Introduction: The purpose of this brief document is to update you with information regarding my employment and work experience with street and vulnerable children and youth and their families in Northern Tanzania. Though I got appointment letter to work at Mkombozi in September 2007, I reported in mid January 2008 after a delay of two weeks due to post election violence in Kenya. The organization was started in 1997 Kate McAlpine, a British volunteer. Physical location of Mkombozi’s main activities and offices are in Arusha (street based) and Moshi (residential and street based work).
Mission: Mkombozi works with about 1,000 street and vulnerable children and youth, their families and communities in Northern Tanzania. It seeks to help them grow in mind, body and spirit as well as build a more caring society for all supported by the rule of law. It challenges the status quo and acts as a catalyst for civil society organizations in developing relevant and sustainable programs that ensures their participation while facilitating human processes that seek to improve lives of street and vulnerable children and youth in Tanzania.
Programming Summary: Children’s Program: Street work (mobile school, street banking tool kit, legal aid, health), education for street and vulnerable children and youth (non-formal, primary, secondary, vocational and university), family reintegration (home visits, follow ups), self-actualization (recreation, sports, leisure), self-reliance (group housing, small business skills training, employment linking, small loans and grants), temporary shelter (food, medical, clothing, accommodation), fostering, psychosocial support (counseling, mental health) and mentoring.
Community Engagement (local authority, ‘budget trucking’, schools, communities), Advocacy & Research (litigation, 50% campaign, street census, resilience research), ACTT (Affordable Computer Technology in Tanzania – refurbishment, maintenance & sale, creating IT centers in schools, computer training), Governance, Management and Administration (Board of Trustees, Senior Management Team, Human Resource and Finance).
Mkombozi’s Transition & my Role: The current Director/founder (Kate McAlpine) leaves the organization in December 19th to start up a consultancy (Roho) in Arusha. Since the beginning of 2008, new systems and structures have been put in place to accommodate this change. Initially, I was employed as Children’s Program Coordinator based in Moshi which later changed to cover both Arusha and Moshi. Meanwhile, my role has been adjusted to a new position of Programs Manager and a member of Senior Management Team (SMT) which is led by the Director who reports to the Board of Trustees. I supervise Children’s Program Coordinators (Senior Social Workers, Street Educators, Day Supervisor, Night Supervisor), Community Engagement Coordinator (Fostering, Safe School, Giving Home & Livelihood Officers), Quality Assurance Coordinator (M & E, Research & Child Protection Officers).
Other members of the SMT are the Finance Manager, Human Resource Manager, ACTT Manager and External Relations Manager. Mkombozi’s staff capacity is 70 people and includes 3 Kenyans, 1 Indian, 1 British, 1 Danish and 1 Canadian. In addition, there are 2 short term (6 months) & 2 longer term (1 year) volunteers from USA & Canada working in the organization.
Plans: I currently work for 3 days in Moshi and 2 days in Arusha (1½ hours drive apart). Immediate plan is to settle with family in Arusha. Future projection is to undertake Doctoral Research after finalizing my contract with Mkombozi depending on the availability of funds and acceptance by a relevant University.
Collaboration: The level of professional and practice commitment of Mkombozi is a primary motivation for me to work in the organization. It is also on this basis that I would like to invite and encourage your friendship and partnership in our work: professional, ideological, information & resource exchange or any other forms of collaboration that befits your current undertakings. Please be encouraged to visit our very extensive website at www.mkombozi.org as well as our offices in Arusha and Moshi in Tanzania.
posted by Jeremiah on behalf of Alphonse Omolo
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