Virtues for Holistic Child Development in Tanzania

This pilot project began with a goal to train 5 schools in The Virtues Project  (TVP) model, provide ongoing staff support as they implemented the Five Strategies of The Virtues Project, and then evaluate the effectiveness of this model as a replacement for the caning of children in schools. The demand for The Virtues Project in Tanzania has increased due to gross acts of violence against children as a way of disciplining them that has led to death, disability, high dropout rates, poor school performance, and more.

Evaluation of the first five schools revealed the following: 

1. 230 students impacted, now demonstrate higher moral standards (self-discipline) and improvement in academic performance 
2. 26 teachers and caretakers impacted, now utilizing positive discipline skills
3. Acts of corporal punishments have reduced drastically, approximately 70% reported in the pilot schools
4. Approximately 50% of the parents whose children are involved in the program are also starting to practice positive discipline at home, and share challenges and progress with teachers as they observe their children’s character development

The impact of this project and your giving on GlobalGiving:

1. Strengthened Bright Jamii Initiative (BJI), the organization that provides the training
2. Through BJI, brought TVP to 5 more schools in Dar es Salaam city, and for the first time, begin to include government schools
3. Trained six volunteers at the BJI to support TVP in schools 
4. Trained 15 teachers and 7 support staff 
5. Enrolled a total of 320 students in Bright Clubs where they learn and practice TVP strategies
6. Enabled BJI to join a small national task force with government ministries, UN agencies, and international organizations to develop the National Early Childhood Development Multi-Sectoral Plan which includes identifying and implementing programs that contribute to ending violence against children. TVP is now identified as one of those programs that can contribute to ending violence against children.

We intend to expand the project to five additional schools in the coming year.  Mobilizing resources to expand The Virtues Project requires ongoing recruiting and orientation of new volunteers, materials development and production, transport support and allowance for volunteers, teachers training, audio/visual documentation of the impact, and BJI participation in relevant local and national forums for different stakeholders, including the government, to showcase results for advocacy and seek further support.

We thank you for your continued caring and financial support for our work.  You are helping us to create safe and caring school communities for the children of Tanzania.