KIFARU YOUTH AND CHILDREN CENTRE
About
OUR HISTORY:
Kifaru Youth & Children Centre was founded by a man from a rural village called G Lambo. His name is Kilian. As a boy, Kilian lived a very hard life.
According to the traditions of our ancestors, the villagers believed in evil spirits and practiced rituals. But these belief systems placed strict and harsh conditions on those who strayed from tradition or broke the rules
OUR KEY PROGRAMS – A SUMMARY:
Provision of basic needs:
- Social protection framework for our young so they are cared for rather than beaten or killed.
- Water, food, medical care, and shelter so children can be free to focus on learning.
- Education and the loving care and guidance of adults with the aim of becoming a self-sufficient adult.
Long-term projects to help the community become self-sufficient and have a voice:
- Improved human rights conditions including respect and care of our young people.
- Health education focusing on HIV/AIDs, other sexually transmitted diseases and malaria.
- Horticultural and gardening education to promote better access to healthy food.
- Conservation education so our people can sustainably manage their wildlife resources and have a large voice in shaping their own rural development.
- Promotion and training for budding entrepreneurs to encourage self-sufficiency, a stronger local economy, confidence and improved human conditions. This includes our own tree farm business: the community learns better growing techniques, the importance of trees in our environment and how to run a business.
Identification of the underlying causes of child poverty in our district. This is a key goal because, until now, there has been limited focus on identifying and responding to the needs and protection of our children.
Our work includes:
- Data collection and research so more appropriate programs can be developed.
- Implementation and monitoring so the programs can be improved upon.
- Working in conjunction with government and the local community to implement and improve programs.
KARATU, TANZANIA – AN OVERVIEW OF OUR POTENTIAL AND PROBLEMS
Peace and Potential in Land of Extreme Poverty
Tanzania has been politically stable and peaceful for over half a century and its economy consistently outperforms most sub-Saharan nations. Beautiful wildlife parks, like our own Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, bring in tourist revenue. Industry and telecommunications are growing and recent natural gas and mineral discoveries hold hopes for stronger growth. Yet, Tanzania’s people are amongst the hungriest and poorest in the world.
Rising Number of Orphaned Children
Extreme poverty, traditional beliefs and reduced respect for a child’s life contribute to this situation especially in rural districts like Karatu. In our district, at least 10,000 children have been abandoned or orphaned. Some 20% do engage in child labour, meaning they might eat each day. The vast majority barely survive. Girls are especially vulnerable since by tradition, they are married off as young teens and have little chance to develop survival skills for a modern society. All these paths put an end to schooling and hope for Tanzania’s future. Break this cycle and there is hope; Hope for better lives and a more developed, potentially emerging, country.
The murder or expulsion of young, unwed pregnant girls is much more accepted since the girl is believed to have brought shame on the community. Many girls run away but end up selling themselves on the streets to eat. Here they risk contracting the HIV/AIDS virus and becoming pregnant. This simply perpetuates the cycle as they die of HIV/AIDS related illness leaving their orphaned children to a similar fate.
© COPY RIGHT 2018 KIFARU YOUTH AND CHILDREN CENTRE
