Tanzanian Social Worker Highlights Challenges Facing Girls in Seitenstetten School Visit

During a recent educational initiative, students at a secondary school in Seitenstetten, Lower Austria, received an insightful visit from Grace Scorey, a social worker affiliated with the Pastoral Women's Council in Tanzania. The visit was organized as part of the Dreikönigsaktion, a project led by the Catholic children's movement, aiming to foster cross-cultural understanding and raise awareness of global social issues among young people in Austria.

Grace Scorey, who works extensively in the Arusha region of northern Tanzania, spoke with students and faculty about the everyday realities faced by women and girls within traditional pastoralist societies. These communities, which are prevalent in parts of East Africa, often maintain longstanding cultural structures in which men predominantly control land, access to education, and sources of income. As a result, women and girls in these societies frequently encounter significant barriers that impact their prospects and well-being.

During several presentations and interactive sessions, Scorey detailed the specific challenges that girls in Arusha commonly experience. Among the most pressing issues are limited access to clean drinking water and educational opportunities, as well as social practices such as early marriage. In many cases, girls are expected to contribute significantly to household responsibilities from a young age, which can further restrict their ability to attend school regularly or pursue further education. This, in turn, perpetuates cycles of limited economic mobility and dependency for women within these communities.

The discussions at the Seitenstetten school also explored the broader context of development work and the importance of empowering girls and women through education and advocacy. Scorey emphasized how initiatives aimed at improving water infrastructure, expanding access to schooling, and supporting local women's organizations can have a transformative effect on communities. By addressing these foundational issues, development programs strive not only to improve living conditions but also to foster greater gender equality and social inclusion.

Students and teachers at the Seitenstetten gymnasium engaged actively with the information presented, asking questions and reflecting on the differences and similarities between their own experiences and those described from Tanzania. The visit also highlighted the significance of international partnerships and solidarity in addressing global challenges. Through the Dreikönigsaktion project, Austrian youths are encouraged to develop a broader perspective on social justice and to consider the impact of their actions on global communities.

The event in Seitenstetten formed part of a broader tour organized by the Dreikönigsaktion team, during which Grace Scorey visited multiple communities across Lower Austria. The initiative underscores the organization's ongoing commitment to raising awareness about structural inequalities and supporting grassroots efforts to improve the lives of vulnerable populations worldwide. By sharing personal experiences and concrete examples, the project contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities faced by women and girls in regions such as Arusha, as well as the potential pathways toward positive change.