Through the Access Project, SBSD works to reverse the crisis in education for children with disabilities in Tanzania specific project activities are;
a) Helping communities understand the nature and types of education that are offered
b) Identifying out-of-school children with disabilities and supporting their enrolment in formal education Engaging parents and communities in the development and delivery of educational services
c) The project is also increasing the supply of and access to education by providing financial support to families to offset direct and opportunity costs in accessing education
d) Conducting teachers training on quality instruction and classroom management
e) Providing learning materials and school supplies
f) Supporting school Managers and leaders
g) Construction of school infrastructure such as building classroom
SBSD works in Tanzania to transform the lives of children with correctable disabilities through surgery and compassionate care, the children we serve have conditions like clubfoot. Clubfoot is a deformity where the foot is curved inwards and downwards. This deformity can cause pain while walking, preventing a child from attending school or earning an income later in life, and it can elicit discrimination from community members.
Statistics show that globally for every 750 births 1 child is born with clubfoot and this problem is affecting Tanzania as well. The number is higher in underdeveloped countries like Tanzania. The problem of clubfoot is due to a lack of awareness and poor access to healthcare most children in developing countries like Tanzania do not receive treatment.
Left untreated, clubfoot results in severe disability, causing pain and difficulty in walking. Many children drop out of school and become beggars on the streets and some children with clubfoot in school are at risk of dropping out because clubfoot causes pain and difficulty in walking. This means, there is a huge number of children who do not go to school contributing to have higher illiteracy rate in Tanzania.
Approximately 90% of all children born with clubfoot live in countries where there is limited or no access to proper treatment. As a result, over one million children are living with untreated clubfoot and face stigma, pain, and increased risk of lifelong poverty, the problem of untreated clubfoot is one we can solve through surgery.
All over the World, children with disabilities need extra care and support if they are to be included in society and be offered an equal opportunity in life.
SBSD is implementing life skills and daily living skills training for children with special needs in schools. Teaching them life skills and daily living skills training so that after completing their studies they will be able to find new ways of thinking and problem-solving and to live independently.
Life skills are often referred to as independent living skills or daily living skills. Basic life skills include self-care activities, communicating with others, money management, shopping, keeping a room clean and organized, and so on. The overall aim of supporting children and young people with additional needs is to develop life skills and link these skills together to promote independence in all possible aspects of their lives. This builds self-esteem and confidence and ensures a sense of achievement which in turn increases happiness and wellbeing
If we look at recent data provided by the United Nations (2021), the average prevalence of women with disabilities (over 18 years old) is 19.2%, whereas the average prevalence of men with disabilities is 12%, which means that approximately one in five women has some type of disability. These data justify the need to analyze the situation of these women from a cross-cutting perspective It is well known that women have higher chances than men to live with a disability, and when they do, they face different and numerous obstacles to live to their full potential and to enjoy all their rights.
Girls and Young women with disabilities suffer from;- Double discrimination
- Low levels of education
- Limited access to employment
- Inadequate and insufficient access and offer of health services
- Invisibility in decision-making processes
- Help girls with disabilities from low-income families have access to quality education, health care support, and social welfare support for families.
- Increase participation in decisions that affect their lives.
- Increase economic participation and empowerment by ensuring their access to decent work and opportunities;
- Increase participation in peace and humanitarian response.
- Ensure that girls and young women with disabilities can make choices, stand up, speak out, and live well with dignity.
- Ensure girls and young women with disabilities have equal access to vocational education and training;
- Challenge social norms that create discrimination and perpetuate prejudices.
