Where life begins: Compassion International now embarks on prenatal care for fetuses in Tanzania
When it comes to education the Namanga cluster takes care of 54 Primary School pupils, 32 secondary school students, 2 university scholars, 9 vocational training centers and 68 in pre-school.
Black News 
After serving disadvantaged children and the youth in the country for nearly 30 years now, Compassion International Tanzania has now gone even deeper to where life begins.
The Christian Charitable Organization has started caring for babies that are still in the womb and yet to be born.
The childcare, as far as compassion is concerned begins with the expectant mother. The baby will eventually enter the world guaranteed to fall into safe hands.
It was recently revealed during a special event in Longido District, that under the new survival program, Compassion International Tanzania (CIT) has started to take care of fetuses, right from inside the wombs, to ensure the safety of both mother and child.
A total of 15 such fetuses are already under the prenatal Survival Program of Compassion International, in the Northern Tanzania precinct according to the official report from the Namanga Cluster of the CIT.
On the other hand, Longido spends an average of 14 million/- per month to cater for the children and youths in the District, under the Namanga Cluster of Compassion International Tanzania.
“The Namanga CIT cluster, located close to the border with Kenya, has so far taken care of 497 children and youth, among them 143 boys and 127 girls, since its initiation in 2003,” stated Pastor Ndefiyo Sikawa of the Longido Baptist.
Pastor Ndefiyo was presenting the local Child and Youth Development Center’s report to the registrar of civil society organizations, Emmanuel Robert Mandawe Kihampa, who visited the Namanga cluster in Longido to witness the various programs being implemented by the Compassion International Tanzania.
“Young beneficiaries currently taken care of by Compassion International Tanzania through the Namanga cluster are 240, comprising 123 girls and 113 boys,” said the church minister.
Pastor Sikawa explained that the beneficiaries are served under two main programs, those who are trained directly from the center and those who are usually attended from their homes.
The registrar, Emmanuel Kihampa expressed satisfaction on how young people in Longido were being groomed to become innovative, productive and responsible individuals.
“This goes to show that education is not about changing culture and traditional ways of life but rather to complement and improve them,” he said.
Digitalizing the culture
“I was impressed to see Compassion International impacting computer skills to young children, this will teach them to start keeping local records, digitally preserving cultural heritage and other traditional values,” pointed out Mr Kihampa.
When it comes to education the Namanga cluster takes care of 54 Primary School pupils, 32 secondary school students, 2 university scholars, 9 vocational training centers and 68 in pre-school.
At least 168 million/- is invested every year to cover education and health services for the beneficiaries and their families.
The CIT Cluster number TZ0505 centered at Baptist Longido, comprises five different Christian denominations including the Free Pentecost Church of Tanzania (FPCT) Namanga, Anglican Eworendeke, Lutheran Namanga, the Baptist Church of Longido and the Tanzania Assemblies of God (TAG) Namanga.
On her part, Compassion International Tanzania (CIT) Director, Mary Lema said most children under their care have visions, however, in order for their dreams to be fully realized through mutual cooperation and support from the surrounding communities.
