Our vision

An equal world, where everyone has choice and control over their bodies and can use their voices freely and without fear.

Our mission

To improve the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls* who have been marginalised, using participatory learning and drama.

Our values

Our values are the expression of our principles and our culture, and they are the guiding ethos of everything we do.

• Social Justice – creating a more equal society
• Service – serving the most marginalised people first
• Participation – equal participation in everything we do
• Honesty and Openness – telling the truth and being open about our strengths and weaknesses
• Integrity – being true to all of our values
• Responsibility – taking responsibility for our own behaviour
• Commitment – committing to living our values

Why we exist

In the East and Southern Africa region,

• AIDS remains the leading cause of death of adolescents in 12 countries;
• Almost six times as many adolescent girls are newly infected with HIV than adolescent boys;
• Over one in four girls give birth before age 18;
• One in three girls get married by age 18; and
• Almost one in six young women experience gender-based violence. – UNFPA / UNICEF, 2023

Every year, 12 million girls are married before the age of 18 – Girls Not Brides, 2018

7.3 million girls become pregnant before the age of 18 each year – Plan International, 2018

120 million girls have experienced forced intercourse or other forced sexual acts in their lives. By far the most common perpetrators of sexual violence against girls are current or former husbands, partners or boyfriends – UNICEF, 2014

34 million adolescent girls are not in school – UNESCO, 2013

31 million primary school-aged girls are not in school – UNESCO, 2013

About 66% of the world’s 774 million illiterate people are women – UNESCO, 2013

Women and girls across the world still face multiple barriers to good sexual and reproductive health and gender equality. Theatre for a Change works with groups of women and girls who are at high risk of having poor sexual and reproductive health, and who have limited opportunities to assert their gender-based and sexual rights.

Our unique approach combines drama and participatory learning. We address issues they face such as access to education, child marriage, early pregnancy, gender-based violence, HIV and sexually transmitted infections, and communication around sexual health. We aim to catalyse sustainable change and change our participants’ lives for the better.

*TfaC includes in its definition any person who identifies as a woman or a girl.