Beneficiaries: 1,215 children and youth
Completion date: May 2024
Country: Tanzania
Executive summary
For children and young people living in poverty, access to educational resources and the support they need to thrive as they continue their education is often limited. Sadly, many children and youth in Tanzania do not complete high school. Often, young people drop out of school to find work to provide for their families, due to lack of support from caregivers while in school or because of uncomfortable or inadequate learning environments.
Local churches in Tanzania deeply care for the children and young men and women in their communities and want to see them grow, develop and thrive. Six church partners from Sengerema, Manyoni, Mkalama, Busega, Itigi and Ikungi, Tanzania, have identified a need for improved classroom and educational spaces for the 1,215 children and youth enrolled in their programs. These six local churches believe in the potential of their program participants but know that the lack of classroom furniture and available learning resources are hindering child and youth development.
Two church partners constructed classrooms using their own resources but did not have the funds to buy appropriate furniture such as desks and chairs. At one centre, there are only 70 desks for 233 students—163 students must sit on the floor, getting dirty and dusty and making it difficult to see the teacher and concentrate. With no windows in these often-unfinished rooms, there is no protection from both the rain and sun, and students are frequently distracted by the road traffic outside. Some centres water the dirt floors of the classrooms each day to cut down on the dust, but it only solves the problem for a short time. One centre lacks a conducive learning environment for younger children in particular.
With your partnership, six Compassion centres will be provided with the materials and resources they need to aid the holistic development of registered children and youth. Centres TZ0151 and TZ0341 will be provided with classroom furniture; TZ0515, TZ0554 and TZ0685 will have construction completed on their partially completed classrooms; and a stimulation room designed for children under the age of 5 will be constructed at TZ0615. Each centre will also be provided with the resources they need to create age-appropriate classrooms, ensuring children and youth of all age groups have access to the educational support they need.
Summary
Did you know?
While 81 per cent of children in Tanzania attend primary school, that number drops as youth age, with 28 per cent attending lower secondary school and only 3 per cent continuing to upper secondary school.
Background
Most young adults and caregivers our six church partners serve live in rural regions and work in the agricultural sector, which often provides inconsistent income due to its reliance on rainfall and weather conditions. Children, adolescents and young adults have access to education in Tanzania, but many students do not complete secondary school and there are often gaps in learning. According to the National Sample Census of Agriculture, the Singida region of Tanzania has a literacy rate of 49.3 per cent. This census also found that 50 per cent of the population age 5 and older in agricultural households had completed different levels of education, while only 35 per cent were still attending school. Only 55 per cent of heads of households in the Singida region can read and write, highlighting the need to continue literacy classes for caregivers. Our church partners have established kindergarten schools to prepare children to join primary schools—without access to these learning opportunities, children enroll late in primary school, setting their learning back before they even begin.
Our six church partners in Tanzania have reported that the lack of classrooms means it is impossible to separate the children by age and cognition levels, making it difficult to teach the lessons so that children understand. As a result, children may be taught lessons that do not take their current age and cognition into account, disrupting their learning comfort and ability. The completion of classrooms is vital to ensuring children and youth can learn from the Compassion curriculum in a comfortable learning and teaching environment.
The need
High rates of illiteracy and low rates of secondary school completion, coupled with an extremely competitive job market, make it difficult for young adults to find work in Tanzania. Six Compassion centres in Tanzania need more classrooms, complete with furnishings and teaching resources, to create comfortable learning spaces so children and youth can learn and grow in an environment that encourages their holistic development. Without access to age-appropriate educational resources, many young boys and girls may drop out of school and be unable to attend post-secondary school or pursue vocational training.
Your gift will give children and young people attending six Compassion centres in Tanzania safe, clean and age-appropriate spaces where they can learn; play with their peers; and get the love, care and support they need from centre staff and leaders. Each centre will receive the renovations, materials, classroom furniture and resources they need to provide students with learning environments that will empower their social, emotional, cognitive and physical growth.
What your gift will do
Your gift will provide 1,215 children and youth from six different Compassion centres in Tanzania with updated educational spaces and resources, including:
- Installing classroom furniture (TZ0151 and TZ0341)
-
Renovating classrooms (TZ0515, TZ0554 and TZ0685):
- Plastering
- Installing flooring
- Fixing doors and windows
- Roofing
- Creating a fully resourced stimulation room for children under 5 (TZ0615)
Logistics
- Local contribution: US$2,842.88
- Handling of funds: Compassion will work closely with the Partnership Facilitators and Centre and church leaders to ensure this intervention stays within budget.
- Monitoring and follow-up: Experienced Compassion centre staff and church leaders will manage the implementation of this project. Our church partners are well regarded in their communities and will secure public support to ensure the project is completed according to budget and specifications. Church partners will educate children on how to use the facilities wisely and properly. Centre staff will follow up to ensure the classes are divided by appropriate age categories and that resources are used for the holistic development of children and youth.