Despite being a peaceful and stable democracy, Tanzania is nonetheless a very poor country, with 36% of the population living below the poverty line. It is also a very young population with approximately 46% of the population being under 15. Since the 1990s there has been a steady increase in the numbers of children forced to live on the streets; unemployment, increased migration to the cities and family breakdown have all contributed to the problem. HIV and AIDS has orphaned nearly a million children and forced others to assume household responsibilities beyond their years in order to care for ailing parents or siblings.
Once on the streets, children in Tanzania are extremely vulnerable, socially excluded and face the risk of verbal, physical and often sexual abuse. Abandoned by social services and the justice system, they often come into conflict with the law and run increasing risks of being affected by HIV and AIDS. Although the Tanzanian government is committed to implementing poverty reduction strategies, little is being done to acknowledge the link between poverty, abuse in the home, school and community and the eventual forced migration of children to the streets.
To learn more about the children we support in Tanzania, please follow the link below.
