Unsafe Water Holds Children Back

In the Morogoro region, where Tanzania Assemblies of God (TAG) Maseyu is located, 247 children and their families grapple with water-related diseases, largely due to a severe shortage of safe water. The housing structures in Morogoro are often inadequately planned, resulting in a lack of proper drainage systems. Consequently, the sanitation facilities are subpar, further exacerbating the public health crisis. God’s love for children compels us to make a difference. Partnering with the local church in Tanzania, this crucial water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) intervention will bring hope, equipping children to escape the hardships of extreme poverty.

The Opportunity to Thrive
To combat these pressing issues, TAG Maseyu intends to drill a borehole at the Compassion International Child Development Center, install a supporting water system and provide hygiene training. This strategic move aims to provide a sustainable source of safe water, which is crucial for improving the health and well-being of children and youth in the area. By eliminating the community’s usage of unsafe water, the prevalence of infectious diseases that currently plague the community should also dramatically decrease. Additionally, the financial burden associated with purchasing water from vendors will become obsolete. This change will ease the economic strain on the center and on families, enhancing the overall quality of life for the participants. With safe water readily available, the center can focus more on delivering educational programs and other critical services that empower children and youth.

Safe Water Intervention Summary
TZ1058 in Maseyu Tanzania needs safe water its participants to improve attendance at the center and local school. Children are often absent due to the water-related diseases that frequently make them ill. These diseases are severe and are also associated with increase child mortality rates. This intervention will also promote good hygiene and sanitation practices among participants and help them stay healthier so that they can lead more productive and fulfilling lives. The proposed project is therefore critical in meeting the intended participants’ physical outcomes and will ultimately improve the overall school performance of the children and youth.

Anticipated Outcomes

By improving access to safe water and enhancing sanitation facilities, the entire Morogoro community stands to benefit. A healthier population contributes to increased productivity, enhanced educational performance and a reduction in health care costs. Furthermore, as children and youth thrive in a better environment, they can become catalysts for change, advocating for improved living conditions and sustainable practices in their communities. The child and youth development program at TAG Maseyu is a beacon of hope in the Morogoro region. By addressing the critical issues of water scarcity and sanitation, the center is not only improving the lives of its participants but also fostering long-term community development. By digging a borehole, TAG Maseyu aims to create a healthier, more resilient future for all children and youth in the region.

Implementation Plan
Carrying out this important intervention will require the following key elements:
• An initial planning meeting will occur to select a project committee and assign responsibilities.
• A contractor will be selected after a bidding process.
• The borehole will be dug and the pump installed. Water storage and distribution will also be built.
• Hygiene and sanitation training will be provided.

Compassion’s Front line Church Partner, in coordination with the national country office, has carefully planned and considered all aspects of budgeting for this critical intervention. Below is a summary of the overall need for this important effort. *This budget covers all program, administration and fundraising costs commensurate with Compassion’s corporate guidelines:

$25,828.93 Funded 09/01/2022. Completing Summer 2022

WHO/WHERE/WHAT

Training 50 girls and 50 female caregivers (100 total participants) in Tanzania Africa how to sew sanitary pads so they can manage their monthly periods and generate income.

WHY

Feminine Hygiene Creates Barriers for Girls

Young women in Tanzania are at risk for long-term socioeconomic, educational and social exclusion, also known as “period poverty.” Due to the embarrassment and frequent infections associated with menstruation, girls sometimes isolate themselves at home during their period, missing many days of school. When it comes to menstrual hygiene, schools create a challenging setting. Often, girls cannot safely manage their periods because they lack of private, secure toilets, clean water for sanitation and aordable hygiene products. As a result, they have frequent and recurring absences, and may even drop out of school altogether. This disruption can have a profound impact on their opportunity for financial success and independence as young adults. This intervention can help break the cycle of poverty by helping young women stay in school, increase their earning potential and build their self confidence.

Tanzanian women often lack access to feminine hygiene products because they live far from stores and it is too costly to buy single-use, disposable products every month. Women often turn to using old cloths, corn husks or other materials they have handy, which in turn can lead to embarrassing leaks, odors and even serious bacterial or fungal infections. With these challenges, young women miss school and work during menstruation, impacting their access to education, income and independence. Thanks to your support, these hurdles will become more manageable as women in Olkolili are equipped with the skills and resources they need to take charge of their monthly cycles.

The Opportunity for Income Generation

PEFA Olkolili Student Center, in partnership with Days for Girls, intends to teach young women how to sew reusable sanitary pads. This will help girls remain in school, retain their self-esteem and reduce instances of infectious diseases caused by improper management of their monthly periods. A training center will be added to the PEFA Olkolili church, and 50 girls and 50 female caregivers will learn general tailoring skills, focusing on how to make reusable pads.

Women will not only be able to make pads for their own use, but also establish small businesses to make and sell them in their community. The church intends to run the training center and support it financially and technically in future. To allow it to run independently, pads will be sold and community members will also be given an opportunity to learn the skills provided. Thank you for partnering with Compassion to change the lives of young women in this community.

HOW

Carrying out this important intervention will involve the following key elements:

• Hold planning meetings for church leaders, child development center staff, participants and parents.
• Review bids and select a contractor to complete
• Build the classroom and procure sewing materials and equipment for start up.
• Teach participants basic sewing skills and produce first batch of pads.

Anticipated Outcomes

Training 50 girls and 50 female caregivers (100 total participants) to make reusable pads will have a tremendous impact on the lives of women living in Olkolili. They will be empowered to take control of their menstrual cycles with the knowledge and materials to make their own feminine hygiene products. By helping girls retain their dignity and confidence, their health, outlook on education and opportunities for self- sufficiency should increase.

These young women will also be able to sell the products they make in their community, thus giving other women access to affordable feminine hygiene products. Finally, women in this community will be taught general tailoring skills that may benefit them more generally as they search for income-generation opportunities. The hope is to see the participants trained and a 10% decrease in school absenteeism among girls by June 2023.

Compassion’s Frontline Church Partner, in coordination with the national country office, has carefully planned and considered all aspects of budgeting for this critical intervention. Below is a summary of the overall need for this important effort.

*This budget covers all program, administration and fundraising costs commensurate with Compassion’s corporate guidelines.

Black Friday is coming–How will you spend it? $20 will provide clean drinking water for 1 person for a lifetime! It doesn’t get much more impactful than that! As of Black Friday 2016, we are $44,000 down, $22,546 to go, and 30 days to do it!  We also have 9 children looking for sponsors. Should you sponsor a child ($38/mo), you will be eligible to travel to Togo and visit them in person! Involvement on this level is life changing..I highly recommend it!