Railway Children Africa

Street-connected children live with daily threats of violence. It’s time to step up and prioritise their protection. Together, we can ensure no child is left behind. #StreetChildren #EndViolence #InOurHands #EveryChildProtected

Recently, the Safe Child Support Desk Committee at the Magufuli bus terminal held its quarterly meeting, bringing together stakeholders in and around the bus terminal. During the meeting, the committee discussed plans to raise awareness among stakeholders about the risks children and other vulnerable persons face in and around the bus terminal. This aligns with the committee’s main goal of keeping the bus terminal safe for all. The committee demonstrates how collective action among stakeholders can keep children safe and off the streets. Hivi karibuni, Kamati ya Dawati Rafiki la Watoto katika kituo cha mabasi cha Magufuli ilifanya mkutano wake wa robo mwaka, na kuwaleta pamoja wadau walioko ndani na nje ya kituo hicho. Wakati wa mkutano, kamati ilijadili mipango ya kujenga uelewa miongoni mwa wadau juu ya hatari zinazowakabili watoto na wengine wenye uhitaji ndani na nje ya kituo hicho. Hii inachangia kufikia lengo kuu la kamati la kuhakikisha kituo hicho cha mabasi kinakuwa salama kwa watu wote. Kamati iliweza kuonyesha jinsi hatua za pamoja miongoni mwa wadau zinavyoweza kuwaweka watoto salama na kuwaepusha na hatari zilizoko mitaani. 💚 @wileowile

We are excited to share that we have been selected as a recipient of the @Citi Foundation’s Global Innovation Challenge to address homelessness. With this catalytic grant support, we plan to support 480 young people to increase their resilience and self-sufficiency through our youth association model. Learn more about the work here: https://on.citi/4di5MFN #InnovationChallenge

This International Day Of The Girl, we celebrate the incredible determination and resilience of young entrepreneurs like Maria*. ✨ With support from Railway Children Africa, Maria has transformed her small kiosk into a thriving business, selling crisps, nutritious flour, and egg-coated peanuts. Maria now earns a daily profit that helps her meet her basic needs and support her family. Maria dreams of expanding her brand, becoming a wholesaler, and inspiring other young women to work hard and achieve their dreams. Let us celebrate her journey and the positive impact of empowerment! 💖 Leo #SikuYaMtotoWaKike, tunasherehekea ustahimilivu wa ajabu wa msichana mjasiriamali Maria. Kwa kuwezeshwa mafunzo ya ujasiriamali, ufadhili wa kodi ya nyumba na Bima ya Afya kutoka kwa Railway Children Africa, Maria ameweza kufungua biashara yake ambayo inastawi kila kukicha. Maria anazalisha crisps, unga wa lishe, karanga za mayai ambazo zinampatia faida ya kila siku inayomsaidia kukidhi mahitaji yake ya msingi na kusaidia familia yake. Hakika msaada huu umekuwa wa thamani kubwa kwa Maria. Maria ana ndoto za kukuza biashara yake, kuwa muuzaji wa bidhaa za jumla, na kuwahamasisha wasichana wengine kufanya kazi kwa bidii na kufikia ndoto zao. Hebu tusherehekee safari yake na mabadiliko chanya ya uwezeshaji! *name changed to protect identity

As a proud member of the Tanzania Child Rights Forum, Railway Children Africa recently participated in a three-day workshop in Morogoro to prepare the alternative report for the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. We led discussions on the situation of children and young people living and working on the streets, highlighting key protection issues affecting their rights and welfare. By working together, we can achieve positive, sustainable change for vulnerable children. Kama mwanachama wa Tanzania Child Rights Forum, Railway Children Africa ilishiriki katika mkutano wa siku tatu uliofanyika katika Hoteli ya Morena, Morogoro. Mkutano huo ulikuwa na lengo la kuandaa taarifa mbadala kwa ajili ya Mkataba wa Afrika wa Haki na Ustawi wa Mtoto. Railway Children Africa iliongoza majadiliano kuhusu hali ya watoto wanaoishi na kufanya kazi mitaani, ikisisitiza masuala muhimu ya ulinzi yanayoathiri haki na ustawi wa watoto na vijana wanaoishi na kufanya kazi mitaani. JUDITH NASHON KASERA

