Information in English

Our projects

We currently support the KCC with its numerous small and large individual projects:

At the KCC, there are many different programs available for children and young people, all free of charge. These programs allow them to develop freely and nurture their talents.

For example, there is a preschool kindergarten, computer and English courses, tutoring, and daily activities primarily held in the afternoon, such as acrobatics, music, traditional and modern dance, theater, sewing, and swimming lessons.

Every Saturday, the Saturday Show takes place at the center, providing a platform for children and young people to showcase what they have learned.

All activities are run and organized by about 35 Tanzanian volunteers. They care for the children's well-being every day and support them even in challenging situations. The KCC is like a big family where everyone is welcome, regardless of origin, gender, religion, ability, knowledge, etc. It is a peaceful place where children can simply be children and feel safe.

In addition to daily activities, there are also several larger projects that we regularly support with our donations. Details about these projects and how you can support them are explained on the following pages.

General information about the KCC

The Kigamboni Community Centre (KCC) was founded in 2007 by four Tanzanians who had faced many difficulties in their lives. The centre is located on the peninsula in Kigamboni, a suburb of Dar es Salaam. Currently, 400-450 children and young people attend the centre, which is run by about 35 Tanzanian volunteers.

As a community centre, it is aimed at all people in the area, especially children and young people. The KCC strives to give everyone in Kigamboni and the surrounding area the opportunity to engage in meaningful activities, helping them overcome daily challenges and showing them possibilities for their future lives. Additionally, it is intended to be a safe place where children can simply be children.

Under the motto "Everyone has a talent, so come along and let others be part of it," the KCC offers various educational, recreational, and further training opportunities.

The KCC sees itself as an organization for the entire community. Everyone should have access to education and prospects in life. It envisions a communal, supportive, and creative world without poverty.

Therefore, KCC's staff bring people together to support each other by sharing their knowledge, passion, creativity, talents, and skills. Respect, equality, peace, creativity, trust, security, and uniqueness play major roles.

The centre has been built exclusively by volunteers and financial support from private sources.

We actively collaborate with the Pamoja e.V. association from Germany to support the volunteers on-site.

The idea of the KCC Childrens Home

Since 2007, the KCC has offered various activities for children and young people in Kigamboni. Over time, more and more street children have come to the KCC to participate in these daily activities. However, as the KCC does not have the facilities to provide them with a place to live and necessary food, the idea of a shelter emerged.

The shelter project aims to support children not only during the day but also in the evenings and at night, providing them with care and integrating them into the community. It includes safe shelter, educational opportunities, clothing, and food, along with appropriate care and support for children who would otherwise live on the streets.

It is important to note that most street children are not orphans. Therefore, a crucial part of the Shelter Project is to locate the child's family members and offer help and support to both the child and their family. The primary goal of the project is to return the children to their families, if possible, and to reintegrate them into family and community life. If returning to the family is not feasible, the KCC seeks alternative options, such as places in boarding schools, foster families, or jobs. The procedure in these cases is individualized and depends heavily on the specific situation and the interests of the child.

During the time it takes to locate and contact the child's family, the children have a safe place to live at the shelter. They can also participate in the activities at the centre, integrating into the KCC community. They discover what it means to be cared for and liked, to feel safe, and to have the opportunity to learn and play with other children without being labeled as street children by societal prejudices. At the KCC, they can simply be children and part of a community. The KCC has successfully provided this environment, and many street children who have attended the KCC have expressed how comfortable they felt because they were accepted without any conditions.

The shelter is located in a rented building near the KCC. Since 2014, former street boys and girls have been living there together with two KCC volunteers. The volunteers care for the children 24/7, ensuring they have a regular daily routine, food, school materials, and other necessities. As the shelter is only a 10-minute walk from the KCC, the children can easily reach the centre while having their own place of refuge. In the mornings, the boys attend school, and in the afternoons, they visit the KCC and participate in its activities. Some of the boys have recently started acrobatics and have become so skilled that they perform at shows in hotels, beach resorts, and other events.

In the early years, 12-16 children lived in the shelter. However, the KCC has expanded the facilities, and now more than 30 boys and girls live there. Additionally, the KCC has rented another "apartment" for five young people who are already 18 years old. These young adults no longer live in the shelter but are becoming more independent. This arrangement has been working well, and the KCC continues to support them when necessary.

The main goals of the shelter are:

Provide temporary shelter, care, professional support, and counseling sessions to children currently living on the streets in Dar es Salaam.
Involve the children in the daily educational programs and activities at KCC, giving them the opportunity to be part of the community while living at the shelter.
Find the children's parents or guardians with the primary aim of reintegrating the children into their families if possible.
Seek alternative solutions if reintegration into the family is not possible, such as placement in a foster family or a boarding school.

As the shelter incurs high costs (approximately 1,000 EUR/month) to feed and adequately care for the children, we are grateful for any support and welcome local helpers, donations, and sponsors.

