1. Executive Summary
Women to Children Foundation has been taking street children aged below 18 years and training them on vocation skills for more than three years today. WOCHFO rented a house from one of our organization members where OVC and street children live. We take care for their life and supporting them attain their dreams by having them in our hands for care and development. Since start of this temporary center, WOCHFO is working with local leaders and the community to identifying street children, orphans and vulnerable children living under extreme poverty and under high risk to their health withing their settings. WOCHFO has already raised 53 OVC and 49 street children within our temporary center. Therefore, due to increased number of this group in the community, we assessed ourselves to have insufficient financial capital, poor living area for caring and raising them to attain their dream. Therefore, the current rented facility is unsustainable and insufficient to accommodate the growing number of needy children. In this concern, WOCHFO seeks funding to construct a permanent OVC Center to provide holistic care, education, and shelter to orphans and vulnerable children in Njombe Region. Currently, 209 (113 F& 96M) children are living in high-risk environments with inadequate care. The proposed facility, consisting of a dormitory, classrooms, and a dining hall, will create a safe environment for rehabilitating, educating, and empowering these children to become self-reliant.
2. Background and Problem Statement
In Njombe region, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and poverty has resulted in a high number of orphans. Many are cared for by elderly grandparents who lack resources, while others live in rented, overcrowded homes. The major causes of OVC and street children in Njombe are from Chronic Poverty and Economic Hardship where poverty is the most significant driver, manifesting in parents' inability to provide basic needs (food, clothing, shelter). This leads to high household vulnerability and forces children into child labor to supplement family income. HIV/AIDS Pandemic whereby Njombe has a high prevalence (11.7%) of HIV/AIDS, which has resulted in a surge of orphaned children who have lost one or both parents. Many children also become vulnerable by caring for sick or dying parents. Family Breakdown and Social Disintegration which broken homes, marital conflicts, neglect, and lack of parental guidance are key push factors driving children out of homes. Some children leave due to harsh treatment by guardians, often in the context of fostering where OVC are treated worse than biological children. Weakening of the Extended Family System where relatives, uncles, or aunts would take in children, is collapsing due to economic pressures. School Dropout and Lack of Education where children frequently drop out of school due to lack of school fees, uniform, and materials, or because they are forced into labor. "Pull" Factors of Street Life of which children are often attracted to the streets by the hope of earning money through casual work, peer pressure, or the search for freedom and independence. Child Abuse and Neglect which resulted from domestic violence, abuse, and parental neglect force children to run away to find a "safer" or more independent life, often leading to urban migration to towns like Njombe and Makambako Town.
3. Project Rationale/Justification
Construction of a dedicated center will allow WOCHFO to:
• Ensure 24/7 child protection and care.
• Provide nutritious meals and health monitoring.
• Eliminate the insecurity and high cost of renting.
• Offer vocational skills training (tailoring, carpentry) alongside basic education to foster long-term self-reliance.
4. Project Goal and Objectives
Goal: To improve the quality of life and future opportunities for orphans and vulnerable children in Tanzania.
Specific Objectives:
i. To construct a secure 6-room OVC Center on community-donated land within 18 months.
ii. To provide direct care, nutrition, and education support to 100 OVCs annually.
iii. To establish a vocational training component for older children (ages 14-18) by 2028.
5. Proposed Project Activities
• Site Survey & Architectural Design: Engaging engineers to finalize building plans.
• Procurement and Mobilization: Purchasing construction materials and hiring local contractors.
• Construction Phase: Foundation, walls, roofing, electrical, and plumbing works for dormitories, kitchen, and sanitary facilities.
• Furnishing and Equipping: Equipping the center with beds, desks, and kitchen equipment.
• Operationalization: Staffing the center with caregivers and a center manager.
6. Expected Results/Outputs
• One permanent, child-friendly OVC center established.
• 100 OVCs residing in a safe, hygienic, and nurturing environment.
• Improved school attendance rates for children in the center.
• At least 40 adolescents equipped with vocational skills.
7. Sustainability Plan
To ensure the center continues after the initial funding:
• Vocational Training Production: Selling products made by beneficiaries (e.g., masks, clothes, furniture) to generate income.
• Community Farming: Setting up a garden at the center for food production.
• Local Partnerships: Collaborating with local government and community leaders for volunteer staffing.
8. Tentative Budget Summary
Site Preparation which includes Land clearing and survey with the budget estimated to be $5,000
Purchase of building materials include cement, bricks, iron sheets, timber estimated to be $50,000
Labor charges for contractor and skilled labor estimated to be $25,000
Purchase of equipment include beds, bedding, kitchen equipment estimated to be $10,000
Administrative support costs for project management and security estimated to be $10,000
