Survival of the most vulnerable children in Nyamagana District-Mwanza Region

Date

2007

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Southern New Hampshire University

Abstract

"As people move closer to realizing the rights of all children, the countries will move closer to their goals of development and Peace"(Kofi A. Annan: 2005); Based on this argument it is clear that children are starkly and brutally different from the ideal we all aspire to. Poverty denies children their dignity, endangers their lives and limits their potentials. Conflicts and violence rob them off from the secure family life, betray their trust, hope and become most vulnerable and restless children.

The increased vulnerability and marginalization of resource poor house holds is due to rapid urbanization contributing to some social factors affecting the urban dwellers in Mwanza City Council. The rapid urbanization contributing to social factors such as family based problems (alcoholism, domestic violence and separation) and poverty has caused to the emerging of most vulnerable children (5-17 years) in the City. The available data from the department of community development (2005) indicates that about 6% of the population in the project area constituted of most vulnerable children (MVC).

Due to lack of parental care and community support, the MVCs lack of basic social services and indulge in risky behaviors such as drugs abuse, pick pocketing and sex abuse leading to vulnerability to HIV/AIDs /STIs infections.

In addressing the above challenges facing the MVCs, The Survival of the Most Vulnerable Children; Project implemented by Jijenge-Pamba in Nyamagana District will contribute towards improvement of the living standards of the MVCs in the project area. The project is implemented in Pamba, Igogo and Mkuyuni wards of Nyamagana District.

The expected outcomes of this project are; availability of updated MVCs register and resources of poor households, increased awareness among community members on safeguarding the rights of MVCs, increased capacity of CSOs in advocating the rights of MVCs, Local government in (grassroots, wards and city council) providing guidance and inclusion of MVCs activities into the City Council comprehensive development plans and locating resources as well as improved economic status of resource of poor households and; making sure that children are supported with basic rights in a sustainable manner. (Author abstract)

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