Following the collaboration which has continued since 2015, we made another request to Agata Smeralda and once again they came to our aid.
We need to build a house for the girls who lives at the Chigongwe family long-term shelter, managed by KISEDET.
Because of the increasing phenomenon of “house girls” , in the last few years, we have observed an increase in the arrival of girls and boys at the Shukurani short-term shelter. Many of them come from disadvantaged family situations, they are often victims of physical and sexual abuse perpetrated within the family and/or by their “procurer” in the homes where they are forced to work to support their family.
As you already know, the primary objective of KISEDET is to reunite the beneficiaries with their families and guarantee them an education; but if the family is not able to take care of them, KISEDET provides the option to transfer to the Chigongwe shelter.
Chigongwe family, since its opening, has mainly seen a male affluence, as the phenomenon of street children in Dodoma mainly concerns boys. However, since the increase of child labour exploitation in families, (mainly females are affected) it has led to the growth in the number of the girls hosted at the centre. Currently, the seven girls are crammed into a room with six beds (three bunk beds), because the other room serves as an office for the SCU (Universal Civil Services) and the local staff. Furthermore, in the current office we also host the library.
In Dodoma, at the Shukurani short-term shelter, we host other seven girls, three of whom should move to Chigongwe because the family reunification currently is not possible (two of them are testifying in Court against their rapists); however, since there is no space, we are forced to let them stay at the Shukurani, which is mostly used as a Drop In center (day center for street children and young people) and short-term shelter.
In sight of the arrival of new girls and for other reasons that we will list below, we have the need and duty to guarantee them a space where they feel safe and at ease:
– To ensure that girls have accommodation outside the KISEDET administrative buildings in Chigongwe;
– To ensure each child has a bed and enough space for their personal items and for studying;
– To restore the office needed by the KISEDET staff and the 4 volunteers of the Universal Civil Service;
– To also guarantee future beneficiaries a suitable place for their stay.
In conclusion, considering what was said previously and our common objectives in supporting the Tanzanian community, we trust in Agata Smeralda’s willingness to accept our request.