Our Projects
It’s easy to do great work when you believe in what you do. That’s why we’re committed to helping children and youth at risk - every day. Below you will find the aims of our three main projects: The Smile Project, Zero to Hero, and The Child Labor Initiative.
Street Children
There are an estimated 437,500 street children in Tanzania. Many live on the street because of the violence and abuse they suffered at home. In Bukoba there are nearly 200 boys living on the streets, where they lack access to basic needs, education and are at risk of falling victim to violence. In this harsh reality, The "Zero To Hero" project aims to provide first aid, psychological help, access to education, as well as protection for children and youth.
Hekima's social workers frequently visit the streets to keep track of new arrivals and the living conditions of the other boys. We also host weekly football matches for recreational activities.
Child Labour
Despite efforts to exploit child labour are still a crucial matter, examples include children farming, fishing, mining, and young girls working in hotels and nightclubs.
Driven by poverty and other underlying factors; many children have moved away from their homes and are exploited in the informal economy, where the risk of many forms of violence such as physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as not attending school so they lose the opportunity to improve their lives for the future. These factors have lead Hekima to create the "Child Labor Initiative" which focuses on providing children with psychological support, reaching out to families of concern, and involving law enforcement if necessary.
"Smile" Project
We provide education about child abuse and how to report incidences of abuse or neglect. Hekima provides informational sessions at local schools and connect with community leaders to mitigate these issues. They can be aware of their rights and responsibilities. This entails school attendance, taking care of themselves, as well as contributing to household duties. We aim to build strong relationships between children and their teachers as well as between them and their parents. As a result they can have a successful future in which they are educated and have the necessary skills to obtain employment in adulthood.