MARIETHA HOLELLA

Marietha is an undergraduate and a young professional in the health sector in Tanzania. She received her formal training from Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), where she had received her first degree in Environmental Health Science. She is currently a local government employee, serving the community and fighting for accessible health services especially primary and preventive health. As a young professional she believes she can learn and share her little experience in the program to widen her knowledge and experience and furthermore to share new ways of tackling the challenges in the community.

“Work hard despite the challenges”

Q: TELL US A FEW THINGS ABOUT YOUR COUNTRY, AND ALSO YOUR LIFE'S STORY!

I come from the United Republic of Tanzania, a country in East Africa. My country is beautiful and blessed with peace, tourist attractions like Mount Kilimanjaro the highest mountain in Africa and a diversity of culture from different tribes. I come from a region called Mwanza and I am a first born in a family of five. I come from an average family hence I had to study hard to make sure that I get into higher education which was the only way to secure a better job. And since I had siblings to support, I literally could not fail so I had to make sure I do everything perfectly and get the scores needed for me to pass. Luckily I successfully managed to go from public schools to a top public university in the country where I got a bachelor of science in Environmental health and after a year of internship I succeeded to secure a position at a local government as an Environmental Health Officer. This was a very important opportunity for a girl like me who hardly had a chance to dream. Thanks to my country for letting me get educated.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR VIEW OF THE WORLD AS IT IS TODAY? AND HOW DO YOU DEFINE THE CONCEPT OF A BETTER WORLD?

I think that the world is facing some serious challenges right now and we all have to act together to make sure that we make it better. This is seen in different aspects like climate change where agriculture is suffering due to the long dry seasons and very little rains, the rapid technological advancement like artificial intelligence which threatens employment industry and population growth just to mention a few. Hence it's important to take joint initiative and educate the population on the need to preserve the environment and to prepare the youth to fight the employment gap by providing them with the right technical knowledge. And everyone shall take the small steps in saving the world. In my opinion, a better world is the one that meets its human Development goals without depleting natural Resources for the future generations, and I am glad the world recognizes the importance of sustainability through the Sustainable Development Goals where I believe we all have got a role to play in achieving them.

Q: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE KEY CHALLENGES IN YOUR SOCIETY?

In my society key challenges include accessibility to health services since the majority of the people do not have health insurance due to their low income and low knowledge on its importance hence fail to get reliable services. Safe water is another challenge since only a quarter of the population have access to piped water and the rest uses well water which is not treated hence become vulnerable to communicable diseases. Education, especially quality education, is hard since the number of schools present do not meet the need of the community. Another problem which is overlooked is employment opportunities for youth where almost 75% of the graduates are at home unemployed.

Q: AS A YOUNG INDIVIDUAL WHAT ARE A FEW OF THE HURDLES THAT YOU HAD TO OVERCOME UP UNTIL TODAY?

The major obstacle I had to face was school fees, for a number of years we struggled paying the school fees until when I graduated from high school where I got a loan for my higher education. After graduating from the University again I had to face the challenge of finding a job which is one of the big problems right now. After going through a number of interviews I managed to secure a job and got employed at a Local Government Authority as an Environmental Health Officer protecting the health and safety of the public. But still, the struggle continues since I am a young professional and have to face a lot of challenges like rejection, and a lot of struggle which I am still overcoming.

Q: WHY IS THE ROLE OF A MENTOR IMPORTANT FOR YOU?

Mentors are important because they provide assistance on different challenges that one is facing. And also they are like a mirror to look at wherever we feel lost and need some inspiration to keep going.

Q: DO YOU HAVE A LESSON THAT LIFE HAS TAUGHT YOU AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

Yes, I think I have and that is hard work. Coming from a disadvantaged family only through hard work and studying hard I managed to come this far.

Q: NAME A PROJECT, A FOUNDATION OR A PERSON IN YOUR COUNTRY THAT YOU THINK IS DOING GREAT WORK IN HELPING IMPROVE OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES!

I think there is a lot but this is the one for me: MSICHANA INITIATIVE PROJECT BY REBECA GYUMI

Q: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WOMEN IN YOUR COUNTRY FACE AND WHAT EFFORTS ARE MADE TOWARDS GENDER EQUALITY?

I think challenges faced by most women include, early marriage, female genital mutilation and early pregnancy. Towards gender equality the country in collaboration with stakeholders (NGOs) is making sure that they eliminate FGM and early marriage by taking legal actions to people who practice it. This is to ensure that girls finish school and live their dreams.

Q: ATHENA40 IS THE FIRST EVER GLOBAL SELECTION OF THE TOP 40 WOMEN FORWARD THINKERS, COMMENTATORS, ACTIVISTS, AUTHORS, ACADEMICS, ENTREPRENEURS, EXECUTIVES, INNOVATORS. CAN YOU THINK OF A TRULY INNOVATIVE AND FORWARD-THINKING WOMAN FROM YOUR COUNTRY THAT YOU WISH TO NOMINATE FOR THE ATHENA40 GLOBAL LIST?

Yes, I would like to nominate REBECA GYUMI.

Q: SHARE WITH US A PHRASE, A POEM OR A STORY THAT YOU LOVE OR YOU FIND INTERESTING!

Well, I would like to share this story from a book called "In my dreams I dance”, which is a true story about a Kenyan woman called Anne Wafura that suffered paralysis of the lower limbs because she did not get vaccinated. I find this story very thrilling as the woman managed to overcome a lot of challenges despite having the disability hence I learned that a disability is not an inability.

Q: TELL US ONE THING THAT YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM YOUR MENTOR.

Actually, I wish I could tell more, but the one thing I have learned so far is to be smart and organised and to work hard despite the challenges.