The government has made vulnerable children more vulnerable by allowing the closure of three Dar es Salaam branches of Dogo Dogo Street Children centres that were supporting such children in the city, as well as those arriving from the regions.
The only centre worth the name currently is located at Bunju on the city’s northern outskirts.
This reporter visited Misimbazi where once existed a dodgo dogo centre. It is no longer there. Similarly, the one that was close to St Joseph’s Cathedral in the city centre has been replaced with commercial buildings.
Kigogo is another site toured by this reporter, and found several noisy groups of boys.
Inside the centre it was quieter. But the building was dilapidated, and there was little space for the children’s playground.
Compare the situation with the one which is under the auspices of Save Our Souls (SOS) near Mawasiliano Tower. The environment is green and there is big space for the children to play.
Sabas Masawe is project coordinator of Dogo Dogo Centre. He says things changed in 2010 when TRUST a foreign organisation - that used to support the centre ran out of funds. The government did little, besides administrative support. Soon, they too were forced to close and directed their effort to outreach programmes.
Such programmes aim to help children develop physically and mentally by joining sports groups.
Before things changed, the centre was offering both primary and secondary education to the youngsters.
According to Massawe some have managed to join universities like the University of Dodoma (UDOM) and Muhimbili. But the majority did not get the pass mark.
They were given the choice to return to their villages or join vocational training, and even go back to the street.
The programme helped children learn how to behave in society as well as share their problems and experience, but Masawe adds that the outreach programme at Morocco was shut down due to police harassment.
Apparently, the centre had encouraged them to engage in simple businesses, like selling tissue or car washing.
As a way out, Masawe says, the centre established the Bunju Vocation Training for a two-year course to teach children different skills and become self-employed.
Bunju has been producing 357 graduates since its establishment in 2003. The centre currently accepts vulnerable children of both sexes, contrary to previous years when it admitted only boys.
If you passed by Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road or at junction like Ubungo you will witness several children with buckets of water and wipers cleaning screen of cars.
Just like Juma Rashid (12). Carrying a bucket of water in one hand and a wiper in another, he runs from one car to another, wiping wind screens of slow moving vehicles.
He left his Dodoma home because of the step mother’s abuse and hoped for better life in the city, he says. For two days he slept at Ubungo bus terminal. Age mates later offered him shelter at Kariakoo and influenced him to engage in activities that he can earn money.
He said he can get Sh4,000 a day wiping windscreens, which he spends for buying basic needs like food, even niceties like biscuits and juice, far better than when he used to beg for food. He is content with this kind of life and does not think of going back to Dododma.
Meanwhile, James Mwendamseke ran away from his home town in Mbeya. He says they might clean wind screens and receive nothing from the drivers, therefore he begs for foods at nearby restaurants.
Sometimes furious drivers get off the cars and beat them and chase them away. However, he states that he can get between Sh2,000 and SH3,000.
Little Flora (8) said though she can not do the tasks performed by boys, she is able to raise Sh1,000 selling tissue. According to her, drivers, especially women, buy the tissues fro them.
According to Save the Children Report, approximately six million children aged 0-14 years livebelow the basic needs poverty line, and approximately 2.8 million children fall below thefood poverty line.
There are more than two million orphaned or abandoned children, and 20 per cent of five to 17-year-olds are engaged in child labour.
However, a UNICEF study in 2005 noted that 10 million children in the world live in the street and the problem is most prevalent in African countries such as Ethiopia, Uganda, South Africa, DRC and Kenya.
In Tanzania the problem of street children is a big issue in urban areas such as Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Mwanza. Sometimes the children leave their homes because of abuse or death/departure of parents and other times to supplement family income.
Street children suffer from violence and abuse, face health problems; are malnourished and vulnerable to traffic accidents.
They have difficulties accessing medical services and are vulnerable to substance abuse.
The only centre worth the name currently is located at Bunju on the city’s northern outskirts.
This reporter visited Misimbazi where once existed a dodgo dogo centre. It is no longer there. Similarly, the one that was close to St Joseph’s Cathedral in the city centre has been replaced with commercial buildings.
Kigogo is another site toured by this reporter, and found several noisy groups of boys.
Inside the centre it was quieter. But the building was dilapidated, and there was little space for the children’s playground.
Compare the situation with the one which is under the auspices of Save Our Souls (SOS) near Mawasiliano Tower. The environment is green and there is big space for the children to play.
Sabas Masawe is project coordinator of Dogo Dogo Centre. He says things changed in 2010 when TRUST a foreign organisation - that used to support the centre ran out of funds. The government did little, besides administrative support. Soon, they too were forced to close and directed their effort to outreach programmes.
Such programmes aim to help children develop physically and mentally by joining sports groups.
Before things changed, the centre was offering both primary and secondary education to the youngsters.
According to Massawe some have managed to join universities like the University of Dodoma (UDOM) and Muhimbili. But the majority did not get the pass mark.
They were given the choice to return to their villages or join vocational training, and even go back to the street.
The programme helped children learn how to behave in society as well as share their problems and experience, but Masawe adds that the outreach programme at Morocco was shut down due to police harassment.
Apparently, the centre had encouraged them to engage in simple businesses, like selling tissue or car washing.
As a way out, Masawe says, the centre established the Bunju Vocation Training for a two-year course to teach children different skills and become self-employed.
Bunju has been producing 357 graduates since its establishment in 2003. The centre currently accepts vulnerable children of both sexes, contrary to previous years when it admitted only boys.
If you passed by Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road or at junction like Ubungo you will witness several children with buckets of water and wipers cleaning screen of cars.
Just like Juma Rashid (12). Carrying a bucket of water in one hand and a wiper in another, he runs from one car to another, wiping wind screens of slow moving vehicles.
He left his Dodoma home because of the step mother’s abuse and hoped for better life in the city, he says. For two days he slept at Ubungo bus terminal. Age mates later offered him shelter at Kariakoo and influenced him to engage in activities that he can earn money.
He said he can get Sh4,000 a day wiping windscreens, which he spends for buying basic needs like food, even niceties like biscuits and juice, far better than when he used to beg for food. He is content with this kind of life and does not think of going back to Dododma.
Meanwhile, James Mwendamseke ran away from his home town in Mbeya. He says they might clean wind screens and receive nothing from the drivers, therefore he begs for foods at nearby restaurants.
Sometimes furious drivers get off the cars and beat them and chase them away. However, he states that he can get between Sh2,000 and SH3,000.
Little Flora (8) said though she can not do the tasks performed by boys, she is able to raise Sh1,000 selling tissue. According to her, drivers, especially women, buy the tissues fro them.
According to Save the Children Report, approximately six million children aged 0-14 years livebelow the basic needs poverty line, and approximately 2.8 million children fall below thefood poverty line.
There are more than two million orphaned or abandoned children, and 20 per cent of five to 17-year-olds are engaged in child labour.
However, a UNICEF study in 2005 noted that 10 million children in the world live in the street and the problem is most prevalent in African countries such as Ethiopia, Uganda, South Africa, DRC and Kenya.
In Tanzania the problem of street children is a big issue in urban areas such as Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Mwanza. Sometimes the children leave their homes because of abuse or death/departure of parents and other times to supplement family income.
Street children suffer from violence and abuse, face health problems; are malnourished and vulnerable to traffic accidents.
They have difficulties accessing medical services and are vulnerable to substance abuse.
SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY
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