VULNERABLES’ ORGANIZATION FOR LEGAL AID SERVICES (VOLAS) is a Non Profit making Non Governmental Organization with registration No 22NGO/00007191. The basic aim of the Organization is to protect and promote the rights of vulnerable people particularly women and children in the community. The rights of vulnerable people are protected by VOLAS through number of established programs namely; -
1. COM
MUNITY DEVELOPMENT
3. PRIMARY HEALTH CARE/COMMUNITY BASED HEALTH CARE
4. RESEARCH AND PROJECT COORDINATION.
5. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM. VOLAS’ interventions are prompted by noticeable and increased abuse of rights of vulnerable people including women, Children, people living with HIV and AIDS, People with Disability and the aged people in the community. As a nature of the day, customary laws and tradition continue to put women in a very disadvantageous position socially and economically. The existing legal system, does not reach the majority of women living in rural areas. On the other hand, Children as expected good generation of today and future Tanzania, their rights as guaranteed by both international instruments and national laws are subject to violation. The current pandemic increase of HIV spread in most of communities, Chato inclusively leave children as head of families and street children with poor living condition. This has also impacted negatively to children as far as the right of education is concerned. Of today Chato District is facing the problem of albino Killings which has taken space in the whole of Tanzania. This is because as stated earlier, the people continue to believe in poor traditional and customs. After learning such situation VOLAS is intervening in following ways; it conducts Professional legal support to women and children whose rights are likely to lose. We conduct legal clinic all working days where we provide legal counseling, advice, draft petitions and necessary court documents and undertake community legal and environmental intervention with the aim of minimizing dangers brought to environment by human conducts. This assistance and legal interventions empowers the beneficiaries to defend themselves through legal empowerment. Of all VOLAS conducts outreach programs where reaches poor people who cannot reach and access legal services because of being far from those services.
1.1.1 Vision Statement
The vision statement of the Organization is to have a “Free society enjoying social-economic rights without discrimination”
1.1.2 Mission Statement
The Mission Statement of the Organization is to “Promote, Protect and advocate for the full realization of social-economic rights and wellbeing of the Vulnerable People”.
1.2 Organization Developmental goal and objectives
To contribute to the enhancement of vulnerable people, women and Children, to effectively enjoy their economic and social rights as guaranteed by international and national laws
1.3 Objectives
Objective 1
To improve economic and social rights of women and Children in the community
Objective 2
To create capacity of the community to protect women, children and Disabled persons against GBV, and human rights abuse
Objective 3
To increase education and awareness among citizens particularly women, Children and youths to be able to adopt better approach for fighting against HIV and AIDS
Objective 4
Strengthen the capacities of various institutions such as legal institutions (police and ward tribunal members) as well as social institutions (health personnel, local government officials), as well as religious leaders and CBOs/NGOs to respond to problems facing women and Children
Objective 5
To strengthen the organization capacity of VOLAS to sustainably respond to community challenges and meets the demands of vulnerable women and children
Objective 6
To increase community awareness on protection of environment and associated resources for future sustainability
1.4 Activities
To provide legal education to women and children on their fundamental rights
a) To educate women on relevant laws governing their economic and social rights
b) To undertake awareness to women, children on income generating activities
c) To train stakeholders, local authorities and decision makers on relevant laws providing and protecting rights of women and children
d) To undertake environmental interventions for protection of natural resources for sustainability of generation
e) To provide psychosocial support to vulnerable children
f) To do lobbying and advocacy to community, Government authorities to promote Early Childhood Learning Environment
g) To undertake community awareness on the rights of women and children
h) To lobby and advocate for the community to use the available legal avenues and encourage the community to use alternative dispute resolution. i) To undertake sensitization and coordination meetings to different stakeholders and available networks on GBV activities in the community
j) To influence enactment and use of by-laws to protect women in the homes
k) To undertake community mobilization, sensitization and awareness on promotion and protection of rights of Disabled persons
l) To do awareness activities on the community to understand the impact of HIV and AIDS and the way to establish mechanism to minimize its impacts
m) To promote community health education
n) Training of law enforcers (e.g. police officers and ward tribunal members) and other institutions (e.g. local government leaders, health care providers, community groups, etc) on laws, women’s rights, human rights, and the impact of domestic violence and relevant international and national policies for the effective application and enforcement of laws established to protect women
o) To increase number of staff from 1 to 4
p) To periodically constitute strategic plan, organization policies and HR manuals and review them timely
q) To establish professional M&E system for organizational development
r) To procure office equipments and office transport
s) To conduct staff development
t) To train paralegals within the District
u) To undertake retreat and study tour for staffs and organization members
1.5 Working Area
The organization is operating within Chato district, mandated to work with all wards in the district with a dream to expand its area of operation to the region. The organization works in conjunction with other partner including the government, NGOs to create supportive environment so as to empower the community especially women and children, and disabled people for their betterments.
