Taking a Look at Street Children in Tanzania
by Jatnna Amador and Linda Lam
“Look here! My parents are very poor and that is why they did not send me to school. I am sure that if I was educated and had certain skills, I would not be living in this way. I am also sure that if I get some training now, I will be able to manage my own life more easily.”
The figure and table below represents the responses from the 200 street children that Lugalla and Mbwambo surveyed.
Source: Data gathered from “Street Children and Street Life in Urban Tanzania”
Source: Image taken from Lugalla and Mbwambo, page 336
For further information, please visit the following links:
Evans, Ruth. “Poverty, HIV, and barriers to education: street children’s experiences in Tanzania.” Gender & Development 10.3 (Nov. 2002): 51-62.
This article discusses education barriers among children because of HIV/AIDS. These education barriers impact orphans and street children the most. At the same time, this article also discusses how many emotional and psychological factors play a role within the street environment. Ultimately, these factors exist because of HIV/AIDS within these children’s environments.
Lugalla, Joe L. P., and Jessie Kazeni Mbwambo.. “Street Children and Street Life in Urban Tanzania: The Culture of Surviving and its Implications for Children’s Health.” International Journal of Urban & Regional Research
This article focuses on the root of the problem that results in the increasing number of children living in streets. This study surveys 200 children referred to as “children of the streets”, who live and sleep on the streets and have almost no family contact, in the city of Dar-Es-Salaam. The study examines reasons for the children to leave their homes, how the children meet their basic needs, street life as a cause of sexual vulnerability, street life as a subculture of surviving and suffering, and government actions thus far in dealing with these children. Abuse, domestic violence and family disintegration are the main problems that force these children into streets. The authors recommend that any intervention that occurs, needs to start in the homes of Tanzanians first. A focus on fostering dialogue, maintaining harmony, stability, love and affection is critical in every family.
Amani Children’s Home has rescued over 150 vulnerable children and has provided them with water, food, shelter, and on site education. There is an informative video that depicts how the Amani staff locate children in need of help and also the daily activities and opportunities available at the Amani Children’s Home. Visitors can also access monthly newsletter for an update and progress report of the Amani Children’s Home.
Beck, Julie. “For Children Who Live as ‘Stray Animals’ one man builds a school.” North by Northwestern (19 May 2008). 9 May 2009.
This article describes the Liwalo na Liwe (What will be, will be) Foundation and what 32 year old Michael Stewart has been doing for this foundation. The foundation is currently focusing on a boarding school for street children in Iringa, Tanzania. This article gives further details into this matter and how the money for the boarding school is being raised.
Wood, Jonathan. “Change a life.” Lawyer 19.49 (19 Dec. 2005): 18-19.
This article focuses on the Mkombozi Project that was started to feed, house, and educate street children. “Change a Life” delves further into the stories of former street children and how the Mkombozi Project has been in the community, helping those children in need.
