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Stephen Noel: A Catalyst for Change in the Heart of Mpwapwa’s Education
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Stephen Lwitiko Noel is a Friend of Education in Mpwapwa district, Dodoma region, who joined the Friends of Education Movement 17 years ago during civil society exhibitions at the Parliament Grounds in 2007.
This activist says that since joining the Friends of Education Movement in Mpwapwa, in collaboration with fellow friends, they have been able to bring various changes in the Mpwapwa community and in the four project schools they work with, which are Idilo Primary School, Magungu, Pwaga Secondary School, and Vingh’awe.
He says that one of the achievements he is proud of in the Friends of Education movement is being able to mobilize the community to take action against any challenges hindering learning and teaching, such as poor infrastructure, gender-based violence, and community accountability in education matters.
Additionally, he mentions that at Idilo Primary School, they successfully influenced the community to take action in building a pre-primary classroom.
‘’Previously, children were studying under a tree, but after mobilization, they were able to construct a proper model classroom with the help of HakiElimu.’’
He explains that alongside the pre-primary classroom project, the community now recognizes the importance of a conducive learning and teaching environment. Moreover, the people of Idilo and Pwaga are now reporting incidents of violence against children both at home and in schools.
He also mentions that in Magungu village, Magungu ward, they managed to mobilize the community to construct eleven pits latrine, which were built in collaboration with HakiElimu.
However, when asked how his activism has personally benefited him, he said he has no regrets about joining the movement because it has helped him connect with many people and expanded his network of friends. "Honestly, I do not regret joining this movement; it has helped me meet people whom I would have never met otherwise," he explained.
He also said that the movement has helped build his capacity in various advocacy issues for the community, and he can see progress being made.
Stephen Noel is currently a CIV (Community Information Volunteer) providing voluntary information on education and violence in his district, specifically for Idilo and Vingh’awe schools.