ACT in Tanzania

Overview

Tanzania is a beautiful country because of its wildlife and landscape, but it is poor. This is the home of Mt Kilimanjaro – the highest mountain in Africa – Lakes Victoria and Malawi, and some of the world’s most beautiful natural parks, such as Serengeti. The capital is Dar-es-Salaam. The economy is mainly subsistence agriculture, and the vast majority of the population works in small-scale farming.

Although well over 65 per cent of children enrol in primary school which is free, less than 10 per cent actually move on to secondary school. This is because education at this level is not free. Even at the primary school level, many parents are still not able to afford to pay for school supplies, uniform, books and school meals. In the rural areas the schools are often inaccessible for children, some of whom have to travel several kilometers to the nearest school.

How it Began

ACT began work in Tanga, Tanzania in 2003, collaborating with the Chumbagei Assemblies of God, a parish of the Tanzania Assemblies of God. This was soon followed in 2005 with our partnership with FPCT, Majengo including support for some children at the Faraja Seminary, near Moshi. In 2013, ACT extended its work to Kagera region in the north-west, supporting children and widows in Biharamulo and Chato districts in collaboration with Justice and Peace. The same year, ACT adopted the Angel Orphanage, Ngara as a project it supports.

ACT Facts

We currently support more than two thousand children in Tanzania, the vast majority of who are in Kagera region.  Nearly 600 children have received full scholarship and welfare support. The highest numbers of our university and diploma graduates are from Tanzania.

In Kagera region, our work is entirely in rural communities. As a result, our widows’ project is focused mainly on farming and animal husbandry for income generation. Each family we support is provided with either a pig or a goat. The offspring of the animal are sold for income, and goats also provide milk, which is also sold. As of 2019, the total number of animals available, including offspring, was just over 500.

Also very popular is the community health insurance scheme (CHF) which provides health cover for all members of each family registered to the scheme and includes medical consultation and prescriptions.

ACT Projects in Tanzania

  • The ICT Project introduced ICT to secondary schools in Tanga. Between 2009 and 2011 ACT set up ICT laboratories in 7 community Secondary Schools across Tanga. They were equipped with a total of 100 computers, benefitting around 14,000 pupils. 35 UK volunteers trained 155 teachers in ICT and hardware maintenance as part of this project. Read more here.
  • Angels Orphanage, Ngara was adopted for ACT support in 2013. Since then ACT has kitted out the school with beds, mattresses and bedding. We have also provided solar panels to provide light to the orphanage 24 hours a day. Our fundraising appeal secured funds to start construction of an extension to the orphanage building which will enable separation of the children under 5 year old from older kids and provide a better environment for supporting their differing needs. Read more here about the Angel Orphanage, Ngara.
  • Dorcas Project, Tanga has provided training in business and whole life skills to widows. Read about the ACT Sustainable Whole Life Skills Training Programme.