To bring hope, love & sustainability to orphan children
With a median age of 18 years in Tanzania, children represent a large majority of its population and face tremendous challenges. They are directly affected by poverty and lack essential human rights. SOS Children Villages estimated that 1,300,000 children are orphans in Tanzania, due mainly to HIV/AIDS. Tanzania has demonstrated regular commitment to children’s rights protection and the situation is improving year by year. The snapshot below shows there is much work still to be done. Sources: UNICEF & HUMANIUM
Identity
- Birth Registration & Birth Certificates create an identity
- Identities are necessary for human rights
- Human rights laws include prevention of child marriages, child labor, trafficking.
- Prior to 2010, 16% of births were registered
- 8% of births had birth certificates
Health
- HIV/AIDS continue to be the biggest health concern in Tanzania
- Prevalence among women and girls is higher compared to men (6.2% vs 3.7%)
- This is still the main reason the median age in Tanzania is 18 yrs.
- This continues to be the main reason so many children are orphans
- Malaria is also a concern, affecting 9% of children, but improving greatly
Education
- Access to education is exceptionally low
- Equity & poverty pose major challenges
- Only 8% of grade 2 pupils could read properly
- Only 8% could add or subtract
- By age 14-17 70% are not enrolled in education
- Public schools are overcrowded, ratio of 169:1
- Private schools are expensive
Child Labor
- Close to 30% of children aged 5-14 yrs. are working
- 94% of them are working in agriculture
- Child labor offenses continue to affect 4.2m children aged 5-17
Violence
- Nearly 3 in 10 girls have experienced violence
- Approximately 1 in 7 boys have experienced violence
- The result is a profound impact on emotional, behavior and physical development
- Often this is at school where the child should feel safe
- Young girls who fall pregnant are pushed out of the education system