Dodoma faces rise in street children
DODOMA: DODOMA Region is witnessing a rise in the number of children living and working on the streets, with many coming from within and outside the region, authorities have revealed.
According to a report issued recently ahead of the International Day for Street Children, observed globally on April 12, most of the children originate from Dodoma City, Bahi and Kongwa district councils.
Dodoma District Commissioner, Jabir Shekimweri, attributed the increase to several factors, including rapid urban growth in the region, misconceptions among communities that newcomers to the capital have abundant financial resources and a growing dependency syndrome that drives some families to push children into begging instead of engaging in productive activities.
Citing the 2022 Population and Housing Census, he said Dodoma has 3,085,625 residents, including 318,000 children. Of the total population, 299,689 people live with disabilities, while 212,565 are older persons.
“The regional authorities, working with partners, have been tracing street-involved children and reuniting them with their families within and outside Dodoma. Over the past three years, a total of 326 children were reached, with 289 successfully reintegrated into their families,” he said.
He noted that 32 social welfare officers were trained on child case management, while 89 alternative families received training on proper care, protection and positive parenting in Kongwa, Bahi and Kondoa districts.
In efforts to support access to education, 130 children were provided with school supplies for both primary and secondary levels. Additionally, 49 caregivers from Kongwa and Dodoma City were linked to social services and trained in entrepreneurship to improve their household income.
Twelve families from Bahi, Kongwa and Dodoma were economically supported, with some scheduled for ministerial visits after the meeting.
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The region also enrolled 460 community members into the improved Community Health Fund (iCHF) for one year, while 13 youth were admitted into vocational and apprenticeship training programmes.
Authorities further developed and launched Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials to address root causes pushing children into street life.
Fifteen community health workers were trained on case management, child protection and positive parenting. Public awareness campaigns on child safety have been rolled out through media platforms, combined with day and night patrols across Dodoma City, Bahi and Kongwa, as well as regular engagements with child-protection stakeholders.
Mr Shekimweri said the region has strengthened strategies to curb the problem, including legal action against individuals exploiting children for incomegenerating activities.
“The region will continue promoting entrepreneurship training and encouraging communities to join economic groups to benefit from council loans meant for household economic empowerment,” he noted.
He added that the regional administration is stepping up monitoring of Women and Children Protection Committee activities in councils and enhancing collaborative supervision to assess progress in reducing the number of children living and working on the streets.
