Greetings from Tanzania
Our USA Tanzania Mission Director, Fr. John Tigatiga, SDS, traveled home this past December to visit family and get some quick updates on how the mission is doing in the area.
Most children in Tanzania are living in poverty. Urban families do not go to school, and in some cases, they spend their days on the streets, begging or selling small items. They often live in crowded houses, and the lack of money means that they don’t get enough nutritious food.
Through the parish schools in Tanzania, the Salvatorians ensure that the children in their communities receive an excellent education. As we know, many children are naturally curious, but some do not know how to focus or use this curiosity. Kindergarten is a time for sparking and directing a child’s interest and natural love of learning.
These schools offer an opportunity for kids to learn and practice the essential social, emotional, study and problem-solving skills that they will use throughout their schooling.
“Our Salvatorian missionaries remain genuinely convinced that a good education and access to health care are essential aspects of life,” said Fr. Tigatiga. “As a result, many areas now have kindergarten and elementary schools within parishes, hospitals, or
clinics.”
Thanks to the Salvatorian Missionaries, the number of children attending schools has increased in many villages. However, there are some challenges facing most of these schools; they are not self-sustainable, and they experience shortages of teachers and school supplies. Therefore, the work we do to help pay teacher salaries and expenses is vital to the children from some of the poorest families in Tanzania.
