Tanzania, in eastern Africa, boasts some of the most prolific game parks in the world.  It is one of the premier safari destinations of Africa. More than 25% of Tanzania is covered by national parks, game reserves, and conservation areas. It is the home of Lake Victoria and Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Approximately 95% of Tanzanians are of Bantu origin. Yet, there are over 120 different tribes on the mainland. On the mainland, thirty percent of the population hold traditional religious beliefs, 35% follow Muslim beliefs, and 35% practice Christianity.  On the island of Zanzibar, 99% of the people are Muslim.

The official language of Tanzania is Kiswahili. The second official language is English.

Tanzania suffers from excess mortality due to AIDS. The infant mortality rate is affected with 103.68 deaths per 1,000 live births. The life expectancy is 44.5 years.

Children of Promise in Tanzania

Many children and their families live in very primitive conditions. Through the Safina program, Children of Promise sponsors more than 750 children in Tanzania, providing them with food, clothing, and a chance to go to school. Children of Promise also helps older students attend Aldersgate Secondary School, where they are fed and educated. All of these sponsored children receive Christian training and nurture.

A Staff Visit

The staff frequently visits the project sites in Tanzania. Everywhere they go, they are warmly greeted by the children and their families. There is much hunger in Tanzania; the weather conditions are severe and unpredictable, resulting in very small, weak crops. So the food that Children of Promise sponsorship provides is vital to survival.

Because of Children of Promise, much leadership development is occurring in the Church of God in Tanzania. Many lay people are involved in the organization of the program and in caring for the sponsored children. This is providing leadership training to many who otherwise would not be afforded this opportunity.

The children are deeply grateful to be sponsored. They express their gratitude over and over. They pray regularly for their sponsors and love to hear from them; they truly feel part of their sponsor's family.

In Tanzania, many children do not start school until much later than their counterparts around the world. The staff has interviewed children who were beginning first grade at the age of eleven and above. Because of this, Children of Promise has students who are just entering high school at the ages of seventeen and older. There is a great need for sponsors for these older children. The cost of secondary education is rapidly rising in Tanzania and without sponsorship, these students have no hope of attending. If you have a special place in your heart for these older students and would like to assure their high school diploma by sponsoring one of them, please click on the link below.

Sponsored girls waiting to be interviewed.	At Aldersgate School, a child opens class with prayer.
Maasai boys gathered around to watch us.	During an interview, a sponsored girl is thoughtful.