Shishiyu Area Program

Program Type

Community Development

Planned Life Cycle

2015 - 2030

Location

Tanzania

Areas of Focus

Education | WASH 

Program Timeline

Status: Active

Progress

3,528people had access to sanitation facilities like toilets at home or school

Progress

3,300reading materials were provided to schools and communities in support of children's education

Progress

1,600people participated in activities aimed at supporting child protection and ending violence against children

A white jeep driving through a muddy path, featuring a rainbow and trees in the background.

Program Details

Context

The rural community of Shishiyu is home to more than 30,000 people, most of whom are Sukuma"the largest ethnic group in Tanzania. People living here are farmers. They raise cattle and grow food to eat and to sell, however traditional methods and tools prevent them from maximizing their harvest. Rainfall is the main source of water, but changes in temperature have caused irregular rains and long droughts, making crop production even more difficult. Population growth and the expansion of farmland have led to deforestation, hindering the collection firewood for home use.

In Shishiyu, limited access to quality health care as well as poor water and sanitation practices put children at risk of preventable, life-threatening illnesses, such as malaria, diarrhea, and malnutrition. Children living here sometimes cannot afford to attend school and will often drop out to support their families. This leads to child labour and even early marriage. Schools also struggle to train teachers on new curriculum, and to improve the learning environment.

...
Challenges
Education
Access to quality education in Shishiyu is a serious issue. There are 11 primary schools and two secondary schools, however only 34% of students have a desk. There is one textbook for every six students and one teacher for every 61 students, triggering a low literacy rate. Only 19% of children in Grades 1 through 6 are able to read or write.

Many parents or caregivers cannot afford basic education, causing low enrolment and high dropout rates. Students will often leave school to support their families, and may even be forced into early marriage or child labour. Education is not valued, especially for girls. Job training is not available either, and at least 10% of teens skip class or drop out of school altogether.

Health Care
Health care for children and mothers in Shishiyu is precarious. The area has only four community clinics and seven health workers. The district hospital is used only for referral cases, and few services are available. In addition, some treatments are too expensive for those who need them. Families are not trained in how to prevent malaria using mosquito nets, and lack these resources.

There is little information available on proper nutrition for pregnant women and new mothers, as well as limited access to vaccines, few prenatal services, and even fewer skilled nurses to help deliver babies. There is a high mortality rate for children under the age of five as a result.

HIV & AIDS
HIV and AIDS are prevalent in the Shishiyu community, with women at higher risk than men. There is limited access to counseling services and testing, which is made worse by the negative stigma in the community surrounding the illness.

Water and Sanitation
Another issue affecting the wellbeing of children and their families is water and sanitation. Knowledge on proper hygiene practices such as hand washing is limited, and there are few sources of clean, safe water. This causes children to fall ill to preventable waterborne illnesses, such as diarrhea. A lack of proper washrooms in the community also plays a part in the spread of diseases.

Rivers have been depleted due to changes in temperature, poor farming habits, and soil damage. Existing water sources are left unprotected and poorly managed, often because people lack training in how to do so.
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Plans
Education
To ensure children can access and benefit from quality education, World Vision will assist the community to:
  • Ensure boys and girls enjoy quality education and have basic literacy and numeracy skills.
  • Improve the learning and teaching environment in both primary and secondary schools.
  • Promote child participation, expression, and protection within schools.
  • Promote the importance of education through local partnerships and increase opportunities for community members to influence education decisions.

Health Care
With the partnership of Canadian sponsors and the community, World Vision will work to:
  • Ensure children under the age of five, as well as new and expecting mothers, can access vaccines and other essential health services.
  • Educate pregnant mothers on the importance of nutrition, especially for children under the age of five.
  • Increase knowledge on prevention and control of major child illnesses, such as malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea.

HIV & AIDS
To combat the spread and stigma of HIV & AIDS, World Vision will partner with the community to:
  • Provide information to community members on HIV and AIDS prevention.
  • Address stigma and create and strengthen community groups to support those affected by the disease.

Water and Sanitation
In partnership with families and sponsors, World Vision will work with the community to:
  • Fix existing water sources and build shallow and deep wells to provide water for home use.
  • Train and improve capacity of community water groups with management training and operational skills to ensure sustainability of water sources.
  • Provide information on hygiene practices and sanitation.
  • Increase knowledge and skills on environmental conservation, especially for water and soil.
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An image of children sitting on the ground in a classroom, writing in workbooks.

Results

Unless otherwise stated, data presented on this page reflects the most up-to-date results of World Vision Canada programs reported between October 2022 and September 2023, and any previous fiscal years available. Previously reported data may not match the current presentation as we continuously receive and refine data from our programs. If you have any questions, kindly reach out to us.