Founded in 1997 at the request of youths in desperate need, Mkombozi challenges the government and citizens to wake up to the startling fact that over 50% of Tanzania’s population is under 19.

Mkombozi provides a creative basket of interventions in the Moshi and Arusha Urban Districts.  In addition to helping children already on the streets, Mkombozi works to end the abuse and neglect of children, ensure their dignity and rights are respected, and identify opportunities for action before a child migrates to the street. Programming is designed in response to the acute urgency of the situation and interventions are tailored to the needs of each child.

Approximately 780 children benefit directly from these services each year, with the impact reaching far wider through the training of public servants in child protection, lobbying for legal reform to domesticate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and raising awareness across the country.

Mkombozi is aware of the struggles street children in Tanzania face, and while their first priority is repatriation and access to education, they provide street business training to help children sustain themselves when this is not possible.

These tireless efforts to drive long-term change in favour of children’s rights and wellbeing ensure that Mkombozi is at the forefront of a powerful movement to invest in, listen to and protect young people.