Sipora Harrison Kisanga
Tulane University
Home country: Tanzania

I am a mother of three (28, 25 and 13 years) and a teacher by profession for more than two decades working in primary and secondary schools in Tanzania. On daily basis I interact with adolescents some of whom are curious about the development changes they are undergoing. Yet the culture and values do not allow open discussion on sexuality and reproductive health (SRH) issues to unfold the misconceptions. The school rules and regulations are such that pregnant students are expelled from the education system. All these made me feel obliged to do something specifically with the policy change. Lower level of education gives one insignificant chance to influence policy. As such, I struggled to climb the education ladder with the hope that my findings will lead to an advocacy tool to change policy such that SRH education is offered in school curricula and pregnant female students will be allowed to continue with the education system after delivery.