Kituo cha Watoto wa Rau (Rau Kids Centre)

Organization Name- Kituo cha Watoto wa Rau (Rau Kids Centre)

Alumni references: Lindsay Cates: cates.18@osu.edu
Jennifer Ellen-Batson: Jennifer-ellen@hotmail.co.uk

Founder
The place was found in mid June 2007. The place was founded by past CCS Volunteer (Marcy Berlin) who was at CCS Rau program for 5 weeks (December to January) and was working with Women Group called KIWODEA. She had a project to accomplish and so she came back to Tanzania but the project didn’t work out well. As she was staying in the village during school vacation most of the kids were just hanging and playing around. She then come up with the idea of bringing the kids together so that they play safe while learning and building strong relationships with each other. She started at Deo glocery with 8 kids but the next day 15 kids showed up, the other day 25 kids and the number has been growing each day and now there are almost 60 kids. Due to increase in number of kids and the nature of the place where the kids used to meet, one of the villagers decided to provide her garden so the kids can play more safely.
The place has no source of income and so completely no resources.
The place is located in Rau Village 5 Minutes walking from CCS Rau Home base.
Currently the centre is operating in two sessions morning session which starts at 9am to 11.30 am and evening session which starts at 4.30pm and ends 6.30 pm. The morning session is for kids of 3-6 years who can not afford to go to daycare centres and/or nursery schools and the evening session which is for the kids of ages 7-15years where most of them go to public schools in the morning. In every session most of the kids who come to the centre are boys (3:1, boys: girls).

Mission of the placement

- helping the kids to discover their skills
- give the kids the freedom to express themselves due to the fact that most of the schools are so strict and they undergo corporal punishment so the kids are not free to express themselves
- to help the mothers do other home activities because due to cultural values of Tanzania it’s the woman who do all the activities at home so having the kids away from home for 2 to 3 hours will help them a lot
- To provide the kids the place where they can play safely while learning
- helping the kids of lower ages 3-5 who can not afford to go to daycare centres because most of the parents are poor
- helping the kids to know each other and build strong relationships/ friendship with each other
- Offer the kids the place where they can learn simple English (writing, reading, conversation etc.), General studies (environment, sanitation, health) etc.

Volunteers Activities
Organize projects and activities for the kids
Play games with the kids
Teach the kids simple English, numbers, mathematics and games
Doing art with the kids
Spend time with kids, make them feel comfortable and empower them
(Activities should base on the age)

Useful Supplies
As the centre has completely no supply so any school supply will do like crayons
Paper/work sheets, pens, reading books, simple English to Swahili dictionaries. Also the supplies to play games with will also help like soccer balls, balloons, ropes etc.

Contact Person:
Marcy Berlin - msb10025@rcn.com
Sara Mponzi- sarahmponzi@yahoo.com