20 vulnerable children in Usa River seek education sponsorship

ARUSHA: VARIOUS stakeholders have been urged to come forward and support 20 children at a care centre so that they can begin primary education and achieve their goal of accessing education.

The children are under the care of a community centre in Arusha, which has been supporting children from vulnerable families in Usa River, Arumeru District.

The centre’s manager, Zuhura Igwe, said the children need education sponsorship, with some expected to begin primary school before progressing to higher levels of education.

She said apart from education sponsorship, the centre also needs support for children’s basic needs, including food and clothing, following a decline in assistance previously received from foreign donors.

Ngarasero Community Organization was officially established in 2018 and has so far supported about 75 children who are studying in various schools, with some continuing their education through sponsorship.

She said another major challenge was the lack of permanent premises, forcing the centre to spend money on rent instead of directing the resources towards the children.

“We wish we had our own premises so that our activities could be sustainable for the children. Currently, we have 50 children aged between two and five who receive early education before joining nursery and primary school,” she said.

She said support from the surrounding community was still insufficient, while assistance from foreign donors had declined and the need to support the children continued to increase every year.

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“Among various donors, including Mesha’s Village from the United States, some have volunteered to sponsor 75 children. So far, some have reached secondary education and will be sponsored through higher education,” she said.

One of the students who received the support from a young age and is now in Form Two at Haradali Winners Secondary School, Sharifa Juma, said she was grateful for the education sponsorship and promised to perform well in her studies.

Another student, Bahati Hamadi, who is in Form One at Usa-riva Rehabilitation Secondary School, said the educational support she received had enabled her to continue with her studies and that she would help other children from backgrounds similar to hers.