In 2005, a 30 acre plot of land was acquired in Mkuranga, a small town 30 miles south of Dar es Salaam, where land was cheap and there was plenty of space for children to play and for crops to grow.
The village was uniquely designed and built in stages. It incorporates family sized dormitories, washrooms, classrooms, a central kitchen, a small library and two large, open sided central halls where everyone eats and where the children can play when the rains happen.
The village was officially opened in July 2010 at a televised ceremony conducted by former President Ali Hassan Mwinyi, attended by over 250 guests. The project has twice won the prestigious ‘Order of Uhuru Torch’ for ground-breaking work for social development in Tanzania.
Currently, the village can accommodate 80 children. They are each in families of up to ten with a resident mother. They eat and sleep as a family, and the mother ensures they are well and do their homework.
One of our mothers is a trained nurse. Our children all have health insurance, and we have a close relationship with Mkuranga hospital. A retired GP based in the UK also gives regular health advice.
