Virtues for Holistic Child Development in Tanzania

This is great news! The Tanzanian government has recently acted to prohibit beating of children in pre-schools through grade three. An amazing step forward!. However, implementation of this prohibition leaves a vacuum. How will teachers establish discipline? This is where you come in! 

Your gift to The Virtues ProjectTM (TVP) in Tanzania enables Bright Jamii Initiative (BJI) to develop and promote a comprehensive program of child protection. As an organizational entity, BJI adds legitimacy, influence, and effectiveness to the work of advocating for eliminating corporal punishment altogether, introducing TVP as an effective alternative to beating, and exploring means to incorporate virtues practices into the school system.

You are truly making an impact through BJI/TVP as it has gained traction over the past few months.

There have been a number of national dialogues recently among government ministries and other local and international organizations in Tanzania about women and child protection. When these dialogues explored the implementation and effectiveness of different approaches, BJI was able to demonstrate how TVP in Tanzania works to foster self-discipline to replace corporal punishment in schools. BJI was also invited to share more about the Virtues Project in positive parenting and safe school thematic groups. BJI expertise was acknowledged in an invitation to present TVP at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST), further extending awareness of TVP. 

BJI/TVP conducted 3-day training for a group of volunteers and interns who will be leading a Dar es Salaam city pilot project to develop exemplary schools and demonstrate the impact of Virtues Project for MoEST and other stakeholders. 

To ensure efficiency and effectiveness of its operations, gain credibility, and influence the legal framework surrounding child protection, BJI has established an office to provide a base of operations where meetings, trainings and systematic planning and reflections can be done.

With your ongoing support, BJI/TVP plans for the next quarter are to 1) introduce Virtues Project to District Women and Children Protection Committees (WCPCs), which are local coordinators of the national initiative; 2) recruit recruit daycares, preschools and primary schools to implement TVP and evaluate its impact; 3) reach into new schools by conducting TVP training for at least 100 teachers/support staff across 20 schools; 4) continue to accompany 5 existing schools with their implementation of TVP, mentoring teachers and identifying potential facilitators who can be trained in each school; 5) organize teacher/parent-guardian conferences (1 per school) to introduce 500 parents/guardians in TVP and the parents’ role in supporting it and how they can adopt it at home.

Wonderful progress is happening toward putting an end to caning in schools in Tanzania...

Several social change organizations in Kenya are showing interest in The Virtues Project and have pledged to participate in virtues training in the near future.  (Unfortunately, violence against children in schools, which led to more deaths of children, has enhanced collaboration with The Virtues Project.)

A Swahili version of the Family Virtues Cards has been designed and is soon to be in production. Currently, a review team is offering final recommendations to the design team.  Once the cards are in production an application for smartphones will also be made available.  Virtues cards will help spread the language of virtues and The Five Strategies of The Virtues Project!

A youth detention center has now received training in The Virtues Project.  The training was well received by the youth and staff.  Not only was it an enjoyable time for all, but many talents were discovered!

The evaluation program, running in six schools, continues slowly.  More funding is needed for additional follow-up refresher training and evaluations before a final report will be drafted.  The costs of travel, meals, and training are substantial mainly due to the distances between schools which require additional lodging and meals. 

We thank you for your generous support of the work we do.  With your continued charitable contributions and sharing of these reports, we will bring The Virtues Project to schools in Tanzania to replace caning with positive discipline tools!

• Swahili Family Virtue Card (PDF)