From time to time, the shelter also receives food donations from private individuals in Tanzania. They bring large bags of rice, maize flour, beans, washing powder, and other hygiene items such as soap and toothpaste.

The current plan

Together with the KCC, we have been considering how to secure the shelter in the long term. Initially, the idea was to buy the currently rented facilities and then renovate and, if necessary, rebuild them to better meet the needs of the boys and girls while ensuring the building complies with all official requirements. With donations from private individuals and strong support from the students of the Hansa-Gymnasium in Cologne, we collected around 8,000 euros in 2019/2020.

However, in the summer of 2020, we came up with an even better idea: to buy a new plot of land and construct a completely new building. This approach allows us to meet all specifications, save on rental costs, and create a new, safe home for the boys and girls.

In July 2020, we realized this dream by purchasing a great piece of land, diagonally opposite the current building, with our donations. The children from the shelter are actively helping with the move, and we hope it will not take much longer. We owe this achievement to Wings of Support, who are financing the construction.

However, we still need more donations to furnish the new rooms with furniture and make them comfortable. We greatly appreciate any help you can provide!

New Kcc Childrens Home

Here you can find updates on the developments at the construction site:

July 2020: Purchased the land (through donations from Pamoja e.V.).
February 2021: First delivery of materials (financed by Wings of Support and Wilde Ganzen).
March 2021: The plot is cleared of rubbish, weeds, and trees/bushes, and construction begins.
April 2021: The roof is built.
May 2021: The design of the outer wall is finished, a gate is installed, and tiles are laid inside.

Scholarship Programme

Support a child at KCC through a school sponsorship.

KCC's Learner Scholarship Programme is aimed at children who attend KCC daily but whose families cannot afford the costs of secondary school. In Tanzania, attendance at primary school is free of charge, apart from books, school uniforms, transport, etc. However, until recently, annual school fees were also charged for attending secondary school. As a result, only a few children had the opportunity to attend secondary school, as the costs were prohibitive for many families in Kigamboni.

Due to a change in presidency at the end of 2015, education policies have shifted, and there are no longer additional school fees for attending state secondary schools. However, only children with a certain grade point average can attend state secondary schools. While this change has increased the number of children able to attend secondary school, it has not helped all of them. Children whose grades are insufficient for state schools and whose families cannot afford private school fees are still limited to primary education.

The Scholarship Programme helps these children attend secondary school after primary school. KCC aims to give more children the chance to complete their education, improving their prospects for employment or further studies.

Typically, 400-500 EUR per year is enough to cover a child's secondary school costs. However, the exact amount depends on the specific school and the circumstances of the individual child. Secondary school lasts 4-6 years, and sponsorships are expected to cover this period.

Only children who regularly attend KCC and participate in its activities can be sponsored through the Scholarship Programme. Regular meetings are held with the sponsored children to discuss updates, submit school reports to KCC, and write letters to sponsors. This ensures that both sponsors and KCC are kept informed about the child's progress.

Sponsors are welcome to visit both KCC and their sponsored child at any time. It is also encouraged that sponsors write to their sponsored children. Emails sent to KCC are printed and passed on to the children.

Due to changes in school fees, no new sponsorships were arranged for a time, but existing sponsorships continued. This development is seen as progress, as fewer young people now depend on external support due to the political changes.

As the boys and girls currently living in the KCC Shelter do not have families to support them, they rely on KCC and its donations. We are also seeking sponsors for them so they can attend secondary school.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please send us an email so we can provide more detailed information about a sponsored child and the associated costs!

College Scholarship

Support a KCC volunteer through college sponsorship.

Many Tanzanian KCC volunteers have dedicated years to the center but have not had the opportunity to continue their education or gain necessary qualifications. The College Scholarship Programme supports the further education and training of these volunteers.

On one hand, this program recognizes the long-term efforts of volunteers and provides them with better future opportunities. On the other hand, it enhances the professionalism of KCC, as volunteers expand their knowledge and skills through college education and gain additional qualifications. They can apply their theoretical knowledge at KCC while studying and simultaneously pass on their new skills to other volunteers.

This relatively new program offers young adults the chance for education or further training, which greatly supports KCC in the long run. Currently, three volunteers from different families are supported by this program.

The costs for a College Scholarship vary depending on the course of study and the college. Typically, 700-800 euros per year are needed. The duration of the studies also varies, usually taking between two and four years to complete a degree.

KCC encourages regular contact (e.g., by email) between sponsors and sponsored volunteers.

If you are interested in sponsoring a KCC volunteer (alone or with others), please contact us or the KCC directly to receive further information about the volunteers and the associated costs. We will be happy to assist you.

If you sponsor a volunteer, we will gladly issue you a donation receipt!`

Volunteer Profiles:

Tumaini:
Tumaini has been working at KCC since 2007. He regularly provides math tutoring, teaches art, and does make-up for performers. At KCC, he is involved in organizing performances, managing finances, and handling business operations. Through the College Scholarship, he studied computer engineering and computer science, graduating at the end of 2018. He has since shared his acquired skills with KCC.

