The government has launched a new initiative to support children living and working on the streets, aiming to provide them with education, skills, and opportunities for a better future.
The project, known as Children in Street Situation (CiSS), will be implemented in Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, and Mwanza.
Minister for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Dr. Dorothy Gwajima, officiated the launch in Dar es Salaam on August 25, 2025.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensure no child is left behind, regardless of their circumstances.
“Every child, regardless of their background, deserves protection, care, and the opportunity to reach their full potential,” said Dr. Gwajima.
“Children living on the streets represent one of the most vulnerable groups in our society, facing daily risks that threaten their safety, health, education, and overall well-being.”she added
She noted that the CiSS project would complement the government’s efforts to rescue and rehabilitate street children.
The minister commended SOS Children’s Villages International and partners for supporting the initiative, citing its success since inception in Ethiopia in 2022 and its expansion to Tanzania and Rwanda in 2023.
“This project has shown how coordinated rescue, rehabilitation, family reintegration, and community inclusion can restore hope to children who have lost their childhood due to life on the streets,” Dr. Gwajima said.
The minister further revealed that her ministry is finalizing a National Action Plan to End Street Children Challenges, which will provide a framework for all stakeholders. She stressed the importance of collective efforts to achieve lasting change.
“Government efforts alone cannot bring permanent solutions. We need strong collaboration with civil society, faith-based organizations, communities, families, and the children themselves,” she added.
Commissioner for Social Welfare, Dr. Nandera Mhando, said the department is working closely with stakeholders to remove children from the streets and develop systems that enable them to live in family settings.
SOS Children’s Villages’ Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Bedilu Shegen, said the CiSS project is designed to help children in African countries escape the challenges of street life by giving them access to essential services and skills.