Raising children with care, guidance, and values is more than a family responsibility it is the foundation of Tanzania’s future, the Director of the Department of Child Development, Sebastian Kitiku, has said.
Speaking to members of the Tusaidiane Bondeni Ihumwa group in Dodoma on October 1, 2025, Kitiku emphasized that the way children are raised today will shape the nation’s social, economic, and moral fabric tomorrow.
He highlighted the Childcare Group Kitini program as a key initiative to equip parents and guardians with the skills to nurture children in safe, supportive, and value-driven environments.
“Every parent and guardian must understand that the upbringing they provide will determine the society we live in tomorrow. Programs like this give families the chance to learn, share experiences, and guide children away from harmful influences,” he said.
Kitiku stressed that raising children is not the government’s job alone. Families, communities, and all stakeholders must work together to build a strong and resilient nation.
Assistant Director Asha Vuai added that quality parenting is the foundation of a generation that is disciplined, responsible, and patriotic. She said the Kitini program offers guidance on mentoring children, protecting them from negative influences, and helping them pursue their dreams.
Participants praised the program for opening their eyes to modern parenting practices, including close parent-child communication, protection from abuse, and teaching values like discipline and self-respect.
“We are grateful to the Ministry for this initiative. It has given us the knowledge to raise our children better and to share what we’ve learned with other families so that every child can grow up healthy, confident, and ready to succeed,” said one group member.
The Ministry of Community Development continues to promote positive parenting through child welfare policies, awareness campaigns, and training programs involving civil society and private-sector partners. The pilot Kitini program followed a three-day training designed to turn participants into ambassadors of positive parenting, spreading knowledge to communities across the country.