Rights and Economic Justice - Project Update
ST LUCIA NURSING AND ORPHANAGE
RIGHTS AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE (R & EJ)
BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT FOR QUARTER ONE (September 2009 - November 2009.)
INTRODUCTION
Rights and Economic Justice project (R & EJ) is funded by SIDA through Save the Children Tanzania and implemented by St Lucia Nursing and Orphanage in Arusha municipal. The project is running in seven districts in Tanzania where three districts are from the northern zone which are Arusha Municipal, Same and Handeni districts and the remaining four are from the southern zone of Tanzania.
The project began on September 2009 and it covers 14 wards of Arusha Municipal. The remaining three wards will be covered as we are moving forward with the project. The wards where R & EJ operates includes Kimandolu, Baraa, Elerai, Sombetini, Levolosi, Ngarenaro, Lemara, Kaloleni, Sokon, Themi, Daraja II, Unga Ltd, Terrat and Oloirien.
Figure 1 - Stakeholders meeting at ward level - Terrat Ward.
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The overall goal of the project is to contribute towards ensuring children (especially the most vulnerable) in seven Districts in Tanzania are able to claim their rights, identify innovative solutions and receive appropriate support from duty bearers. R & EJ Project will run for four years and it is operate in close collaboration with the GoT through Community Development Department and Social Welfare, Ward Executive Officers, Ward Education Coordinator and Councilors of each ward hoping that the Government will take over the activities of the project after the project phase out through established children platforms.
St Lucia is also implementing The Global Fund Project for Most Vulnerable Children (MVCs). The project has run for four years now and it is about to phase out in the end of 2011. The overall goal of the project is To reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS and Malaria. This falls under the Thematic area number two of TACAIDS of Impact Mitigation. The main activities done by the project are verification of the Most Vulnerable Children (MVCs) and support them with scholastic materials, food and nutrition and Shelter.
The project has been introduced to all stakeholders at all levels, from ward level to the district level. The main objective to achieve at the end of this quarter is establishment of Children Councils and it is on process now where children elections will take place from 7th December through 15th December 2009 and election of District Children Council is expected to be on 18th December 2009.
The project large component is Advocacy where it
Figure 2 Arusha Municipal (Ungaltd ward) Child Participation
on discussion of guide book for children election and children councils.
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influences stakeholders and duty bearers in changing the policies and laws which affect Children rights and child participation from community level to national level. The focus here is to make changes on children issues like accessing quality education, child abuses, etc. and influence leaders to involve those issues in their budget, the project also focuses at child participation where it will establish children councils at ward and district level. The councils will enable children to defend their rights and participate in different planning of the government from ward level to national level and making sure they are full involved.
METHODOLOGY
The project team used Capacity Building skills methodology through organizing and conducting workshops and Project staff attended different induction course trainings. The project also used participatory approach where it involves and collaborates with Community Development Department in organizing and facilitating workshops.
SUCCESS:
- The project has succeeded in introducing the R & EJ project at ward and district level where the Stakeholders understand children rights and the issue of child participation and accept the project by agreeing in collaboration and full participation during the implementation of the project.
- Preparation and establishment of children platforms in Arusha Municipal, Same and Handeni Districts where Same has begun election on 7th December 2009 with success, there is one Ward Children Council already.
- Meeting with children and discuss on the correction of their guide book and Identification of some problems which faces children in some wards like rape, school absenteeism, street children and orphans.
CHALLENGES
- During the process of introducing the project to stakeholders at Ward level there was a Local Government Election aimed at selecting Village Chair and Village Representatives which makes the process difficult as we fail to meet targeted people. The exercise was hard due to the fact that our priority and targeted group includes Village/Street Chair, but they fail to participate fully as they were not sure if they will win the election or not.
- Poor involvement of parents and Caregivers. R & EJ Project has no direct involvement of the parents rather it mentions children and stakeholders. Stakeholders are worried if the program will be succeeding without involving parents direct by arranging a meeting and discuss with them about the project and the concepts of Child Rights and Child Participation.
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