Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Iringa Richard Kasesela (kushoto) akipata maelezo kutoka kwa Mwanafunzi wa shule ya msingi Chamdindi iliopo kata ya Nyang'oro wilayani Iringa kuhusu uzalizaji umeme kwa kutumia viazi kupitia mradi wa SOS children's village wakati wa maadhimisho ya siku ya mtoto wa afrika jana. (Picha na Friday Simbaya)
By Friday Simbaya, Iringa
As Tanzania joins the rest of Africa in commemorating the Day of the African Child, education stakeholders in Iringa District, Iringa region want the government to take action against parents who do not take their disabled children to school.
According to the SOS Children’s Village Tanzania Program Officer Francis Mwakitiga, some parents choose to hide children with disabilities at home because they are ashamed of them.
Mwakitiga said this yesterday during commemorating the Day of the African Child which was held at district level at Tanagozi Village, Mseke Ward , Mlolo sub district in Iringa District, Iringa Region.
Some education stakeholders like SOS Children’s Village Tanzania and Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) joined the rest of Africa in commemorating the Day of the African Child.
The day celebrated every year on 16 June, was set aside to remember the young people of South Africa who were massacred in Soweto in 1976 for protesting against apartheid system of education. The theme for this year is “Towards Industrial Economy Development, Leave No Child Behind”.
"Some parents fail to take their children to school because they believe disabled children do not need education. We want to tell such parents that it is the right of every child to get education," said Makitiga.
He said that children should be at the centre-stage and the government and other stakeholders should ensure that no child is left behind in the drive towards sustainable economic development.
SOS Children’s Villages Tanzania is an independent child based non-governmental and social development organization registered in Tanzania with affiliation to SOS Children’s Village International based in Innsbruck, Austria
SOS helps children to recognize and express their individual abilities, interests and talents by ensure that children receive the education and skills training they need to become successful and contributing members of society.
However, Mwakitiga said that the program is being implemented in various districts in the country and in the Iringa district is being implemented in eight primary schools of Nyangoro, Malenga Makali and Ulanda wards.
He listed schools that benefit from the program as Holo, Mawindi, Chamdindi na Ikengeza on side of Nyang’oro and Iguruba, Makadupa na Isaka in the Malenga makali Ward and Ulanda of Ulanda Ward.
Also the Camfed Members Association (CAMA), sponsored by Camfed's organization in celebration of the African Child day, offered various items to vulnerable children through the children district council.
CAMA Secretary of Iringa Chapter Anna Mgoji said that CAMAs have helped two buckets of powdered soap to help pupils keep clean, two boxes of exercise books with one box of pens with a total value of 100,000 shillings.
She said that the CAMA network of Iringa district has 1,124 members from 21 wards, which are united to focus on the production of various products to raise economic and poverty alleviation.
In Kilolo District Cama Network have a total of 1680 members who is engaged in various businesses such as tailoring, hair plaiting, shops, food vending, animal husbandry and agriculture.
According to the CAMA Secretary for Kilolo District Tulakela Kivamba, through College Funding Project, Camfed Continued to finance girls at the level of certificate, diploma and degree where 54 girls in the Kilolo District who joined various universities and colleges to study various disciplines .
On the other hand, Iringa District Commissioner Richard Kasesela was the guest speaker during the celebration of African Child Day said the government would take action against parents who do not take their disabled children to school.
He appealed to stakeholders in the district and country at large to support them in that endeavor, adding that it is the right of every disabled child to gain access to education and other skills that will enhance their self-development.
Kasesela said his district has a total of 127,004 children according to the 2012 POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS and about seven percent of population was vulnerable children living in hardship condition.
However, Iringa District Council is facing the challenge of child abuse whereby most of the children were victim of rape.
Tanzania is a signatory to the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) which compels member states to uphold the rights and welfare of the children.
