KIBAHA: A THREE-YEAR project that aims at rescuing children living and working on the streets, providing them with essential services and reuniting them with their families has been launched in Coast Region. The Children in Street Situations (CISS) Project, which will run from 2026 to 2028, is being implemented by SOS Children’s Villages Tanzania in … The post New initiative to rescue, rehabilitate street children appeared first on Daily News .
KIBAHA: A THREE-YEAR project that aims at rescuing children living and working on the streets, providing them with essential services and reuniting them with their families has been launched in Coast Region.
The Children in Street Situations (CISS) Project, which will run from 2026 to 2028, is being implemented by SOS Children’s Villages Tanzania in collaboration with the government to strengthen efforts to address the growing challenge of children living and working on the streets.
Speaking during the launch in Kibaha Municipality on Monday, SOS Children’s Villages Tanzania Project Manager, Mr Damas Damas, said the project aims to address the root causes that force children onto the streets while ensuring those already affected receive the support they need.
“We have launched this project to rescue children living and working on the streets. Our main approach is to collaborate with government authorities to empower communities and strengthen family foundations in order to prevent the factors that push children onto the streets,” he said.
Mr Damas said the project is also being implemented in Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Dodoma and Arusha regions.
He said that the initiative has already recorded significant success in Mwanza and Dodoma and expressed optimism that similar results would be achieved in Coast Region. In Coast Region, the project will be implemented in Kibaha Municipality, Kibaha District, Chalinze, Mkuranga and Bagamoyo councils.
He said children rescued from the streets will be supported to access education, healthcare and psychosocial services, while efforts will be made to trace their families and assess the possibility of reunification.
Representing the Coast Regional Administrative Secretary, Ms Pili Mnyema, Regional Medical Officer, Dr Kusirye Ukio said the government recognises the challenges facing children and remains committed to working with stakeholders to ensure they grow up in safe and supportive environments.
“The number of children being born increases every year, and so do family conflicts. When conflicts occur in families, children are always the most affected. It takes a long time and concerted efforts to heal children who have experienced sexual, physical or emotional abuse,” he said.
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He added that the government welcomed the project as an important intervention to strengthen efforts to protect vulnerable children and support communities.
Coast Regional Social Welfare Officer, Ms Lydia Mafole said the project had come at the right time as the region continues to implement programmes aimed at improving child welfare.
“Despite our efforts, we still face the challenge of children living and working on the streets. We are grateful to have this project in our region and assure you of our full support,” she said.
Meanwhile, Coast Region Head of the Police Gender and Children’s Desk, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Eliudy Malesa said the region’s proximity to Dar es Salaam contributes to the presence of street children, many of whom originate from Arusha, Iringa and the Lake Zone.
He said authorities continue to support affected children while educating parents and strengthening community-based interventions to prevent children from ending up on the streets.
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