How We Help
Rescue Homeless Children
Gift is 12 years old. His father disappeared early in his life and his mother died of AIDS when he was just 6 years-old. Gift lived on the streets, taking care of his younger sister, for four years before he was brought to TACODA's attention. He now has a home at the TACODA Children’s Center, in Arusha, Tanzania. We also found care and medical attention for his sister, who has AIDS.
The TACODA Children’s Center provides homeless children with food, shelter, clothing, medical care, sports and art activities, and access to schooling. Most importantly, we also provide them with a family filled with love.
Educate At-Risk Children
We secure schooling for orphans and at-risk children at public and private schools at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. For those who don’t qualify for higher education, we secure their admission to vocational school.
Aid Schools
TACODA maintains an Mobile Library of 2,000 English books and rotates a selection of these books monthly among primary schools in Arusha. We also provide lesson plans and teacher training in English instruction through classroom demonstrations and co-teaching support.
Provide Sports Activities
Sports play a key role in the physical, social and mental development of children. They encourage initiative, resourcefulness, and help develop self-confidence. Team sports, in particular, provide young people with lessons in loyalty, discipline, and commitment.
For these reasons, we provide homeless and at-risk youth with the opportunity to become members of our three TACODA soccer teams. We also host the community youth league playoffs.
Offer Reading and Art Programs
The reading and art programs are an important aspect of our work. Art activities allow a child to learn and work through ideas and construct knowledge and meaning of the world. They also support a young child’s fine motor skills, and perception, language and social interaction skills. Understanding the purpose of reading and finding pleasure in it is the gateway to life-long learning.
“English is the language of ... advancement for my people … (we must) change the current system among schools to properly use the English language, we need assistance in English courses for primary and secondary schools—and books.”
- Jumanne Mahembe, Education & Vocational Training Minister TZ 
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
- Nelson Mandela
TACODA
Creating Better Lives for Tanzanian Children
& The Jim Arden Foundation
