Rebeca Gyumi
My heart is pounding as i take an
elevator at Regency Business Park thirty minutes before my interview with her.
This is not the first time i am visiting this place but today i am here for a
different purpose, to interview Tanzania’s golden Girl, Rebeca Gyumi.
Rebeca has won the hearts of many
youth and adults through her work as a volunteer, television personality and a
youth activist. Rebeca is one of those Television personality that i have been
truly admiring and i was so astonished of how humble and friendly she was as i
was asking her my questions on different issues.
She is currently working for femina
hip, a reputable organization that envision a gender equal society
in which youth are confident and competent change-makers. She is also involved
with other different youth initiatives as an advocate and mentor.
When i asked Rebeca why did she
become a girls rights activist, she replied calmly;
‘’I have grown up in a society
where when girls are empowered can contribute greatly to the development of
their society and i am a living example’’.
She added that she is grateful
that her mother believed on education which is also her area of interest.
Rebeca looked straight at my eyes and said firmly, ‘’education is a tool for
emancipation of girls’’.
Rebeca wants to see a society
where girls are not defined as people who stays in the kitchen and wait for
marriage. She is dreaming for bigger things especially after the end of girl
power (Nguvu ya Binti) Television Show which i do not remember missing an
episode.
Her call to the government is,
the government of Tanzania should make deliberately efforts of involving youth
on decision making. She also urges the government to make sure youth have a
neutral National Youth Council as the Country is in the process of creating
one. Rebeca urges International Organization to continue supporting youth
initiatives.
As i was finishing i asked her if
she had anything to add, she replied yes and i allowed her to go ahead. Rebeca
said, ‘’We as young people should demand for a space since we are the majority.
Our voice will only be heard if we demand for that’’. Her last statement
continued to repeat on my head as i was heading back to my office.
