Future starts with investing in children

DAR ES SALAAM: ON Tuesday, President Samia Suluhu Hassan reminded the public that the realisation of every child’s dream depends on the decisions and actions taken today.

Sharing her message to mark the Day of the African Child, commemorated annually on June 16, the Head of State emphasised that children’s welfare is central to the nation’s future development.

The message shared by the President carries significant weight simply because children are the foundation of the next generation of workers, leaders, innovators and citizens.

What a country does or fails to do for its children today directly shapes its economic strength, social stability and overall development decades later.

When children have good nutrition, healthcare and quality education, they grow into adults who are more productive, earn higher incomes and contribute more to the economy. If those early investments are missing, gaps in ability and opportunity tend to persist throughout life.

Investing in children also strengthens social stability. When young people grow up with access to education and opportunities, they are less likely to experience poverty, unemployment, or social exclusion, the factors that can contribute to crime or instability. In contrast, neglecting children can create cycles of poverty that are hard to break and can persist across generations.

Research consistently shows that early childhood investments such as early education, vaccinations and nutrition programmes produce some of the highest long-term returns of any public spending.

Organisations like UNICEF emphasise that early investment is not just a moral choice but also a highly cost-effective strategy for national development.

On the other hand, good parenting plays a big role in helping children recognise and achieve their dreams because it shapes how they think, feel and act as they grow. It doesn’t decide a child’s future for them, but it builds the foundation that makes success more possible.

From the perspective of Child Development, a supportive home environment also influences brain development, social skills and motivation. Children raised in stable, encouraging environments tend to have stronger self-esteem and clearer goals.

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Above all, protection, welfare and development are also crucial for children because they directly shape whether a child has the opportunity, capacity and confidence to turn their dreams into reality. Without these foundations, even the most talented or motivated child can be limited by circumstances beyond their control.

Protection matters because children are physically and emotionally vulnerable. When children are safe from violence, abuse, exploitation, or neglect, they can focus on learning and growth instead of survival. In short, investing in children is essentially investing in a nation’s future workforce, stability and capacity to grow.