Shabani:
Shabani has been at KCC since 2012. He is responsible for the social media area, maintaining the Facebook page and KCC homepage, and giving social media lessons and workshops to educate young people about internet use and its dangers. The college sponsorship enabled him to study journalism for three years in Dar es Salaam, which he completed in 2018.

Neema:
Neema, 27, has been working at KCC for two years. She participates in acting classes in the afternoons and teaches in the Nursery Class, caring for the youngest children at KCC in the mornings. Thanks to a sponsorship, she began training as an educator in January 2018, a program that took a total of three years to complete.

Wheelchairs for KCC

Since the KCC is committed to welcoming everyone, regardless of nationality, wealth, religion, or health impairments, the center aims to enable participation for those who need assistance or devices to get there. KCC also prioritizes supporting disadvantaged families wherever possible, including easing the daily lives of children with physical impairments.

Unfortunately, there are limited devices available for people with disabilities in Tanzania. However, even simple items like a basic wheelchair can significantly improve the quality of life.

For this reason, KCC is currently working to support some physically disabled children in Kigamboni by raising funds to provide them with wheelchairs.

Many families cannot afford to buy a wheelchair for their children, resulting in many children with disabilities staying at home, lying on the sofa or bed most of the time, unable to participate in family life or interact with other children.

With a wheelchair, these children would have many more opportunities to engage with other children, be part of life in the community, visit the KCC, and gain overall mobility and flexibility.

We want to support KCC in this important project and hope for your active involvement!

We have already financed two wheelchairs with the help of the primary school in Burgweiler, which organized a charity run for the benefit of KCC. With this campaign, we hope to gain even more supporters and provide even more children with wheelchairs!

If you are interested in financing wheelchairs, please donate to Pamoja e.V. with the reference "Wheelchairs for KCC". As always, every cent counts 🙂

We are happy to issue receipts for donations. Please send us an email with your postal address. Thank you!

KCC Future

The government of Tanzania is planning to restructure, modernize, and upgrade the Kigamboni district ("Kigamboni New City"). These changes could have significant consequences for the KCC, as the KCC buildings belong to the government. Although the KCC has been assured of continued use of its current premises, there remains a fear that the government may reclaim them at some point.

Currently, acquiring or building on land in the center of Kigamboni is prohibited. Therefore, the KCC is unlikely to be able to acquire its own land in this area, expand the center, or change its location. However, it is crucial for the KCC to reach and support as many children and young people as possible. Hence, the idea of establishing another KCC at a different location has long been considered.

Due to the planned restructuring of Kigamboni and thanks to a donation from the Selesko Foundation, KCC was able to purchase a three-hectare plot of land (KCC Future) in 2010. KCC Future is located in Gezaolole, about 15 kilometers from the current center, beyond the border of the government's planned "Kigamboni New City."

Of course, KCC does not want to leave its current location or close the center in the heart of Kigamboni. However, KCC Future offers the security of being able to relocate the center if necessary. The primary intention, though, is to establish another community center there.

A three-phase plan has been developed for the site:

Phase 1: Securing and Preparing
This phase includes constructing a fence around the property, building a small wooden hut, drilling a well, and installing a pump and water tank. All these projects have already been completed. The fence secures the property, preventing neighbors from using it for their animals and providing protection. The hut allows someone to live on the property, take care of it, and guard it. The well, pump, and tank are essential for planned agriculture and general water supply.

Gezaolole is not densely populated and is not yet connected to the electricity grid, so residents live without electricity and running water. The KCC well is therefore available to all neighbors free of charge. Another goal of this phase is to invest in and install renewable energy sources, although financial means are currently lacking.

Phase 2: Development of Agriculture
This phase plans for the development of two separate vegetable gardens, construction of housing for chickens, and the start of farm production and sale of agricultural products.

In 2012, the vegetable gardens were established and a large chicken house for about 100 chickens was built. Unfortunately, the soil on this plot is not suitable for farming. Vegetable planting failed, and keeping chickens became difficult over time. Despite external help, the plan to use the land for agricultural purposes was not successful. However, further income opportunities are being explored for future implementation on the property.

Phase 3: Construction of Additional Buildings
In the third phase, a community center is to be built, including facilities such as a hall (for events), offices and classrooms, a first aid room, a shelter for street children, and a hostel for international volunteers and other guests. This hostel would also provide an income opportunity for the center.

Construction of the buildings has not yet started. The necessary financial means are still being secured. However, the KCC is confident that a sponsor will be found soon and construction can begin in a timely manner.

Long-term Goal:
Once construction is completed, the KCC will have the opportunity to generate regular income, making KCC Future a step towards financially independent development.

We are happy to issue donation receipts. Please send us an email with your postal address. Thank you!