsive caregiving skills and nutrition practices, contributing to improved child development. As part of this initiative, champion parents have established 288 peer groups, each consisting of 10-15 members, within their local communities. These groups meet weekly for peer-to-peer sessions, providing a supportive platform for young parents to share knowledge on responsive caregiving and nutrition practices.

However, a critical issue emerged during these discussions: a significant nutritional gap in children’s diets, particularly animal-source foods and green vegetables.

In response, 15 self-initiated women's peer groups formed savings groups.

These collective funds have enabled members to purchase local chickens and start small kitchen gardens, improving their children’s access to a more diversified and nutritious diet.

PROPOSED INTERVENTION

Building on the success of the Mzazi Hodari project, Girl Effect proposes to enhance the economic resilience of young mothers in the Arusha region by offering targeted skills building and financial support.

This initiative will focus on one existing peer group of approximately 10 - 15 women. Funds from Industrie Africa will be used to provide:

1) Financial Support to 10 - 15 young women
Establishing a seed-funding scheme to provide initial capital for young mothers to start or expand their small businesses.

2) Entrepreneurial Capacity Building
Conducting practical sessions on problem-solving, financial literacy, and small-scale business development, empowering young mothers to launch and sustain income-generating activities.

3) Savings and Investment Training
Strengthening their savings culture and teaching sustainable investment strategies, enabling young women to scale their businesses effectively.

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EXPECTED OUTCOMES

The following key outcomes are anticipated:

1) Increased Household Income

10-15 young women will apply their entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and business management skills to launch and grow income-generating activities, thereby reducing their economic vulnerability.

2) Improved Child Nutrition

Enhanced economic capacity will provide better access to nutritious foods, directly benefiting the health and development of children aged 0-3 years.

The project will serve as a replicable model. Young women who create and expand their businesses will not only benefit themselves but also play a key role in providing support and serving as Champions for other women in their communities.

This peer-to-peer mentorship and leadership will help amplify the impact of the project, fostering a network of empowered women who can inspire and support others to pursue similar pathways to financial independence and improved child nutrition.

This initiative will complement Girl Effect’s ongoing work in Arusha that seeks to change perceptions of what young women are capable of achieving.

"This Women's Month, your purchases transform into something extraordinary."

a note from our founder

"At Industrie Africa, I've always believed fashion's most powerful currency is opportunity. This Women's Month, I'm thrilled to announce our partnership with Girl Effect—a mission-driven organization focused on empowering women through media and technology.

Throughout March, a portion of every purchase you make will directly fund essential financial literacy training, entrepreneurial skills development, and seed capital for a special group of 15 young mothers in Arusha, Tanzania. These resources will empower these women to launch businesses that create sustainable livelihoods for their families.

When I founded Industrie Africa, I envisioned a platform where our impact would extend far beyond a global bridge to exceptional fashion.

This partnership embodies that vision. In a landscape where 'sustainability' often stops at materials, we're committed to extending its definition beyond checkout.

This season, I invite you to wear your values with us. Fashion's true impact is measured not just in what we wear, but in the lives we help transform."

- Nisha Kanabar, CEO/Founder of Industrie Africa

Learn more about Girl Effect, here.