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Kilago Area Program

Sponsor a child

Program Type

Community Development

Planned Life Cycle

2014 - 2029

Location

Tanzania

Areas of Focus

WASH | Child Protection and Participation

Program Timeline

Status: Active

Progress

7,900people had access to sanitation facilities like toilets at home or school

Progress

7,303people were trained or involved in community water, sanitation or hygiene initiatives

Progress

3,106people had access to safe drinking water

A white jeep driving through a muddy path, featuring a rainbow and trees in the background.

Program Details

Context

The Kilago community is home to almost 25,000 people, most of whom are Sukuma"the largest ethnic group in Tanzania. The population is spread out among farming homesteads. Farmers grow food crops such as rice, cassava, and potatoes, as well as cash crops such as cotton, and raise livestock as assets. The community relies on rain to water the fields and feed their cattle.

Over the last three years, however, long droughts have impacted crop growth. As a result of poor harvests, family income has dropped and many face food shortages, affecting the growth and development of children. The most vulnerable children are more likely to be denied their rights to things such as education, nutrition, and protection. They are also at risk of participating in child labour to support themselves and their families.

Children and families struggle to access facilities in their rural locale. Students must walk 13 kilometres every day to get to the only secondary school in the district. The community also struggles to access safe drinking water, as there is only one protected well. For many, the search for clean water takes them more than 1,000 metres away from home. The only health care facility in the area is distant and offers limited services. HIV and AIDS affect many and there is little information available on prevention methods.

...
Challenges
Education
Children in Kilago face many challenges when it comes to accessing quality education. Classrooms are overcrowded and students must walk long distances to get to school. There are nine primary schools with a total of 70 classrooms, but the community needs at least two more schools or a total of 123 classrooms. Schools lack of resources like desks, textbooks, teaching aids, and proper washrooms, and teachers are untrained and unmotivated, all of which affect school enrolment and attendance.

Many students struggle in school and often miss class. Approximately 59-75% of families in Kilago live in extreme poverty and cannot afford to provide for their children's education. Even those who do complete their basic schooling are often without options to pursue academic goals. As a result, most students do not pursue further education or professional skills training.

Health Care
The quality of and access to health care in Kilago is another critical issue affecting children and their families. There are few vital health services available and too few health care workers in the community to teach families about important heath practices and disease prevention. In addition, the only health post is more than 10 kilometres away for some families.

Limited access to quality health services impacts families, especially children and mothers, as they lack treatment of common illnesses, such as malaria and diarrhea. Many children are stunted because they do not receive proper nutrition. This is due to inappropriate feeding practices as well as food shortages.

HIV & AIDS
Another issue is the high prevalence of HIV and AIDS in Kilago. Children and adults in the community lack information on HIV prevention. Without suitable information services, especially amongst school-age children, many youth and adults make choices that leave them at risk of contracting the disease. Little is shared with expecting and nursing mothers about preventing mother-to-child HIV and AIDS transmission.

Water and Sanitation
Children in Kilago struggle to find clean drinking water and practice good hygiene. Long droughts and unreliable rainfall have led to community water shortages, and water that doesn't evaporate is often too far away. Women and girls must trek over 30 minutes to fetch clean water for their homes.

In addition, the community lacks information on how to properly manage existing water sources. As a result, waterborne diseases have become common and affect many children, especially those under the age of five, who are vulnerable to diarrhea, intestinal worms, and cholera. Schools don't have enough washrooms for children and none of the primary schools have clean water sources for teachers or students....
Plans
Education
To ensure children can access and benefit from quality education, World Vision will assist the community to:
  • Increase access to preschool and primary school education for boys and girls.
  • Increase students literacy and numeracy skills in primary grades.
  • Improve classroom-learning environments with teacher training and access to educational resources.
  • Promote the value of education in the community and help parents monitor students progress.
  • Enhance awareness of systems and practices that prevent girls and children with disabilities from accessing education.

Health Care
With the partnership of Canadian sponsors and the community, World Vision will work to:
  • Increase families access to healthy foods, especially for pregnant mothers and children under the age of five.
  • Strengthen the community's ability to advocate for their right to quality health facilities and services.
  • Provide training in child and maternal health to improve wellbeing of new and expecting mothers and their children.

HIV & AIDS
To combat the spread and stigma of HIV & AIDS, World Vision will partner with the community to:
  • Increase community awareness about and care of those living with HIV and AIDS.
  • Provide HIV and AIDS prevention education to pregnant women and children between the ages of five and 15.

Water and Sanitation
In partnership with families and sponsors, World Vision will work with the community to:
  • Facilitate the adoption of proper hygiene practices and environmental sanitation behaviours in the community.
  • Ensure community members, including children, can access safe, clean drinking water close to home.
  • Empower local leaders to manage water sources and equip them with skills to promote sustainable water usage and sanitation habits
  • Create clubs for children to learn proper hygiene and sanitation practices and become agents of change in their community.
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An image of children sitting on the ground in a classroom, writing in workbooks.

Results

Unless otherwise stated, data presented on this page reflects the most up-to-date results of World Vision Canada programs reported between October 2023 and September 2024, and any previous fiscal years available. Previously reported data may not match the current presentation as we continuously receive and refine data from our programs. If you have any questions, kindly reach out to us.