SOPHIA LEGHELA

She is a skilled child Rights activist with more than five years’ experience in strengthening chid rights and child Protection system in Zanzibar. having working with Zanzibar Child Rights Forum (ZCRF), Zanzibar Social Workers Association (ZASWA) and Save the Children International for several years in child rights governance and child protection. Currently I am Coordinator at Zanzibar Child Rights Forum coordinating all network related activities. I have developed strong expertise in advocating for policy change in children rights, budget allocation for child participation, capacity building to duty bearers on child rights and child protection, capacity building to children, raising awareness to the community on child violence and Gender based violence. I am a part of technical team for development of CSOs Alternative report to UNCRC.

She won and Award as a Champion on ending child abuse and child marriage in Zanzibar 2022. I have practical experience of engaging with religious leaders to raise awareness to the public on FATWA developed by Islamic Ulamaa on ending child marriage in Islamic perspective in Zanzibar to ensure there is no misinterpretation of Islamic Sharia regarding child marriage.

She has a Bachelor Degree of Rural Development pursued from Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) in 2013 and a lot of skills gained in short courses and training relates to Mention few: Physical and Digital Security on Human Rights Defenders from Tanzania Human Rights Defenders (THRDC), Men care Engagement in child protection from Sonke Gender Justice, Child rights Programming and Child cantered Social Accountability from Save the Children International. I am also an Alumnae of Young Leaders Forum (YLF) 2022 by Fredrich Ebert Stiftung which aims on raising awareness and skill to youth on democracy and Youth Involvement in decision making process.