The project, the 10 kilometer walk from Coco to Ocean, was inspired by a strong personal and community-driven motivation to raise awareness about non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly heart diseases. In Tanzania, there is a significant gap in knowledge regarding NCD prevention, risk factors, and early detection. This walk served as a symbolic and practical initiative to draw public attention to these silent killers and emphasize the importance of adopting healthy lifestyles. It was a response to the growing burden of NCDs in Tanzania and the urgent need to educate and engage the public in taking proactive steps toward prevention.
Initially, implementing such a project could have posed numerous challenges including mobilizing stakeholders, securing media attention, and effectively communicating the message. However, after participating in the World Heart Federation’s Leadership, Advocacy, and Communication (LAC) training, many of these potential challenges were successfully mitigated. The training equipped me with the necessary knowledge, tools, and confidence to lead the initiative. As a result, I was able to navigate the project smoothly with more than 500 partcipating, without facing significant obstacles.
The LAC programme was instrumental in shaping the success and impact of this project. It enhanced my understanding of effective advocacy, stakeholder mapping, and strategic communication. I gained practical skills in identifying and engaging key stakeholders including health professionals, civil society, government representatives, student and teachers and the media. I also learned how to design community engagement strategies that are inclusive and impactful. These skills enabled me to develop a more structured and results driven approach to the project, ensuring it was not only visible but also meaningful to the target audiences.