Scholastica Kimaryo (born 1949) is a Tanzanian life coach and women's rights advocate, who formerly worked as an international civil servant and journalist for three decades.
She worked as a journalist and earned a post-graduate diploma in journalism from the University of Dar es Salaam, in a programme sponsored by the government-owned Tanganyika Standard.
During her tenure, she worked on projects to improve and develop schools, introduce peace initiatives, protect children's rights, and eliminate poverty.
In the 1990s, she also returned to her studies, earning a Master of Science degree in Social Policy, Planning & Participation in Developing Countries from the London School of Economics.
[5][6][7] After earning her degree, she completed a post-graduate course at the University of Dar es Salaam with a diploma in journalism in a programme sponsored by the government-owned Tanganyika Standard.
The purpose of the visit was to explore networking opportunities and expertise in health, education, and community development aimed at changing the social status of women.
[2][7] Her role required procuring resources for building schools and health facilities to assist children and women agricultural workers.
[2] She attended the London School of Economics, earning a Master of Science degree in Social Policy, Planning & Participation in Developing Countries in 1991.
[2][15] The politician Hlengiwe Mkhize stated that children's development as a focal area was introduced to South Africa by Kimyaro during her tenure.
[16] Key programmes included immunisation, emergency food deliveries, peace education in schools, and provisions to protect children from war crimes and violence.
[17] In Liberia, Kimyaro's work focused on education and barriers, such as cultural traditions and poverty, preventing students from completing schooling.
[7] At the time one of the most critical issues facing Sub-Saharan Africa was the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the UNDP took the lead in formulating initiatives to address the crisis.
[21] Kimyaro led the team that produced a book, Turning a Crisis into an Opportunity: Strategies for Scaling up the National Response to the HIV/AIDS Pandemic in Lesotho, which professor Courtenay Sprague describes as a manual to prevent people who are uninfected from becoming infected and to assure that those who have the virus receive proper care and treatment.
Key focus areas of the strategy included economic development, governance and administration, international relationships, crime prevention and judicial oversight, and peace and security measures.
[2] When she retired in 2009, Kimaryo returned to study, earning certification as a meditation instructor and ayurvedic lifestyle coach from the Chopra Center University.