“Grassroots organizations are ready to scale — but restricted funding is holding them back.” These words from Gidibo, one of the panelists at the STAWI Lab Ceremony 2025, echoed throughout the PSSSF Hall in Dar es Salaam like a rallying cry for a new funding future, one where youth-led organizations are not only acknowledged but trusted, funded, and empowered to lead.
On June 6th, the STAWI Lab Graduation and Grant Awards Ceremony brought together changemakers, funders, and government leaders to celebrate 20 youth-led organizations who have completed the STAWI Lab capacity-strengthening journey. These organizations are leading projects and building movements across Tanzania, advocating for the rights and wellbeing of young women and girls in underserved communities.
The moment felt bigger than a graduation. It was a declaration: young people are not the leaders of tomorrow, they are already leading today.
A Day of Recognition, Reflection, and Renewal
Gracing the event as Guest of Honor was Hon. Patrobas Katambi, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disabilities), who gave a heartfelt speech celebrating the vision and resilience of youth-led civil society in Tanzania.
“When young people are given the space and trust, they have the power to spark significant transformation,” he said. “Let us all become honest ambassadors for young women-led organizations, and make sure our efforts work together to create sustainable development and justice for all youth and women.”
He applauded the team behind Her Initiative for enabling economic empowerment and tackling gender-based violence since 2016, citing the organization’s international recognition through the Global Citizen Award and the KBF Africa Prize from the King of Belgium. He noted these achievements as powerful proof of how impactful young people can be when trusted and supported.
The Deputy Minister also emphasized the role of youth-led civil society in national development highlighting their contributions to health, education, agriculture, technology, job creation, and environmental protection but acknowledged that many still face structural challenges including:
- Lack of adequate funding
- Inexperience in managing organizations
- Overdependence on external donors
- Limited trust from stakeholders
- Exclusion from national planning and funding opportunities
He commended STAWI Lab for directly addressing these gaps and supporting grassroots leaders through technical training, strategic planning, and seed funding.
“This is more than just a training program, it is a movement. It has helped organizations strengthen their internal systems, learn resource mobilization, and begin building their future.”
The government, he added, is committed to working with youth-led organizations through legal support, national policy awareness, and youth platforms that enhance participation in decision-making.
“Our ministry is ready to create a better environment for collaboration. We are calling on private sector actors and development partners to work closely with youth-led organizations not as beneficiaries, but as equal partners.”
Celebrating the 6 Winning Organizations
Of the 20 graduates, six organizations stood out for their innovation, growth, and vision. These organizations received flexible, unrestricted grants, a rare but critical resource that allows them to invest in the often overlooked essentials: financial systems, leadership, and long-term strategy.
🏆 Minova Mental Health Clinic – TZS 6.3 million 🥈 Omom Tanzania – TZS 3.8 million 🥉 Urafiki Girls & Her Uraia – TZS 2.5 million each 🏅 Theatre Arts Feminists & Community Hands Foundation – TZS 1.2 million each.
For these organizations, this funding is a validation. A testament that their visions matter and their work is worth investing in. One of the recipients shared:
“We will use the funds to design a structured monitoring and evaluation framework that will allow us to improve our mental health programming.”
Another said:
“We are building a strong financial system and setting up governance policies, this will help us attract future funding and operate more transparently.”
These are the kinds of behind-the-scenes investments that do not often make headlines but they are what make impact sustainable.
A Personal Story Behind the Movement
At the heart of it all is a personal story, one shared vulnerably by Lydia Charles Moyo, Executive Director of Her Initiative. She recounted a time not long ago when her own youth-led organization nearly shut down due to lack of core funding, despite being recognized internationally.
“They said we had potential. They called us to panels. But behind the scenes, we could not pay staff. We could not sustain our work,” she said. “So I wrote a letter. An open letter. It was a cry for dignity for funders to put their money where their mouth is.”
That letter would spark what is now STAWI Lab, a bold initiative built not to ask youth to “fit in” but to build a new system that works for them. A system that sees youth-led work as strategy, not charity.
Rethinking the Future of Funding
The STAWI Lab panel session titled "Decolonizing Funding: Investing in Movements, Not Just Projects" brought together youth leaders and allies to discuss the need for systemic change in how funding flows.
The message was clear:
✅ Fund systems, not just programs
✅ Shift from one-off projects to long-term trust-based investments
✅ Bring youth to the decision-making table not just the implementation chain.
As Lydia passionately reminded us:
“We are no longer waiting to be invited to tables. We are building our own.”
What is Next?
With a vision to reach 250 youth-led organizations and impact over 100,000 girls and women in the next five years, STAWI Lab is just getting started. Plans are underway for a national digital hub, new funding models, and a feminist leadership ecosystem where young people, especially young women lead boldly and sustainably.
As we walked out of the ceremony, one thing was clear: this was not just a mere graduation. It was the beginning.
A beginning for the six winners. A beginning for the 20 graduates. A beginning for a future where youth-led leadership is the rule not the exception.
Let us continue to say it loudly: Yes to financial freedom. Yes to youth leadership. Yes to lasting impact.