The Centre for Research on Child Protection and Violence Prevention (CPVP) is a newly established research centre at the Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE), authorised by the Governing Board in July 2024. The Centre operates under the Faculty of Education (FoEd-DUCE) and is hosted in the Department of Educational Psychology and Curriculum Studies (EPCS). It primarily focuses on research on Positive Parenting, Violence Prevention, Child Protection, and other interconnected areas. The centre aims to unite diverse researchers, academics, practitioners, professionals, activists, and human rights defenders from all fields of human endeavour to challenge, mitigate, prevent, and help end violence in all its forms, locally, nationally, and internationally. To achieve this, the centre seeks to develop practical solutions to violence starting at the local level, adapt existing effective solutions, and adopt, embrace, and implement global strategies. Thus, the centre will empower today’s and tomorrow’s children, adults, and leaders to foster a culture of non-violence, reject violent norms, promote love, and uphold everyone’s dignity and right to live on a safer planet.
The Centre’s key activities involve researching and sharing findings to inform policy and practice regarding violence prevention, positive parenting, and child protection in various contexts, including family, community, school, workplace, and digital environments. It offers training, education, mentorship, and supervision on positive parenting, violence prevention, digital parenting, alternative disciplinary approaches, gender-based violence, and online safety. Furthermore, the Centre cultivates partnerships with local and international organisations in positive parenting, violence studies and prevention, child well-being and protection, as well as stress and trauma. It promotes publications and organises workshops, seminars, and conferences focused on parenting, violence studies and prevention, child well-being and protection, and stress and trauma. Additionally, the Centre provides consultancy services in parenting, violence studies and prevention, child well-being and safety, bullying, cyberbullying, online child exploitation, coping strategies, stress and trauma, and education. Lastly, it investigates gender-based violence and related prevention strategies to foster a violence-free society. The Centre’s Coordinator oversees all activities.
Recent Activities
Consultancy Work Conducted
From December 1 to 13, 2024, the Centre conducted a Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop aimed at preparing teachers from selected schools in the Arusha City Council to become trainers in Interaction Competencies with Children for Teachers (ICC-T). This training occurred at the Home of Malaika Organization’s campus in Arusha.
Ongoing Projects
“Exploring the Impact of an Intervention Interaction Competencies with Children- for Teachers (ICC-T) on the Exposure to Violence and Well-Being of Children with Disabilities in Tanzanian Schools”. DUCE implements the project under the CPVP and is being funded by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). The project is worth £61,754.13 (sixty-one
thousand seven hundred fifty-four and thirteen cents Great Britain pounds). This project aims to uncover the prevalence of violence against children with disabilities in schools and test the effectiveness of an intervention ICC-T to reduce such practices against children with disabilities.
Training Conducted
On March 14, 2025, the centre commenced five days of training on alternative discipline strategies for all Chang’ombe Demonstration Secondary School teachers. The college financed the training, which was supported by Prof. Dr. Tobias Hecker from Bielefeld University in Germany (Attach some Photos from the training)
Future Projects
In collaboration with HakiElimu, a national NGO with a long-standing commitment to education policy advocacy, law implementation, and social norms change programs, coupled with our extensive network of over 40,000 people within and beyond the country, the Centre will lead a baseline assessment on a project titled “National Assessment of School-Based Violence Prevention and Response Strategies in Tanzania”.
Visitors
On March 21, 2025, the centre hosted Professor Dr. Tobias Hecker from Bielefeld University in Germany, who paid a courtesy visit to the college. (Attach photos from this courtesy visit.)
Collaborating Partners
Children’s Dignity Forum – Tanzania
C-Sema - Tanzania
HakiElimu - Tanzania
Institute for Interdisciplinary Conflict and Violence Research – Germany: Link
Other Partners (Open for Interested Organizations)
For Contacts, Please write to:
Faustine Bwire Masath (PhD)
Coordinator, Centre for Research on Child Protection and Violence Prevention (CPVP)
P.O Box 2329,
Faculty of Education,
DUCE
Email: faustine.masath@udsm.ac.tz or faustine.masath@duce.ac.tz,
Researchers’ Profile: Please connect with the university staff profiles of all the listed centre members.
- Prof. Steven Oswald Maluka
- Prof. Florence Mushumbusi Kyaruzi
- Dr. Mabula George Nkuba
- Dr. Hezron Zacharia Onditi
- Dr. Faustine Bwire Masath
- Dr. Budeba Petro Mlyakado
- Dr. Ikupa Moses Mwandambo
- Dr. Edna Sostenes Kyaruzi
- Dr. Maregesi Manyonyi Machumu
- Dr. Gissa Andrew Mahende
- Dr. William Pstroy Majani
- Dr. Subilaga Mwakyusa Kejo
- Dr. Cresencia Apolinary Massawe
- Ms. Mary Nchimbi
- Mr. Eliud Arony Kabelege
Mr. Robert Mushema