Future for Iringa street children
COVID 19 RESPONSE
If you would like to give specifically towards the needs arising from C19 please do so via the following link.
We want to keep you up to date with how C19 is impacting Tanzania, and how we are responding to this new challenge to continue serving the most vulnerable children in Iringa.
We are pleased to share that our team in Tanzania have not reported a rise in local illness or deaths, and this is consistent with the Government who have removed most restrictions on education, clubs and social gatherings.
Whilst we are so grateful that life appears to be returning to normal at this stage in Tanzania, there is no doubt that the shut-down of education and gatherings did have a significant economic impact on the children and families that we support.
Many people rely on micro-business and trade, such as selling fruit and vegetables on the side of the road, supported by the many students in the Iringa area. The economic slow-down and reduction in footfall has caused many of our families to really struggle to put food on the table.
food parcel relief
As a result, as a temporary measure we have introduced a food bank for 50 of the most vulnerable families in the FISCH community. This monthly parcel consisting of 25 kilograms of maize flour and 5 kilograms of beans has been a life changing for these families at this time.
We hope to continue to provide this for as long as funds last. Thank you so much to those of you who have contributed to FISCH and enabled us to provide this very basic need.
Other ways FISCH has been adapting in response to C19
In summary we will continue to provide food, shelter and support to these vulnerable children.
Breakfast club, Short-Term Accommodation, Sunday Church, Food Parcels, sewing training, sewing business support and food distribution will continue with the following adaptations
• We are using every opportunity to promote and educate FISCH registered children and carers on the importance of hand hygiene and social distancing.
• We have purchased a new water tank to increase provision of clean water, soap and sanitiser.
• We have purchased additional buckets with taps to help with hand washing so everyone who comes to the Drop in Centre can wash hands on arrival.
• Purchase of paracetamol supplies and lockable storage for additional medical supplies has been ramped up.
• Food on a Saturday will be provided through specific distribution points within the town rather than centrally at the Drop in Centre
• Lunchboxes - The team will prepare food at breakfast clubs and Sunday Church in lunch boxes, so that these can be collected and taken away to prevent groups forming at the Drop in Centre.
• Food Parcels - Distribution will be staggered, and additional packaging will be purchased to reduce risk of contamination and time spent by food parcel beneficiaries at the drop in centre.
• All our students have now returned to school and vocational training, and clubs such as FISCH Utd and Sewing training have started again.
• Food on a Saturday will be provided through specific distribution points within the town rather than centrally at the Drop in Centre
• Lunchboxes - The team will prepare food at breakfast clubs and Sunday Church in lunch boxes, so that these can be collected and taken away to prevent groups forming at the Drop in Centre.
• Food Parcels - Distribution will be staggered, and additional packaging will be purchased to reduce risk of contamination and time spent by food parcel beneficiaries at the drop in centre.
• All our students have now returned to school and vocational training, and clubs such as FISCH Utd and Sewing training have started again.
how you can help
• Pray for that the virus does not take a hold in Tanzania
• Contribute towards the food bank and continued provision of lunch boxes, soap,sanitizer and medical supplies.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss this in more detail, please feel free to talk to your local FISCH contact, or contact us at office@gofisch.org.