PROJECTS | Tanzania | Street Children Education
and Psychosocial Support

There are approximately 600 children living and working on the streets of Morogoro. These children are unable to access basic services such as clean water and sanitation and suffer from disease, ill-health and malnutrition. They survive by engaging in activities such as child labour, rag-picking, scavenging for food, drug trafficking and theft. They are vulnerable to harassment and exploitation - young boys are sexually abused and young girls are vulnerable to child sex work, prostitution and early pregnancy. All are at high risk of being born with or contracting STIs and HIV/AIDS. The majority of children will join gangs, turning to drug addiction and crime to survive.

Faraja’s Children Education and Psychosocial Support project aims to rehabilitate and reintegrate children who live and work on the streets through education and psychosocial support. Faraja runs a street side school in central Morogoro. This school provides remedial classes, including basic literacy and numeracy, for approximately 80 street children in preparation for (re)introduction into formal education. Lessons suit the daily routine of street and working children and are tailored to the diverse standards and abilities of the children. Once at the required standard, Faraja enrolls the pupils in local primary schools and provides them with the necessary uniforms and school materials. To encourage the children to stay in school following enrollment, Faraja provides ongoing support including provision of nutritional meals, family support and psychosocial support. For older children who are unable or unwilling to continue with their education, Faraja runs vocational training courses, which are linked to viable local income generating opportunities.

Faraja’s social workers provide regular counselling and therapy sessions for the children to help them cope with the stresses and pressures of everyday life. They also play an important role in the placement of street children in safe and secure family environments. The social workers always try to trace children’s families and aim to address any issues there may be regarding reunification/placement. Poverty and a lack of household income are often the reasons why children miss out on education. Through business skills training and credit provision, Faraja aims to improve the economic status of poor families so that they are better equipped to provide proper care for their children. This support enables parents and guardians to establish small-scale income generating activities, which can provide a regular income for the family. Faraja is committed to maintaining its presence as a safe option for these children and follows up every case of family reunification/placement through regular visits and ongoing psychosocial support.