Helping Street Children in Tanzania
Mkombozi Center for Street Children
In Moshi, Kilimanjaro, and Arusha regions, in Tanzania, East Africa, increasing numbers of children and young people are taking to the streets in search of a better life--running away from home because family safety and support has broken down.
This year, Church World Service is helping to support the Mkombozi Center for Street Children, which was established in 1997 as a live-in residential center and safe haven. Over the years, Mkombozi has expanded its vision and mandate: In addition to working with children already on the streets, Mkombozi strives to end the abuse and neglect of children, to ensure that children's dignity and rights are recognized, and to identify opportunities for intervention before a child migrates to the street.
Specifically, Mkombozi provides mentoring services to help young people stay off the streets and keep them in school. It is training 120 community volunteers who will be paired with street children or children at risk of going to the streets. In addition, 126 peer mentors are being trained so they can provide advice and support for street children and those at risk of becoming street children. Some 250 street children and young people are currently taking part in sports programs, the arts, dance, and drama through the Mkombozi Center.
In general, Mkombozi is helping to raise family and community awareness about the harmful consequences of abuse; helping families to find alternative non-violent strategies for living together by using family life education; reporting abuse to the authorities and taking action against perpetrators; challenging societal complacency about domestic violence; helping children and others to move forward constructively so they don’t perpetuate abuse on others; and encouraging the involvement of local leaders and community members to support families.
Support of Church World Service helps to make programs like this possible.
Updated 3/21/2007
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