Protect 100s Children at Tanzania's Bus Terminals

Fifteen-year-old Daniel lived with his parents and four siblings in Mpanda. Despite their love and care, financial struggles often left the family without enough food. Daniel, a talented dancer, believed moving to Dar es Salaam would lead him to fame. Influenced by peers, he dropped out of school and left home against his parents' wishes, determined to chase his dream. 

Upon arrival in Dar es Salaam, Daniel was rescued at the Child Support Desk at Magufuli Bus Terminal and placed in temporary care. A Railway Children Caseworker assessed him, discovering that he lacked an understanding of family value, education, and making responsible choices. Focused solely on his dream of becoming a dancer, he was unaware of the risks he faced and the right way to achieve his goals. 

Support and Reintegration 

Through psychosocial support and counseling, Daniel began to recognize the importance of family and education. Over time, he agreed to return home, understanding that his family’s support would help him build a more stable future. His mother, who had been deeply distressed by his disappearance, was relieved and overjoyed when she learned he was safe. 

Although Daniel had been in secondary school before leaving home, being out of school for six months meant he had to repeat a year while his peers advanced. Struggling with the thought of falling behind, he chose to enroll in a mechanical engineering apprenticeship instead. Since then, he has been attending regularly, and his performance has improved. 

Empowering the Family 

Recognising the family’s financial struggles, we provided business training for Daniel’s mother, the primary breadwinner. She had been selling vegetables at a local market but lacked the skills to manage and grow her business effectively. The training helped her separate capital from daily sales, track profits, and reinvest wisely. As a result, her income more than doubled, and she now plans to expand by selling rice, a high-demand product in her area. 

A Brighter Future 

Your support has not only kept Daniel safe, protecting him when he was more at risk and returning him safely home to his family – but you have also enabled us to support the entire family, ensuring that they are more financially stable and resilient, able to now thrive together as a stronger family unit. 

Links:

• Find out more about our work in Tanzania