Our Children
About Our Children
CHILDREN IN TANZANIA:- Ranked 154th out of 187 countries in the UN Human Development Index, Tanzania remains one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world. Much of the population lives in poverty with The World Bank estimating that 70% of the Tanzanian population live on less than US$2.00 per day1. This poses many problems for young Tanzanians, particularly relating to access to food, education and healthcare. A considerable number of children suffer from malnutrition and more than 70% suffer from severe anaemia2. The rate of infant mortality remains high with the main causes being malaria, anaemia, pneumonia, malnutrition, diarrhoea and HIV/AIDS.
The lack of satisfactory health infrastructure has led to a large number of orphans, with an estimated 1.3 million children losing at least one parent to the HIV/AIDs pandemic3. This has serious implications on the mental and physical development of children, particularly as many orphans are unable to attend school. 8% of children under 18 are orphaned4, with an estimated 90,000 orphans in the Kilimanjaro region alone5. Data sourced from- 1 – World Bank (2015); 2 3 6 – Humanium.org; 4 – Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey (2015-2016); 5 – National Bureau of Statistics Tanzania 2012
OUR CHILDREN:- Each child in Tír na nÓg home has individual talents, interests and dreams for their futures. Unfortunately, each child also has his/her own unique story which eventually led them to our care. Children are driven away or leave their homes by a combination of factors including poverty, neglect, family crisis, rising divorce rates, illness, as well as verbal, physical and sexual abuse or being orphaned owing to the death of both parents from the HIV/AIDs pandemic. Once on the streets, children also face the threat of exploitation from peers and adults, constant hunger and a lack of access to health care or education.
Children at Tír na nÓg are a product of these social issues and have often experienced a lifetime of suffering by the time they arrive at our home. Neglect, abuse and hunger leave trauma and scars, but Tír na nÓg provides vital assistance, offering the children a safe home, health care and education. We are also committed to giving the children high-quality care and love throughout the process, regardless of their age or background. Whenever possible, we reunify children with extended family members and support them by providing food and paying for school fees.
Our ultimate goal is to become as self-sufficient as possible by maintaining an operational farm and developing a support network to help our children get the best education possible.
In spite of their tragic pasts, the children are always smiling and full of fun. They love to play, to learn and they take good care of each other. Although new children come in regularly and others are reunified, the home retains a sense of family that we all cherish and are so proud to uphold.