The Tanzania Women Miners Association (TAWOMA) is a Non-Governmental Organization, and non profit making. It was registered in November 1997, with registration certificate No. 9280, and its Headquarters are located in Dar es Salaam. The Association has 350 active members at this point in time.
The main objective of the Association is to address problems of disorganized mining, including mining related activities, economic hardships, poverty alleviation, and prevention of diseases affecting Tanzania society in general, and Women Miners and children in particular.
Much has been done by the Association, in terms of organizing Women Miners, and educating them on the hazards of indiscriminate mining, and its effect to the environment. But, it has become apparent that Women Miners, need to be empowered, through economic means as well. TAWOMA members, are engaged in small scale mining of gemstones, gold, diamonds, and industrial mineral in Tanga, Morogoro, Dodoma, Singida, Shinyanga, Mbeya, Manyara, Arusha, Ruvuma, Lindi, Musoma, Karagwe, and Mwanza.
Facilitation of Women Miners, in terms of Organisation, accessing the required financial, technical, and marketing services, so as to enable them carry out mining activities, that are both economically, and commercially viable, hence raising the standard of living of the mainstream gender, and HIV/AIDS victims, so as to improve the acceptance and economic status, of all Women Miners in the mining industry, and in particular, small scale miners. Provision of education on environmental conservation in mining areas, and application of appropriate mining methodologies, which are environmentally friendly, in order to promote, and encourage Women Miners, use mining methodologies, that minimize environmental degradation, and consequently, achieve sustainability.
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