A 13-year old’s bravery got the community to stand up against abuse.

One morning, a 13-year-old girl called the 116 Child Helpline.

She had recently attended one of our awareness sessions through the Chaguo Langu Haki Yangu (CLHY) program in Pemba, where she learned about child rights, abuse, and how to report it safely.

During school break, she traveled to visit her grandparents. Close to their home was a madrasa, a religious school where she began to hear troubling whispers about the behavior of the teacher towards some of the young girls.

Because of her strong sense of justice, the girl started to pay closer attention and soon noticed signs confirming the rumors. Remembering what she had learned in the awareness session, she felt compelled to act. She bravely called the Helpline and shared her concerns. She even mentioned a girl she knew had been affected, explaining that many children were too afraid to speak out due to threats from the teacher.

The counselor listened patiently and reassured her that reporting was the right thing to do. The counselor promised to involve the district social welfare office to address the situation and within two days, a team from the social welfare office arrived at the village. With the help of the local leader, the Sheha, identified one of the affected children and the team met with the girl’s parents, who were hearing about the situation for the first time.

The child was taken to a one-stop center where she received medical care, psychological support, and guidance on her rights. The process showed us the importance of timely intervention and community cooperation.

The case was taken to court to seek justice, demonstrating the seriousness with which child protection services approach such allegations. Although the court ultimately found the accused teacher not guilty due to a lack of direct evidence, the courage of this young girl and the swift action of the community remains to be powerful, reminding everyone that safeguarding children requires collective effort and vigilance.

For the 116 Child Helpline, each call further confirms to us that children can be brave enough to speak out against injustice, we just have to listen to them.

Prepared by C-Sema's Communication Team.