Founded in 2011, this social work organization operates in Majengo, a relatively underprivileged area in eastern Moshi. It runs a community center that serves as a kindergarten, informal school, and recreational space for children and youth from challenging family situations. The center also supports an outreach program.

The kindergarten provides free early learning experiences in reading, writing, and arithmetic for about 35 children aged 2 to 5 from disadvantaged families. These activities are conducted playfully through songs and games.

The informal school accepts teenagers aged 13 to 14, most of whom have failed the primary school exit exams. In Tanzania, failing this exam even once excludes a student from attending government secondary schools. While students can retake the exam, those who pass must enroll in significantly more expensive private schools, which many parents cannot afford.

The informal school prepares these teenagers to retake the primary school exit exams and facilitates their transition to private secondary schools when possible. The organization seeks sponsors to cover private school tuition fees. It has been observed that students who receive this support often outperform their peers in private schools. However, teachers may recommend vocational training for some students who might not benefit from transitioning to secondary school. The informal school operates two classes—one for beginners and one for advanced students. Classes are held Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 1 PM, with a play break.

Beyond academics, the community center offers meaningful recreational activities to help children and teenagers discover and nurture their talents. Current programs include music and sports activities. A music teacher conducts regular workshops where participants learn the basics of music, compose a song, and record it in a studio. Sports activities focus primarily on football and endurance training. Every year, children and youth from the center participate in the Kilimanjaro Marathon and compete in football tournaments against teams from other institutions.

In its outreach program, the organization supports about 15 families through home visits. Most of the beneficiaries are HIV-positive and require support in their daily lives. The visits ensure that these individuals do not feel excluded from society. The organization serves as an essential contact point for various problems. During visits, social workers inquire about the patients' current health status, offer advice for daily life, and provide encouragement. For some patients, the visits include physiotherapy exercises.

Volunteer and Intern Activities

As a volunteer or intern, you can contribute to the kindergarten and teach in the informal school. Subjects in the informal school include English, mathematics, geography, biology, music, and life skills. You can also organize workshops for recreational activities in areas of your expertise.

If you are interested in outreach work, this is possible. Volunteers and interns are always accompanied by an experienced social worker. Basic knowledge of Kiswahili is highly recommended to actively participate in interactions with patients.

It is also possible to contribute to the administrative aspects of the organization, such as writing student profiles, preparing reports for sponsors, organizing fundraising events, and more. This work offers valuable insight into the structure and operations of small non-governmental and non-profit organizations.

The Community Outreach Organization supports children and families from disadvantaged backgrounds. This includes individuals living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses, orphans, teenage mothers, marginalized women, and those confined to their homes, ensuring they are not isolated or neglected. The organization’s social workers provide emotional and practical support to these individuals.

To achieve their goals, the organization also actively involves local communities in its initiatives. Through the "We Care Project," community health workers train women to support people with chronic illnesses and to promote disease prevention. Another significant program is the women’s self-help group, which encourages women to share skills, experiences, and resources. The organization also operates a micro-savings program that grants microloans to needy families to help them achieve financial independence.

The organization’s daycare project offers children from disadvantaged families free early childhood education, providing them with a strong foundation for their future.

Your Role as a Volunteer or Intern

As a volunteer or intern, you will support teachers in delivering early childhood education, organize engaging activities, and provide individual attention to children with special needs.

In the social work and home visitation program, participants accompany social workers during visits, offer companionship, assess needs, and help monitor progress. In the "We Care Project," you will assist in organizing and conducting health seminars on topics such as hygiene, nutrition, and disease prevention. You will also help prepare and distribute care packages for individuals with chronic illnesses. Similarly, you can contribute to the women’s self-help group by offering supportive engagement.

Another area of involvement includes providing administrative support to the NGO.