Programme « Ladies First »

Context

Tanzania won its first international medal in 1965 in Congo Brazzaville, an achievement by Theresa Dismas in javelin, at a time when the men athletes had never won any medals. Since that time, the men athletes have won many international medals. However, many years after that success brought by a woman, Tanzania has seen the number of women athletes declining by numbers.

It is with this view in mind that Tanzania must build a balanced structure with consideration of gender equality. During the event, female athletes participated in track and field from short distance to longer distance. A local NGO presented a short play about family planning to educate school children audience, and audience and athletes can scale height, weight and calculate their BMI for the purpose of prevention of non-communicable diseases.

Goals

• To provide opportunity for women athletes and achieve gender equality in Tanzania;
• To encourage sports promotion and development of physical education in the country;
• To accelerate/build up the excitement for 2020 Tokyo Olympics (postponed to 2021);
• To expand sports for women in Tanzania from local to international level;
• Sports is employment, therefore through this event girls will rediscover and use the immense opportunities that are in sports;
• To fulfil the SDG 3 “Good health and well-being”;
• To bring back international championship to Tanzania through Theresa Dismas;
• Through this event, Tanzania will be better placed to participate in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics;
• To support challenges of “Sports For Tomorrow” (SFT).

Activities :

• Organisation of 100m, 200m, 400m, 5000m and 10,000m running tournaments;
• BMI consultation and verification session for the prevention of non-communicable diseases;
• Workshops on early pregnancy and reproductive health facilitated by Professor and Doctor Okada;
• Awareness session on family planning with the participation of a local NGO;
• Organisation of a “Ball Toss Event” by JOVC volunteers.

Impacts

• From 2017 to 2019, the number of athletes from all regions have increased from 105 to 136;
• After the 2nd edition in 2019, JICA Official Supporter Ms. TAKAHASHI Naoko (gold medallist at 2000 Sydney Olympic Games) visited Tanzania and conducted “Marathon Clinic” to 100 Tanzanian athletes;
• About 1,290 participants attended the 3^rd edition: 136 Tanzanian athletes, 4 south-Sudanese athletes, 60 coaches, 20 technical staffs, 70 other staffs, 1,000 audience from primary and secondary schools in Dar es Salaam, sponsors and media. It was the first attempt to invite South Sudan athletes to participate in, which motivated other women athletes strongly;
• The level of competition was higher year by year. One of the examples is Ms. Regina Deogratius whose performance was 2:12.14 in 2018 and 2:10.15 in 2019 the for 800m race;
• This event got more known to general public after being mentioned at UN General Assembly in 2019, in a speech made by former Prime Minister Shinzo ABE.

Support provided by JICA

• Dispatch of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer to National sports Council;
• Organisation of Ladies First event for three years from 2017 to 2019;
• Attendance of a delegation of athletes and representatives from National Sports Council, Athletics Tanzania and Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports to Nagai City in Tanzania in 2018 and 2019.