1.6 Office Location
Head Office is located at Muganza Street in Muganza Ward, which is 30 km from Chato town on the way to Muleba-Bukoba. OFFICE CONTACT
HEAD OFFICE
P.O .BOX 210 MUGANZA CHATO TANZANIA
Phone +255 754509029, +255682075069
Email: [email protected], [email protected]/ [email protected]
1.6. CONTACT PERSON
TRYPHONE BASHAYA-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
BOX 210 CHATO, GEITA TANZANIA
EMAIL: [email protected] , [email protected]
Phone: +255 754 059 029, +255682075069
2.0 BACKGROUND OF OUR WORK
Chato District is one of the five districts in Geita Region of northwestern Tanzania. Its administrative centre is the town of Chato. The main ethnic group in the district is the Sukuma. Chato District was formed around 2005 within Kagera Region after being separated from Biharamulo District. In 2012, it was transferred to the newly created Geita Region. In March 2006, Rwandan refugees who had settled in the district were evicted. The following year, a few who had been evicted improperly were allowed to come back.
2.1 Wards
The Chato District is divided into 22 wards as provided by name hereunder;-
• Bukome
• Buseresere
• Butengorumasa
• Buziku
• Bwanga
• Bwera
• Bwina
• Bwongera
• Chato
• Ichwankima
• Ilemela • Ilyamchele
• Iparamasa
• Kachwamba
• Kasenga
• Katende
• Kigongo
• Makurugusi
• Muganza
• Muungano
• Nyamirembe
• Nyarutembo
2.2. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The District is located between 20 15’ – 30 15’ South of Equator and 31o – 32o East of “Standard Meridian”. It is within the altitude ranging between 1135 – 1410 m. above sea level and borders Muleba District to the North, Bukombe to the South, Biharamulo to the West and Geita to the East. The District cover an area of 3,572 Km2 of which 3,472Km2 is dry and 100 Km2 is covered by Lake Vitoria.
2.3 Climate Condition
The District has a moderate Temperature of between 26.6oC to 30.5oC.The District gets an average of 850 of rainfall per annum, which normally falls from 700mm to 1000mm . In terms of wind speeds the area along the shore of lake Victoria higher wind speed than other area in the district due the forest clearing. Chato has about 12hrs of clear sunshine because sunshine and sunset is between 06:45-19:00 hours respectively. YEAR MEAN ANNUAL RAINFALL TOTAL ANNUAL RAINFALL
2009/2010 85.95mm 1031.40mm
2010/2011 36.22mm 434.60mm
2011/2012 82.95mm 995.44mm
The District is around the shore of lake Victoria hence the main economic activities apart from Agriculture and Business is fishing. Therefore the nature of human rights violations differ from one area to another depending on type of culture and economic activities within a given area. Thus, fundamental rights, including the right to own land, right to education, education, health services, legal representation, legal aid clinic and other essential human right entitlements, are paramount to people within the District. Most of people are suffering from HIV and AIDS a thing which requires much attention to those people. There are many human rights issues related to HIV and AIDS, including legal protection, gender-based violence, Discrimination, marital rape, the right to life, the right to health, the right to work, rights of minority and vulnerable groups. Because of these issues most of families are either single parent family or children headed family.
