Tanzania

On the frontline against sexual violence in Zanzibar are four incredible women, dedicated to protecting women and girls who are vulnerable to abuse. Meet the police sergeant, the women's rights activist, the lawyer and the ActionAid shelter coordinator who are supporting survivors of sexual violence and helping to bring their attackers to justice. 

You might know actor Fay Ripley as the determined and courageous Jenny in the much-loved TV drama "Cold Feet". She's also the author of several cookbooks and a proud mother to two very generous children. Here she shares with us the reasons for why her family sponsors not just one but two children through ActionAid, and describes her visit to Tanzania to witness our work first-hand, in this exclusive interview.

Zeinab, 10, lives on the island of Zanzibar, in Tanzania. Girls like Zeinab are at serious risk of abuse. Rape, female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage and domestic violence are common: more than one in 20 women in Zanzibar reported experiencing at least one incident of sexual violence before the age of 18, according to a UNICEF report. Here Zeinab and her mum Maryam tell us about how child sponsorship has made a difference in their lives.

Here we are again, in that typically quiet patch between Christmas and New Year. We’ve most likely spent the past few days eating delicious food and being spoilt rotten by our families. But as we approach 2017, it’s time to stop and reflect.