Tanzania: Communities Urged To Invest Into Parenting So That Children Grow To Be Good Citizens
By Mutayoba Arbogast
BISHOP of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania,Northwest Diocese(ELCT-NWD),Dr Abednego Nkamuhabwa Keshomshahara has appealed to parents and guardians to invest more on children needs and wants,so that they grow up to be good citizens of the country.
Bishop Dr Keshomshahara who was guest of honour, said this recently, at Ntoma Orphanage Centre,in Maruku, Kanyangereko ward,Bukoba Rural,l eading individuals with good wishes, social groups, church members, government officials and other invitees during fundraising ceremony, to contribute in cash and materials to children at the orphanage.
He said that every person’s life depends on one another, that human dignity is determined by actions to care for the needy such as young children, orphans, widows and widowers and other vulnerable.
“And when you help others don’t show off that you have done this and that, trying to make a big impression of your wealth “,he cautioned the congregation.
As the Bible says, “Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving before men to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven”.
Sr Penina Kaimukilwa,the headmistress of the orphanage, said the institution is aiming at taking care of babies who lost their mothers at birth, and those of 0 to two years, whose mothers have mental disabilities, and those abandoned by unknown mothers.
She informed that 1,290 children were attended since the orphanage was founded,70 years ago, and that when a child turns two years old, I s returned to family members, and if found the family is incapable of delivering good parenting, the child is handed to Bethania care centre at Kemondo township.
Sr Kaimukilwa appealed to the government to scrap the levies imposed on asvarious materials from donors,as the centre is of charity giving and not for profit making.
“The last government grant to be given to this orphanage was 28 years ago and we would be very much pleased to see the government helping us, so that we continue serving the childen in full capacity”,she said.
Jason Rweikiza,Chairperson for Fundraising organising committee, and member of parliament for Bukoba Rural constituency,thanked all who made an event successful, as the target was collecting 27m/- but surpassed to 30m/-,saying that serving the needy pleases the Almighty God, and who do so is blessed.
Currently Ntoma Orphanage is attending 33 children regardless of their religion, while it’s capacity is to attend 30 children.
For the first years,it mainly received babies whose mothers died at birth,most of them due to postpartum hemorrhage as a lot of birth in their homes as the couldn’t afford transportation to hospital, but as today the health centres has been distributed by the government, the risks have been lowered.
It is expected the government through National Multisectoral Early Childhood Programme(NM-ECDP) will also benefit the orphanage by increased access to adequate health and nutrition services, appropriate responsive care services and opportunities for early learning.
