Zanzibar Iron Lady is honored by US Ambassador

US Ambassador Alfonso E. Lenhardt, (center); bestowed the 2013 Tanzanian Women of Courage award to Honorable Fatma Abdulhabib Fereji, (4th from left); and Ms. Ndinini Kimesera Sikar (3rd from right) During a ceremony held at the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam on April 4

, U.S. Ambassador Alfonso E. Lenhardt awarded the 2013 Tanzanian Women of Courage award to the Honorable Fatma Abdulhabib Fereji, Minister of State at the First Vice President's Office, Zanzibar Government of National Unity, and Ms. Ndinini Kimesera Sikar, Director of the Maasai Women's Development Organization (MWEDO). The awardees were honored for their efforts to promote equality, opportunity, participation in public life, and access to health care and education for Tanzanian women and girls. They become the sixth and seventh recipients of the Tanzanian Women of Courage Award since the U.S. Embassy began this recognition in 2008. In his remarks,

Ambassador Lenhardt noted: "We honor two remarkable women whose lives have been devoted to a cause greater than themselves. Traditionally, we honor one Tanzanian Woman of Courage each year, but this year we felt Minister of State Fatma Abdulhabib Fereji and Ms. Ndinini Kimesera Sikar had made such tremendous contributions to improving the lives of Tanzanian women and girls, that we decided to recognize both of these outstanding women.

Both overcame great odds to achieve their dreams, and in their success saw an opportunity to serve others. Although they hail from different backgrounds and regions of Tanzania, they obtained an education and persevered against odds with exemplary courage. And they did not stop once they achieved success, they reached back to lift others as they climbed, and in doing so, transformed the lives of all people in their communities."

Minister of State Fatma Fereji's leadership and example has increased women's participation in politics and elective office. She built her political career on the courage to stand for the rights and interests of the underprivileged, including women, children, and the disabled. During the 2005 and 2010 general elections, Ms. Fereji's leadership was instrumental in increasing the percentage of women in the Zanzibar House of Representatives from 30 to 40 percent. Following the formation of Zanzibar's power-sharing Government of National Unity in 2010,

Ms. Fereji was appointed as Minister of State in the Office of the First Vice President, a cabinet-level position in the Government of Zanzibar. Her portfolio includes a focus on HIV/AIDS initiatives, efforts to address drug abuse, environmental protection, and promoting the rights and interests of disabled people. Minister of State Fereji highlighted her achievements were possible due to the support from mentors who guided her path towards success and underscored: "What women need is empowerment.

It is my belief that many share with me the views that women, if given a chance, can make significant contribution to their society and inspire more and more women to be more responsible of their role in their society." MWEDO Director Ndinini Kimesera Sikar pursued an education from a young age against great odds and has served as a champion voice against early marriages and gender based violence. She worked for over eleven years in Tanzania's banking sector and decided to follow her lifetime goal to help underprivileged women attain enhanced access to health care and educational opportunities.

Under her leadership, MWEDO represents and serves the needs and aspirations of over 5,000 women members to become empowered, rise to their full potential, and attain the capacity to greatly contribute to the development of their communities. In accepting the recognition, Ms. Ndinini Kimesera Sikar challenged all citizens to promote women's empowerment in their communities and noted: "Through this award, I am further encouraged to dedicate my efforts to improving the lives of women and girls here in Tanzania.

 Indeed I therefore accept this award (to encourage) many women and young girls in the Maasai society and Tanzania who are still facing mounting challenges towards pursuing their goals in life due to unfavorable cultural, economic, political and social restrictions imposed upon them by the societies, simply because they are girls and women." Over 175 guests attended the ceremony, including senior Government of Tanzania and Zanzibar officials and leaders from the nation's private, political, health, media, and civic sectors, and featured musical performances by the Kijitonyama Youth Choir and Maasai Women's Choir. Since 2008,

U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam has recognized Tanzanian Women of Courage for their efforts to promote women's rights. Previous recipients include High Court Justice Joaquine De-Mello (2012); Maimuna Kanyamala, Executive Director and founder of Kivulini Women's Rights Organization in Mwanza (2011); Ananilea Nkya, Executive Director of the Tanzania Media Women Association (2010); Anna Kilango Malecela, Member of Parliament for Same East Constituency, Kilimanjaro Region (2009); and Helen Kijo-Bisimba, Executive Director of the Legal and Human Rights Center (2008).