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For some Tanzanians village life is becoming more and more unbearable
because of a lack of steady income and declining food and cash crops production. Some reasons for this, among others, include drought, a lack of modern agricultural technology, and a seeming reluctance
on the part of the Government to deal aggressively with this area of peoples' livelihood. 75% of Tanzanians are farmers.Urban centers have become increasingly more and more attractive as an alternative to life in the village, especially to primary/secondary school graduates. Most industries that offer job opportunities are located in urban centers. Dar es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania, receives a steady migration of the young people from rural areas to urban centers. Unfortunately, when they finally arrive in the City their dreams are shattered. They find the City to be already overcrowded and there are no job opportunities as they had expected. In most cases they find themselves stranded and the idea of going back to the villages empty handed seems not to be the best choice for most of them. Instead they find themselves to be part of the jobless population suffering from and contributing to social and economic problems.
Many of these migrants, especially young girls, end up becoming victims of prostitution and slavery in the guise of house servants. The boys are forced to engage in illegal activities and/or are exploited as cheap laborers.
Another category of villagers who migrate from rural areas is people with physical disabilities. Normally the extended family takes care of their members with disabilities but due to economic difficulties less and less attention is given to non-producing family members. Dar es Salaam has become a haven for people with disabilities because they can get handouts/alms through begging in the streets.
For many years the Government Social Welfare Department has not been allocated an adequate budget to meet the demand, and, therefore, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), e.g., Caritas-DSM, are obliged to intervene in this area. For example, since 1980 Caritas-DSM has been assisting a Leprosy Rehabilitation Village with food, medicines and other material needs even though this is directly under the government.
We also find in the City people who are suddenly left without an income, e.g., widows, divorcees, dismissed workers, just -released prisoners, victims of pickpockets, etc. As a Church we have no choice but to help people in need to the best of our ability with material assistance.
Our Social Welfare Program is very limited though, because of finances, personnel, and just the fact that it is not possible for us, as Caritas-DSM, to assist everyone who comes to us. If at all possible we try to direct and assist individuals to start small income generating projects. Our program is closely monitored, cases are investigated and followed-up.
Created
by Interactive Palette
