Saturday, June 28, 2014

HOPE STREET CHILDREN PROJECT

Save Family Tanzania Charity is an implementing partner of World Vision Tanzania-Morogoro Cluster’s Hope Street Children Project. The goal of the project is to contribute to the improvement of the wellbeing of street children. So far, Save Family Tanzania Charity has reached nearly 200 children and their respective families in Kilakala, Kichangani, Tungi, Bigwa, Mbuyuni and Uwanja wa Taifa wards.


Part of the project’s endeavor is to improve accessibility to social services for street children in Morogoro Municipality. The second half of it is to ensure that communities and families do create protective environment for vulnerable children. The apex of such an effort is reunion of street children with their families.

This is why the project’s approach towards these children is quite a holistic as child’s life is dealt with at many different angles. For one thing, while children are given scholastic materials to meet short term shortages; their parents are economically empowered to generate sustainable income.

Along with material support, psychological concerns and physical well-being never left unattended.  At this juncture, a wide array of techniques such as recreational activities, sports, street mobile tours, music and drama are strategically used to lure children’s attention. The result is that psychological guidance and entertainment are twinned—and, a combination so winning.

The project also, whenever possible, ensures that children play a pivotal role in all activities aimed at improving their well-being. “Where is child law? Realize and protect our rights.” Statements as these are examples of messages carried around by children in Morogoro Municipal when fight for their rights.

One of the most fascinating yet effective tools in voicing out children concerns have been the Children Parliament—a unique Assembly of children by children for addressing children issues such as their protection, rights, care and laws in systematic, democratic fashion. 
Members of Children Parliament led by their Speaker in yellow-stripped gown
Considering the fact that Street Children is societal problem; grassroots leaders, parents and guardians are similarly involved.
Families of those children identified as street-oriented, receive training on various income generating activities. Successful end of such training is the dawn of Community Producer Groups. Run independently by its own committee, UPENDO GROUP is the benchmark of such a participatory effort. Members of this group have skillfully mastered the nuances and ways of making batiks; cooking of dried foods and packaging; as well as chicken rearing. Since the project is still living an implementing phase, confidently, most of its impact will be progressively updated in the page of “success stories”—here, in the same site of ours.
Children supported by Save Family Tanzania Charity through Hope Street Children Project have gone through the confinement of schools and children centres to involve the public on issues pertaining to child law and rights through various social activities that include entertainment.



Along with provision of scholastic materials, Save Family Tanzania Charity never left children’s psychological concerns and physical well-being unattended. 

CHILD VOICE THROUGH STREET DANCE AND DRAMA
















At graveside of one of ANC's freedom fighters at Mazimbu Cemetery. The Street Mobile Tour takes children to visit many tourist destinations while receiving psychological counseling on board.


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