In the smallholder mining communities of Tanzania, thousands of children aged 0–4 are growing up without access to early learning, stimulation, or safe care environments. One such child is a five-year-old girl in Buhunda village:

“She stays home with two siblings and feels tired of her caregiving role. She wants to join other children at school, but her mother and older sister work in a small food business to sustain the family.”

A neighbor explained:

“Her father left three years ago to chase gold mining jobs. He never returned. Her older sister dropped out of school due to early pregnancy, and now the young girl cares for her sister’s baby.”

This is not an isolated case. Across Missungwi district, girls like her are missing critical developmental milestones—trapped by poverty, gendered caregiving roles, and absent support systems.

The Challenge

Smallholder mining communities face complex, interwoven challenges:

• Gender roles assign childcare to women and girls, limiting their education and economic participation
• Community systems remain passive, shaped by deep-rooted cultural norms
• Young mothers lack safe childcare options to pursue livelihoods
• Children miss out on early stimulation and learning, compromising their future potential

TAHEA Mwanza’s Response

TAHEA Mwanza is launching a bold initiative to expand Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) for 5,000 children aged 0–4 in resource-poor mining communities. Using a Community Driven Systems Change approach, the program will:

• Establish safe, nurturing care spaces for young children
• Empower women through socio-economic strengthening
• Challenge harmful gender norms through transformative education
• Prevent gender-based violence and promote child rights

Call to Action

DONATE NOW to support TAHEA Mwanza’s ECCD initiative. Your contribution helps build a future where children like Nemelwa can grow, learn, and thrive—free from the burdens of caregiving and inequality.