Street Children's Project

Safina Street Children’s Project
The Safina Street children’s project in Dodoma and Singida is very much a people-centred work.  The Imbaseni Trust supports two full-time workers. Adam Wilson and Rose Mallya. A number of years ago, Adam gave up his job as a veterinary teacher in order to bring hope and practical assistance to the many boys who have run away from home for various reasons and find themselves on the street. 

Known as ‘mwalimu’ (teacher), Adam has an individual knowledge of hundreds of boys, not only in Dodoma and Singida, but also in a number of other places including Dar es Salaam. 

He helped to set up the work in Dodoma from scratch and left it in October 2008 as a flourishing concern run by a staff of four plus volunteers. Adam is in the middle of a course of study at the Institute of Social Work in Dar es Salaam, but keeps in touch both with the staff in Dodoma and with some of the boys he has worked with over the years.

Photos from Dodoma

One of the main aims of the work is to reunite children with their families and his concern arises out of his very deep Christian faith.  The Trust has had the privilege of fully supporting Adam for over 3 years by providing a modest salary and allowances for travel, training and practical assistance for the boys.  Quite often he was required to contribute towards medical expenses, basic clothing, food and even, sadly, funeral expenses.

Now the Trust is supporting Adam in his course of study, which, as well as increasing his knowledge of social work, will also give his views added weight when he serves on central and local government committees.

Rose, working in Singida helps the street boys, who sleep rough, either in the streets or the culverts.  She helps them both spiritually and physically.  Many of them are there because they are unwanted.  Many of them have no decent clothes, so she is able to help them. Also a number are sick and she is able to give medicine or take them to hospital.  The team there also give them food and help them to go to school.  Most have had very little education, maybe 1 or 2 years at the most. 

The Singida Centre has 2 houses.  In Lake House, a couple look after 10 street boys, together with their own 5 children!  Rose's house is called Jerusalem House – and she looks after 5 boys. Every night she organises a group which uses the Proclaimers Bible, which is an audio Bible provided by Faith Comes By Hearing.  About 70 boys come regularly and the formed a choir at the church, called the Safina Singers.