KIWOHEDE

KIWOHEDE Bunju centre is under Kiota Women Health and Development Organization (KIWOHEDE), a non Governmental organization. The centre is a Multipurpose Training institute aimed at assisting vulnerable children and youth who had no opportunity to education.

 

The centre runs two types of programmes which are Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and Vocationalskills training on tailoring, Batik/Tie/Dye and weaving. Besides providing educational programmes the centre also provides   counseling, psychosocial counseling and life skills to the vulnerable children   rescued from all forms of abuse, violence, and exploitation.

 The programmes work under the rules and regulations of the Institute of Adult Education and VETA Curriculum. Currently forty students are taking the program of Open and Distance Learning, thirty seven being girls and only three boys. This program is offered to children and youth to obtain a secondary school certificate of which they will be awarded after completion of all syllabuses of QT (Qualifying Test) programmes.  

 

Vocational training course have registered thirty students, twenty nine being girls and one boy, the ratio of boys is low in all programmes due to the aim of the organization in assisting and empowering more girls as they have fewer opportunities compared to boys.

 

Vision

To have youth and children who are well educated, knowledgeable, skilled and free from all forms of abuse and can handle their own challenges by the year 2012.

Mission

KIWOHEDE Bunju centre ensure an appropriate educational environment to enable all vulnerable children are being provided equal opportunities for    quality education

Goal 

To  Prevent and withdrawal  vulnerable  children and  youths  from abuse, hazardous work,  sexual violence and exploitation in the community and rehabilitate and empower them through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and Vocational Training Skills Programmes.

Objectives

·        Identification of the vulnerable children and youth in the community

·        To improve the quality of the lives of the vulnerable children and youth by providing them secondary school knowledge.

·        Rehabilitate and empower the children through secondary school education and vocational skills trainings.

·        To give proper information and knowledge regards on their rights and their obligations

Activities

The KIWOHEDE Bunju centre has activities which are on going every day for both programmes and the first activity is to identify the children who the organization targets and then an interview is done for the purpose of registration. After the interview and getting familiar to the children   counseling and psychosocial counseling is provided to the children identified with the help of the community members and peer influence.

 

The program of Open and Distance Learning is one of the major activities done at the centre and currently we have one class of forty students and Subjects offered are English, Mathematics, History, Geography, Civics, Kiswahili and Biology.

 

Vocational skills training is another activity carried out at the centre and courses offered are Tailoring, Batik tie & dye, Decoration and Weaving. Beside educational programmes Recreational activities like sports and theater group being done to create good relationship among children and the youth at the centre.

 

Basic needs are being provided for the needy ones and referrals are done to the children who will need other services which we can not offer like legal service, medical care and shelter for boys.

 

The center also accommodates victims of trafficking whom are supported on all basic needs, non formal education and vocational training courses before reunifying them to their families in upcountry.

 

During September 2010, the center was visited by Jacqueline Lenhardt (the wife of the United States ambassador), Regina Mengi from East Africa Television, and A journalist from Association of journalist Against AIDS in Tanzania, Majira and Tanzania Broadcasting Cooperation – TBC Radio.

 

Different issues regarding the services, assistance, and support to the children and youth at the center were discussed with Kiwohede staff. The KIWOHEDE Bunju center coordinator also attended the meeting at the Institute of Adult Education with other stakeholders within Dar es Salaam whereby issues /challenges on Open and Distance Learning (ODL) programme   and Vocational Training courses was shared.   

Coordination

KIWOHEDE Bunju center is working in coordination and support from different stakeholders including the government institutions, international organizations, non governmental organizations and good Samaritans from the country and outside the country.

More efforts are made by KIWOHEDE in looking for International Organizations, government institutions, different stakeholders and good Samaritans to give more support to the vulnerable children and victims of trafficking in Dar es salaam and other regions in Tanzania.

 

 

Challenges

·        Girls school adherence

·        Educational materials in relation to the number of the students on need.

·        Little support from the government, community and guardians of the children due low income and ignorance.

·        Fear on sustainability of the programme if the donor and Samaritan pulled out.

·        Shortage of teaching and working tools.