Empowerment and Autonomy of Women: Ushirika Wa Neema Deaconess Centre in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania Northern Diocese

The emancipation and empowerment of women has been a worldwide phenomenon of concern to many countries and organizations within the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Although Tanzania as a country and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) Northern Diocese as an institution have embraced the idea of gender equality most women in Tanzania have yet to experience this in full. This book is therefore based upon an understanding of the church as participating in Gods mission which is rooted in a context of equality and as such stands in a better position to empower women to overcome some of the patriarchal practices that have put them on the margin of attaining full humanity. Therefore the book examines how Ushirika wa Neema Deaconess Centre contributes to the empowerment of women in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) Northern Diocese and fosters gender awareness in the church and the entire community. Ushirika wa Neema Deaconess Centre provides women with opportunities such as the means for independent income for education for professional training and for learning life skills. These opportunities change womens self-esteem as well as raise their self-confidence and respect in the church and community. This remarkable book addresses the oppressive patriarchal cultures in Chaggaland. It offers a valuable retrospective of what has been achieved by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania-Northern Diocese in their efforts to facilitate gender equalities. It has the power to transform attitudes. Therefore it is a book of hope and a milestone in the history of womens emancipation in Northern Diocese. Moreover it is a thrilling academic piece that is relevant in the contemporary feminist critical analysis. --Hoyce Jacob Lyimo-Mbowe Postdoctoral Researcher - Old Testament VID Specialized University Norway The cry for equality in the midst of existing inequalities is worldwide. Lyimos book contributes to the search for equality in the midst of inequalities in terms of gender within the patriarchal Chagga society. By the use of Third-Wave and empowerment theories Lyimo has proved that Ushirika wa Neema Deaconess empowers women to recognize their socially unrecognized roles and potentials. This book is worthy reading by anyone interested in gender related studies. --Elia Shabani Mligo Senior Lecturer in Research Philosophy and Religious Studies Tumaini University Makumira Mbeya Teaching Centre in Tanzania Godrick Efraim Lyimo has a Bachelor of Divinity from Makumira University College (MUCo) and a Bachelor of Education-Arts from Stefano Moshi Memorial University College (SMMUCo) in Tanzania. He is also a holder of a Masters degree in Intercontexual Theology from Oslo University (UIO) and Master in Multicultural and International Education from Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences (HiOA) in Norway. He is the author of the book titled: Indigenous and Modern Counseling: For Secondary School in Tanzania (2014).