Awakening Horn for Inclusive Rural Development (AHIRD) was founded in 2020 by a group of four young Tanzanians who experienced hardship and injustice while growing up and decided to join hands to fight harmful social-cultural practices, beliefs and traditions that violate the rights of women, girls and children.
Based in Magu district in the Mwanza region of Tanzania, AHIRD promotes gender equality and the participation of women and girls in the socio-economic development of the rural communities they serve.
AHIRD implements programs to support education and girls’ empowerment, including through sponsorship of school fees for the neediest children, menstrual hygiene support and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) education, as well as vocational skills and gender equality advocacy trainings.
AHIRD also provides advocacy training and mentorship to men and boys to help them take the lead in challenging toxic masculinity and patriarchal systems in their rural communities. The training also encourages and prepares them to engage in equitable parenting duties at the family and community levels.
“We are thrilled to advance our work on reducing inequalities, empowering women, adolescent girls, children and the youth and sensitize our rural communities on the effects of population growth and climate change.
We believe partnering with Population Connection is one of the biggest steps in making our plans happen and we are thankful for this opportunity.”
– AHIRD Director William Johnson
