600 FORMER STREET CHILDREN CHANGED THEIR LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL SKILLS

More than  600  former Street children in Arusha have a reason to smile ,thanks to Watoto foundation a charity organization which  offered them  basic education and  vocational skills.

Most of them are reported to have secured employment in hotels, tourist camps and others in private institutions.

Some of the children are reported to have engaged in entrepreneurship activities   and one is  a second year student in one of in the country. 

Speaking at a ceremony to mark ten years since its inception, the Director of Watoto Foundation Noud Van Hout said that many of the   children were taking drugs and causing havoc in Arusha streets.

The occasion also was saw number boys who have been on vocation training courses graduating.

"We started working and monitoring these children since 2003 when we started, they have changed from street children to good citizens, they are now responsible citizens ” Hout said.

He said that the children were taught farming and other vocational skills which have earned many of them jobs and a basis to begin a new life after the completion of their stay.

“Some years back Wherever you go in the town, lining the pavements and walkways are street children, young boys living on the fringes of society.but  the  foundation  has come up with a unique way to help Tanzania's street children rebuild their lives”

“I would like to appreciate the local government for its commitment in supporting our mission to give hope to  less privileged children in Tanzania”  Hout said.

 In his remarks , Arumeru District  Commissioner  Nyirembe Munasa  hailed the organization for  the good work.

" It is not necessary to be a leader is to do something good for the community or   your country , lets emulate from  the founders of this good course “Munasa said

He told the gathering that it is a high time to embrace the culture of being part of solution to the challenges facing  the underprivileged  groups in the society  especially the needy and those deemed unfit in society .

For their part children from the center who graduated in different courses in farming, agriculture and other vocation skills thanked the founders of Watoto home for changing their lives.

The ten -year jubilee was attended by government officials from Arusha and Kilimanjaro Regions, r eligious and community leaders from Arumeru and other areas in the country.

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