Habitat for Humanity International has expressed satisfaction with the implementation of various projects in Tanzania, saying the initiatives are improving people’s lives through better housing, smart agriculture, access to clean water and improved living conditions.
Speaking during a visit to Habitat for Humanity Tanzania projects in Dodoma, Jacqueline Athieno, who works with Habitat for Humanity International at its Nairobi office, said she was delighted to witness firsthand the impact of projects she had previously followed through photographs and reports from Tanzania.
She said the visit provided an opportunity to see how smart agriculture projects are benefiting communities, noting that one project had reached more than 88 people directly in less than a year, while more than 300 students were also benefiting indirectly.
“I am very happy to be in Tanzania because I have had the opportunity to see these projects on the ground. When you look at a project like smart agriculture, it has not even been running for a year, but already more than 88 people have benefited directly,” Athieno said.
She added that the agricultural project was also supporting students by providing food from the farms, while giving them opportunities to learn about agriculture and other income-generating activities.
Athieno also said she was impressed by housing projects targeting families and other vulnerable groups, including orphans.
She said access to decent housing gives beneficiaries hope, identity and dignity, while providing children with a safe environment in which to live and study.
She emphasized the importance of partnerships between Habitat for Humanity, the government and other development partners in expanding such initiatives and reaching more communities.
“Partnership is the currency of today. If we can come together, there is so much we can do, from building houses to giving young people hope and supporting families living in vulnerable conditions,” she said.
Meanwhile, Issa Rashid Swai, a motorcycle taxi (bodaboda) rider in Dodoma, said he and other young people learned about Habitat for Humanity’s activities through various seminars before eventually benefiting from its housing programme.
He said two young bodaboda riders benefited alongside women and other vulnerable groups.
Issa explained that his family previously lived in a single room, a situation that created difficulties, particularly when visitors came, but that Habitat for Humanity had helped the family obtain a quality three-bedroom house.
“We were a family living in one room, and even when a visitor came, it was difficult to accommodate them. But now Habitat has built us a three-bedroom house of very good quality. We are very grateful,” he said.
He urged the Tanzanian Government to continue supporting Habitat for Humanity Tanzania so that the organization can reach more people through programmes focusing on housing, water, sanitation, agriculture, livestock and youth empowerment.
He said the projects have made a significant contribution to improving the livelihoods of Tanzanians, particularly young people and vulnerable groups.
Issa further called for stronger collaboration between Habitat for Humanity, the government and other stakeholders to expand the projects and reach more beneficiaries across the country.
“We thought getting a house like this was a dream, but now we have seen that it is not a dream. It is possible. We are grateful to Habitat for helping us obtain decent housing and improve our lives.”