In 2008, the CHAMPION Project set out to find role models – champions – across Tanzania who could positively demonstrate that men’s involvement in achieving better health was not only possible but desirable. The project hosted focus groups, conducted district assessments, and engaged community leaders, asking the common question: “Which man in your community stands out because of his efforts to promote the health of his family or community?”

In each place, the names of a few men were mentioned over and over again. At specially arranged community meetings, the men identified made a presentation about their lives, their motivations and their efforts to promote better health. And after hearing their testimonies, each community chose one of the men as their local champion.

Then, CHAMPION Photo/Story Project introduced these twelve local champions to a national audience. Their stories and pictures, presented in a beautiful photo essay, can be downloaded here (PDF, 744kb).