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Dar es Salaam. The third edition of the Run for Binti Races has been scheduled to take place on May 25 at Oysterbay in Dar es Salaam.
The races will include 21 kilometres half marathon, 10 kilometres, five (5) kilometres as well as 55 kilometres cycling.
The races have been organized by non-governmental organization Smile for Community (S4C) in collaboration with Legal Services Facility (LSF).
LSF’s CEO, Lulu Ng’wanakilala, said that the annual races aim to mobilize resources and joint efforts to empower girls by ensuring they have access to education and reproductive health rights, including safe menstruation and improved learning environments.
Ng’wanakilala said last year’s event benefited girl students from Nanyamba and Chawi secondary schools in Mtwara’s Nanyamba Town Council by building modern toilets for and providing sanitary pads for them to maintain their health and ensure their continuous school attendance.
“In implementing our access to justice programme, it’s evident that girls and young women face both avoidable and unavoidable barriers to education, healthcare, and their basic rights. That is why LSF sees the importance of collaborating with Smile for Community and other stakeholders to reduce these obstacles and forge new paths towards a just and equal society, especially for girls,” said Ng’wanakilala.
She explained that the races have significantly brought stakeholders together to address community challenges and in last year’s event, more than 2,500 secondary school students benefited in Mtwara.
She explained that they have managed to improve sanitation facilities, menstrual health education, and environmental protection efforts, including tree planting.
“This initiative is more than just a race; it is a movement towards creating sustainable change in our society. We invite everyone to join us in this cause, to run not only for the thrill of it, but for the impact, we can collectively make in the lives of thousands of girls,” she said.
For her part, Smile for Community’s Director General Flora Njelekela said they are happy to partner with LSF and support young girls.
“This year’s objective is to enhance girls’ educational and reproductive health environments and funds to be raised will go towards building and improving sanitation facilities in secondary schools, improving access to clean water by constructing wells, promoting safe menstruation through the distribution of reusable sanitary pads, contributing to environmental protection through tree planting, and providing education on self-defence and addressing gender-based violence.”
“We at Smile for Community, the founders of these races, take pride in enabling communities, especially in remote areas, to access reproductive health and safe menstruation as well as to pursue continuous education, a mission we have been executing through our various projects and through the annual Run for Binti Races.
“Thus, I urge all stakeholders to support us by participating in and donating to this initiative, as your participation will protect and fulfil the dreams of the girl child.
The beneficiaries of this year’s Marathon are more than 10,000 students from five secondary schools in both Lindi and Mtwara regions,” said Njelekela.
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