Tanzania

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Tanzania
Tanzania
Overview

Collective Calling are a child focused international relief organisation believing that every child is a precious gift from God and that every child deserves protection, love and security. 

When the founder´s first visited Tanzania in 2018, they discovered children as young as 5 years old living alone on the streets of Kasulu.  On further investigation, there were many more children living on the streets who had left home or run away from their family home due to either poverty, abuse or neglect, with broken relationships at the core.  They barely survived by menial jobs such as collecting plastic bottles, selling eggs or in one of the worst situations, by prostitution.

There was nowhere for these children to go for safety, the social welfare system was swamped, overworked and under staffed, there were no rescue centre´s for street children and no orphanages or shelters in the area. Something had to be done.

One of the main contributors to a child´s sense of well being is feeling safe and secure, and this is why our primary focus is to create a safe environment for them to grow in. We are committed towards achieving lasting progress in the lives of the children we support.  

Why It Matters

A recent study was conducted across orphanages in Africa and the findings were shocking. The study showed that 4 out of 5 children currently living in orphanages are not actually orphans, they have at least one surviving parent. The reality for most children living in orphanages or on the streets is that they have a family to go home to, and this was consistent in our findings in Kasulu.

More shocking facts to consider are that children raised in an orphanage are:

  • 10 times more likely to become involved in prostitution
  • 40 times more likely to get a criminal record
  • 500 times more likely to commit suicide.

Research proves that children best develop in a loving family unit and being raised in institutional care such as orphanages are often more damaging to the well-being of the children, after being passed from one care giver to the next as staff in orphanages transition in and out of work, this causes further trauma to children who have already experienced a significant amount of trauma in the past. 

It is time to shift the mindset and change the approach. Rehabilitation is needed for children, not institutionalisation, and family reunification gives vulnerable and at-risk children the best opportunity to find hope and belonging with their own families.

Our Approach

Many children are in desperate need of immediate help so we have a rescue centre named the “Centre of Hope” which provides immediate relief from malnutrition, ill health and dangerous situations.

Our approach when we find a child on the street is the three ¨R´s¨ : 

  • Rescue
  • Rehabilitate
  • Reintegrate

Check out the infographic below to find out more about how we are rescuing, rehabilitating and reuniting street children back into loving family units.

"Millions of girls and boys around the world live or work on the street. Widely recognized as being acutely vulnerable and marginalized, these children routinely experience severe and persistent rights violations. But as much as the international community understands the intense risks associated with living on the streets, relatively little data are available on these children."

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"It is estimated that there are between 10 and 100 million street children in the world today. These children live a transitory life style and are vulnerable to inadequate nutrition, physical injuries, substance use, and health problems including sexual and reproductive health problems."

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Centre of hope

Family empowerment is the key to reunification

Centre of 
HOPE

The Centre of Hope (COH) is a transitional rescue centre for street children located in Kasulu, Tanzania. The COH was established in 2018 as a response to the ever increasing challenges surrounding the protection of street children. The COH is a 200m2 house that is situated on 500m2 land and is protected by a boundary wall. Collective Calling have successfully rescued 18 children who are currently being cared for in the COH.

Abuse, rebellion, neglect, poverty and broken relationships all lead to many children to flee their home to live on the streets of Tanzania.  Our Outreach Teams rescue vulnerable children who are in dangerous situations from living life on the streets, as well as young girls from prostitution houses.  The child is prepared for rescue into the Centre of Hope by building up a relationship of trust, they are then equipped mentally, emotionally and spiritually for long-term success at home with their families.

We provide a safe place to live, nutritious meals, new clothing, necessary medial care, and a loving environment where each child that is welcomed to the “Centre of Hope” is treated uniquely. The first process is to establish what level academically the child is at and whether the child has any previous education history. We establish what their spiritual needs are, and they are also assessed on a psychological standpoint for induced trauma and signs of PTSD.

Once this has been established a unique plan is created for the child and they are enrolled into the “Centre of Hope” education program, which is an open learning format which provides “accelerated learning” to enhance the opportunities for the children to re-enter either state or private schooling. Trauma and spiritual counselling is then conducted on a daily basis. The rehabilitation process that takes place in the centre provides the children with an opportunity to find hope and belonging with their own families, as we equip and empower their parents to care for and love them.

Meet Caleb

Caleb was born in a village near Kasulu town, he is currently 5 years old and  is the youngest of 5 orphans.  He was discovered when their oldest brother, who is 21 years, was taken ill with kidney problems and could no longer manage to look after them. They were suffering from feet mites when we found them that were very painful and needed immediate hospital treatment, so they were consequently taken in to the Centre of Hope while their older brother recovers and has a chance to get back on his feet. Caleb and his other brothers and sisters are now thriving, fully recovered, enrolled in a local school, smiling and happily getting involved in all the activities the Centre of Hope has to offer.

Caleb will need medical support for the rest of his life due to HIV that he was born with, both of his parents died of the illness.  Please consider sponsoring Caleb so we can continue to meet his needs at the Centre and when he is able to return home to his family.

 

Help More Children Like Caleb

Partner with us and help transform more childrens lives
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Programs

7% administration

In 2022, 93% of Collective Callings total operating expenses were used towards programs that support children and parents living in poverty. This includes logistical planning of programs.  

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Maximum impact

We are happy to be reviewed and held accountable to these third party entities: