Owl

(Our Approach)

What have owls got to do with unleashing potential?

Which of these is a common superstition in Tanzania?

If you jump over a child they will not grow

ANSWER

While Brits at least may be wary of walking under a ladder, some Tanzanians say that if you jump over a child they won’t grow. All of these probably have some basis in safety. One theory suggests that in the past people believed it would be blasphemous to break the triangle created by the ladder against the wall, because it represents the Holy Trinity.

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And which of these?

If an owl lands on your roof, someone in the house will die

Thirteen is an unlucky number, and Friday 13th is particularly unlucky

ANSWER

Owls are widely feared in Tanzania, associated with witchcraft and death. Plenty of people in Europe and America (17 million, in fact, according to a US research institute) still avoid the number 13 if they can possibly help it.

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What about these?

It’s bad luck to spill salt, but it’s OK if you throw the spilt salt over your shoulder

If you eat out of the pan you won’t get married

ANSWER

If you spill salt in Tanzania, you’ll be fine, but beware eating out of the pan!

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Last one! Which one do Tanzanians believe?

It’s bad luck to open an umbrella indoors

If you wear red, you’re at more risk of being struck by lightning

In Tanzania, some people believe that wearing red puts you more at risk of being struck by lightning.

People do use umbrellas in Tanzania, but have no problem opening them inside, unlike Europeans, Americans, and allegedly the ancient Egyptians too. Did you know there’s even a National Open An Umbrella Indoors Day on March 13 to encourage people to test out whether opening indoors will really bring you bad luck!

We all have irrational beliefs passed down the generations. For the young people we work with, these can be severely limiting. They are afraid of trying something new in case they fail. They’re also afraid to succeed in case someone resents their progress and puts a curse on them.

GROW LEADERSHIP TRAINING starts with a picture of an owl. By tackling one of their deepest held fears and realising that owls are beautiful and normal birds, young people start to identify and address the other misconceptions and stories they hear in their communities. It’s the first step in helping them to get a fresh perspective on life, to think critically about what is true, and to gain courage to challenge norms around them in a positive way.

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