Civil society, youth, and social change: A case study of Femina Hip

This research seeks to analyse how civil society participation fosters young people's agency as citizens. It examines the efforts of a major player in youth empowerment work in Tanzania, the civil society organisation Femina Hip; inquiring into historical as well as contemporary forms of the organisation’s non-state welfare provision and ways to encourage social change. The study investigates how young people address their everyday challenges through self-organised group activities. It also explores the manner in which development initiatives and communities collaborate with youth by encouraging and trusting their abilities and knowledge in influencing social change.

The study theoretically draws inspiration from Paulo Freire's pedagogy of the oppressed perspective, aiming to comprehend civil society's role in social change through inclusive and collaborative communication strategies, resulting in new social relations and a transformed power distribution. This is related to Global South philosophical thoughts that emphasise the ontology of living and being predicated on collective actions, recognition, and reciprocity. The research also draws from the theoretical conceptions of Communication for Social Change (CFSC) and People-Centred Social Innovation (PCSI), both focusing on bottom-up social practices to achieve empowerment and strengthen democracy.

Methodologically, the thesis adopts an interpretative case study design to examine Femina Hip learning initiatives and mobilisation work in Tanzania over the past 20 years and their impact on the development of Tanzanian youth as citizens. The research draws upon various positions and perspectives from different groups, including youth participating in Fema Clubs, Fema volunteers who were previously Fema members, Fema Club mentors, who are also school teachers, and Femina Hip staff. The study utilised field observation, interviews on location and online, and focus groups concentrating on urban and semi-urban areas of Femina work in Dar es Salaam.

The research shows that youth encounter several challenges as they grow, depending on their environment. Factors such as socio-economic background, poverty, tradition, and cultural norms affect how youth live and navigate their daily lives. Youths’ motivations, aspirations, and needs change quickly over time. Youth need general peer and community support as well as collaborative formats to adjust and communicate their problems, questions, and desires. The nurturing of youth into active and aspirational citizens with confidence and resources depends on strong social support, both interpersonally among youth and the organisations and communities they are part of. The CSOs, such as Femina Hip, can facilitate these processes but also need institutional and systemic support to be able to conduct long-term work with youth, where one (older) generation can support the next and where the youth themselves can adjust and develop media content.