IMPROVING TRANSPORTATION FOR STUDENTS STUDYING LONG DISTANCES IN TANZANIA TO ENHANCE CHILDREN'S RIGH

Transportation is a challenging issue in Tanzania, exacerbating poverty and conflicts. Particularly in Dar es Salaam students encounter challenges attending classes on time due to the distance and competition for public transportation with adults. For instance, on March 29, 2022, I witnessed a distressing scene while riding public transportation: a young girl dressed in her school uniform, carrying her bag and a broom, was in tears due to stomach pain. Sadly, this was not an isolated incident. Several months prior, I encountered another young girl on a similar journey who had fallen asleep and forgotten her destination. There have been reports of road accidents involving students, particularly when they resort to sharing motorcycle rides due to financial constraints, resulting in overcrowded vehicles and increased risk of accidents. These incidents underscore the severity of the transportation challenges facing students in Tanzania.

- Despite governmental efforts, such as the introduction of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, accessibility remains limited for students as these services primarily cater to the Central Business District (CBD), where fewer community schools are situated.

The aim of this project is to Improve transportation for students studying long distances in Tanzania to enhance children's rights and to raise awareness among the public about the adverse effects of sending children to distant schools.

The beneficiaries of this project are the students, parents and communities, would benefit indirectly from the improved access to education and the protection of children's rights.

Compassionate Empowering Foundation has 5 years’ experience in organizing and implementing project activities related to children'srights, including hosting different seminars for youth and school tours. 

As an organisation we have conducted more than 6 seminars for adults and visited different schools to raise awareness to both youth, parents and children 

We have applied to solve this problem because we want to help children who are getting involved in bad groups, children who drop out of school, and children who fail in their studies due to the distance of schools. Through project execution, there will be campaigns and training to educate parents on how to uphold children's rights, education on child development and upbringing, and maintaining a conducive environment for children for their development and avoiding sending children to distant schools that would require them to use transportation. I will provide various methods to solve the transportation problem for students.

This solution is innovative because our goal is to shift societal perceptions towards improving transport services for students and simultaneously advocate for parents to reconsider sending their children to distant schools. This emphasis on knowledge dissemination is crucial, as we have observed numerous instances of student hardship.

We involve collaboration between private and public sectors to implement various activities aimed at creating public awareness. This approach allows public administrators to focus on planning, policy making, and regulatory efforts to improve transportation. Meanwhile, the private sector will leverage its strengths to enhance the efficiency and quality of transportation services. The project will facilitate connections among key stakeholders involved in transportation issues, fostering both forward and backward linkages

I. To minimize transportation problems for students 

    II. To raise awareness among the community members 

     III. To promote child rearing and nurturing education 

Establishing Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanisms to track the progress and impact of the project to the community, we will collect data on participation rates, skill acquisition, and socio-economic outcomes to inform program improvements and resource allocation and conduct regular assessments and feedback sessions with stakeholders to ensure the relevance and effectiveness of the project.

Core insight

Full time staffs - 11

Volunteers - 39

For 4 years 

Compassionate Empowering Foundation (CEF) has 5 years experience in organizing and implementing youth projects. Its staffs are very experienced and are dedicated towards achieving the intended results.

1. Budgeting, we have developed a detailed budget that allocates funds for both operating expenses and strategic investments in capacity building and program expansion, while maintaining a reserve for emergencies.

2. Increase Revenue by Launching a targeted fundraising campaign to solicit donations from individual donors, businesses, and foundations, foristance we organized a fundraising event on August;

"The “Cheka nao ili waishi” fundraising event was a resounding success, achieving its objectives and surpassing fundraising goals. It showcased the power of collective action and generosity in making a difference. The impact of this event will be felt by vulnerable children for years to come, demonstrating the importance of such initiatives in in addressing critical issue".

3. Investment Strategy, Working with a financial advisor to develop an investment policy that balances risk and return, with a focus on generating long term sustainable income to support the organization's mission.

4. Regular Review and Adjustment, Schedule quarterly financial reviews to assess progress toward goals, identify any variances from the budget, and make adjustments as needed to stay on track toward financial sustainability.