Educate 600 Homeless Children in Tanzania

Introduction

Poverty remains one of the most significant challenges facing Tanzania, deeply affecting access to education and the well-being of children. Nearly half of the country’s population  about 50% of over 64 million people  live on less than $1.90 per day. Despite the government’s efforts to make education free from primary to secondary levels, many children, particularly the homeless and vulnerable, remain excluded from the system. Hidden costs such as uniforms, hostels, meals, and textbooks make schooling unattainable for more than 45,000 street children across Tanzania.

Direct Relief Tanzania (DRT), through your generous support on GlobalGiving, is working tirelessly to change this reality. Our vision is to ensure that every homeless child in Tanzania has access to quality, formal education and a safe environment to grow and thrive.

Project Overview

To address the educational and social challenges faced by homeless children, DRT initiated the construction of an English-medium primary school in Dodoma, the capital city of Tanzania. This school will initially enroll 100 homeless children from different regions during its first academic year. Beyond formal education, the school will provide food, accommodation, healthcare, and psychosocial support  enabling each child to discover their potential and lead a sustainable life after graduation.

The long-term goal of this initiative is to empower over 500 homeless children in the coming years, helping them break the cycle of poverty and reducing the social problems often linked to homelessness, such as child labor, prostitution, and petty crime.

Progress to Date

We are delighted to report that Direct Relief Tanzania has successfully completed the foundation stage of the school construction. This marks a significant milestone for the project and a symbol of hope for the many children eagerly awaiting a brighter future.

Despite limited financial resources, our team, along with the local community, has demonstrated great determination and unity. Community members have contributed labor, building materials such as sand, stones, and water, and other forms of local support. Their involvement has reduced costs significantly and kept the project moving forward even when donations were small.

Currently, we have completed:

• Land clearing and leveling

• Laying of the foundation for classroom blocks

• Initial procurement of construction materials for the next phase

The next stage will focus on raising the walls and roofing the classrooms, followed by plastering, flooring, and installation of doors and windows.

Challenges

While the progress is encouraging, we continue to face financial constraints. The donations received to date, though deeply appreciated, are still far below the amount needed to complete the school. The costs of building materials and transportation have also increased due to inflation, stretching our limited budget further.

Nevertheless, the strong support from the local community has been a major source of motivation. Their willingness to contribute labor and resources, even with limited means, shows how much this project means to the people of Dodoma and beyond.

Appeal for Support

We would like to extend a heartfelt appeal to all our generous donors and supporters  and to everyone with a compassionate heart to continue contributing to this vital project. Your donations, regardless of size, are directly transforming lives. Each brick laid brings us closer to giving hundreds of homeless children in Tanzania a second chance at life through education.

Your contribution will not only build classrooms but also build dreams, hope, and a sustainable future for children who have known only hardship.

Together, we can ensure that no child is left behind because of poverty or homelessness.

Please continue to support Direct Relief Tanzania on GlobalGiving and share our campaign with your networks. Every act of kindness brings us closer to completing this school and changing lives forever.