About Us
Who We Are
TACODA and The Jim Arden Foundation were established to help orphaned, abandoned, and at-risk children in Tanzania. TACODA’s founder is Donata Tarimo Arden, who was born and raised in Tanzania. Jim Arden, a retired US educator who traveled frequently to Sub-Saharan Africa to build schools, is the founder of JAF.
The Need in Tanzania
There are currently 2.5 million children, orphaned and abandoned by disease and poverty, living on the streets of Tanzania and digging through garbage for food! In a county as rich as America, something would immediately be done to solve this problem. In Tanzania, one of the poorest countries in the world, there is no solution—unless we help.
The sad truth is every 14 seconds, or less than the time it takes to tie your shoes, a child is orphaned by AIDS. One out of six children will die before they turn five years-old. Every day homeless children struggle to find shelter, food and water. They are at great risk for disease, crime and prostitution.
Unlike America where every child has the legal right to an education, schooling is a luxury in Africa. Half of Tanzania’s children are not in school and desperately want to be. Of those who are in school, only half of them will complete primary school. And, of those who do, only 20% will continue on to secondary school.
We are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of these children, rescuing them from poverty and hunger, supporting their health and education, and giving them something of inestimable value: hope.
"I don't see how anyone can see what I saw the last couple of days and not feel that they have to get involved."
- Phillip T. Ragon Founder for AIDS
Vaccine Research
"If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one"
- Mother Teresa
Creating Better Lives for Tanzanian Children
TACODA
& The Jim Arden Foundation