Railway Children Africa sincerely thanks the Department of Social Welfare, Ilemela District Council, for involving street-connected children in shaping the National Children’s Vision for 2050 through the Mwanza children’s council. Last week, five street-connected children shared their thoughts at a UNICEF Tanzania-supported conference at Gold Crest Hotel, Mwanza. They voiced their needs for representation in children’s councils, the right to education, and the support from the government and caregivers to achieve their dreams. Railway Children Africa is committed to amplifying the voices of street-connected children and supporting their active participation! Railway Children Africa inatoa shukrani za dhati kwa Idara ya Ustawi wa Jamii, Halmashauri ya Wilaya ya Ilemela, kwa kuwashirikisha watoto wanaoishi na kufanya kazi mitaani ili watoe maoni wa maandalizi ya Dira ya Watoto ya Kitaifa ya 2050 kupitia baraza la watoto la Mwanza. Wiki iliyopita, watoto watano wanaoishi mitaani walitoa mawazo yao katika mkutano uliofanyika katika Hoteli ya Gold Crest, Mwanza uliofadhiliwa na UNICEF Tanzania. Walielezea mahitaji yao ya uwakilishi katika mabaraza ya watoto, haki ya elimu, na kupewa msaada kutoka kwa serikali na walezi ili kufikia ndoto zao. Railway Children Africa itaendelea kuhakikisha sauti za watoto wanaoishi mitaani zinasikika na kufanikisha ushiriki wao kikamilifu!

We are delighted that the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Felister Mdemu, visited our Child Support Desk in Mwanza this week, accompanied by senior officials from the Regional Administrative Office. Honourable Mdemu had the opportunity to talk to Ms. Edith Ngowi, the Social Welfare Officer assigned to the desk, as well as Railway Children Africa staff and members of the Child Support Desk Committee. She congratulated us for the work we are doing to prevent children from heading to the street after arriving at the bus terminal. She also praised the operation of the committee to ensure the sustainability of the project, and has committed to replicating the Child Support Desk model in other regions in the country. Railway Children Africa imefurahi kumpokea Naibu Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara ya Maendeleo Jamii, Jinsia Wanawake na Watoto Mheshimiwa Felister Mdemu katika Dawati Rafiki kwa Watoto. Mheshimiwa Mndemu aliambatana na viongozi toka Ofisi ya Mkuu wa Mkoa, Mwanza. Mheshimiwa Mndemu alipatafursa ya kuzungumza na Afisa Ustawi wa Jamii wa Dawati Rafiki kwa Watoto katika kituo cha mabasi kwa lengo la kujionea shughuli zinazofanyika. Mheshimiwa Mndemu ametoa pongeza nyingi kwa kazi nzuri inayofanywa na Idara ya Ustawi wa Jamii na Railway Children Africa kwa kuwatambua watoto kwa haraka pindi wanapowasili stendi na kuzuia wasiishie mitaani. Mheshimiwa Mndemu pia amepongeza kuanzishwa kwa kamati ya Dawati Rafiki kwa Watoto katika kituo hicho cha mabasi kwa kuwa inaonyesha usimamizi wa karibu wa mwenendo mzima wa dawati hilo umeshikiliwa na uongozi ndani ya kituo na hivyo kuchochea endelevu wa dawati. Ameahidi kuja kujifunza zaidi na kuwafundisha maeneo mengine kuiga mfano huu bora.

"My favourite part of my role is seeing the families we support transforming through our interventions." Meet Ester, our family worker. "I work as a Project Officer under family work which involves preparing separated children and families for reunification with one-to-one sessions, family tracing, as well as post-reunification support. I wanted to work for Railway Children Africa because of my experience with vulnerable families but also my passion to work with children. "One of my most memorable moments was working with a child who left home for a year due to peer pressure and challenging behaviours. When I first started working with her, she was very hesitant to share information about home and she even said that she had no parents or relatives. "However, after some time engaging with her through one-to-one sessions, she opened up about her family and home. I was then able to trace her family and after a while of working with them both separately, we supported them to be reunited and re-enrolled the child back to school. Now, she is still at home and enjoying life with her family."

Last week's Ministerial learning exchange visit was a valuable opportunity to share experiences and gain insight into Uganda’s successful transition to family-based care systems. The delegation from Tanzania, led by Hon. Dr Dorothy Onesphoro Gwajima, had the chance to engage with officials from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and learn about the country's care reform progress. Other highlights from the visit included visiting St. Michael's in Nsambya, a former childcare institution that has transitioned into a community hub and Nsambya Babies Home, a temporary shelter for children awaiting family reunification or other alternative care options, including foster care and adoption. This learning exchange is a significant step towards aligning Tanzania’s childcare systems with international best practices to ensure that vulnerable children are better protected within a nurturing family environment.

As the secretariate of the Familia Kwa Watoto Alliance, Railway Children Africa is pleased to be hosting a pivotal learning exchange visit in Uganda with the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups. The exchange visit is part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen family-based alternative care services in Tanzania with the aim to: 💡Learn from Uganda's success in care reform and the benefits of family-based care 📝 Gain insight into the policies and strategies used by the Government of Uganda for alternative care systems 🌍 Share care reform experiences from across the East Africa region ✅ Gain broader support and commitment to transition to family-based care in Tanzania. Find out more about the exchange visit here: https://bit.ly/3WBvtuH