magine being a child with dreams as big as Mount Kilimanjaro—but no shoes, no classroom, and no one to guide you. For too many children in the Moshi region of northern Tanzania, this isn’t imagination—it’s a harsh daily reality. Born into poverty, lacking access to basic education, and struggling for food or safe shelter, these children are often left behind before they’ve even begun.
But in the heart of Moshi, a transformative project is rewriting this narrative. The Moshi Kids Centre, founded and run by Zara Charity Tanzania, is a beacon of hope—a place where vulnerable children find not just care and safety, but the chance to learn, grow, and dream again.
This kids care centre is not just another charity—it’s a movement rooted in compassion, sustainability, and Moshi community support. Through child support programs and partnerships with Volunteers Tanzania, the centre is empowering hundreds of children to reclaim their childhoods and build brighter futures.
Why the Moshi Kids Centre Matters
In Tanzania, where over 26% of the population lives below the international poverty line and children make up 51% of the population, thousands of children face extreme challenges. Many are orphans, street children, or from herding families in remote villages or single-parent homes in slums. They often:
Walk up to 20 km to overcrowded government schools.
Lack school fees, uniforms, or supplies.
Suffer from hunger, malnutrition, or health issues.
Experience trauma, abandonment, or neglect.
Are pulled from school to work, especially girls.
With only 16% of rural children registered at birth and 40% out of school, the need for targeted interventions is urgent. The Moshi Kids Centre, located on Tembo Road in the Pasua neighborhood of Moshi, addresses these challenges by providing a holistic hub for vulnerable children, offering education, healthcare, nutrition, and emotional support to break the cycle of poverty.
The Birth of the Moshi Kids Centre: From Vision to Reality
Founded in 2009 by Zainab Ansell, Zara Charity Tanzania is dedicated to empowering disadvantaged communities through education, healthcare, women’s empowerment, and environmental conservation. The Moshi Kids Centre, launched in 2023, began with 25 children from underserved herding families in rural Kilimanjaro and has grown to support over 800 children today. As Zainab Ansell passionately stated, “Education is a powerful tool to break poverty. By investing in our children, we invest in our future. The Moshi Kids Centre is a gift of opportunity for those who need it most.”
Comprehensive Child Support Programs
The Moshi Kids Centre’s child support programs are designed to address the multifaceted needs of vulnerable children, combining education, health, nutrition, and emotional well-being for lasting impact.
Early Childhood Education
At its core, the centre is a preschool and learning environment for children aged 3–7, offering free education to ensure access for all. Colorful, child-centered classrooms are equipped with books, toys, and learning aids. Through the “Sponsor a Classroom” initiative, donors fund teachers, supplies, uniforms, and meals for 30+ children per classroom. The centre has built new classrooms, celebrated in a 2020 video, to accommodate growing numbers. Children like Sarah, a 12-year-old aspiring accountant, benefit from tailored lessons in math and English, preparing them for primary school and beyond.
Nutrition and Health Support
Malnutrition affects 32% of Tanzanian children, and access to healthcare is limited, with 1 in 19 children dying before their fifth birthday. The centre provides two nutritious meals daily, clean water, and sanitation to combat hunger and improve concentration. Partnerships with organizations like FAME enable mobile clinics, such as a May 2025 cardiology clinic serving over 100 children, offering check-ups, vaccinations, and treatments for issues like malaria. A garden teaches children farming skills, promoting self-sufficiency and healthy eating.
Emotional Support and Safe Spaces
Many children have faced trauma from parental loss, neglect, or abandonment. The centre offers counseling, group and play therapy, and structured activities like sports to foster resilience. A family-style home provides shelter for orphans and street children, with a “reasonable mess” (dining area) ensuring stability and nourishment. Mentorship programs build confidence and life skills, preparing children for reintegration into families or foster care.
Inclusion and Special Needs Support
The centre is inclusive, providing personalized care, mobility aids, and specialized support for children with disabilities or developmental delays, ensuring every child has a chance to thrive.
Building Strong Foundations: Education as a Right, Not a Privilege
In rural Tanzania, education is often seen as a luxury, with many children prioritizing survival over schooling. The Moshi Kids Centre challenges this by treating education as a basic human right. The centre ensures:
Universal Access: Every child, regardless of background or ability, receives quality early education.
Foundational Skills: Children learn to read, write, and think creatively from an early age.
Parental Engagement: Families are involved to understand education’s role in lifting communities out of poverty.
Gender Equality: Girls receive equal support, closing the gender gap in school access.
By laying strong academic and emotional foundations, the centre prepares children for primary school and beyond, fostering future leaders, teachers, and changemakers. This strengthens the fabric of Moshi community support, contributing to a more resilient Tanzania.
Powered by Community and Volunteers
The Moshi Kids Centre thrives on collaboration with local teachers, parents, and leaders, amplified by Volunteers Tanzania (volunteerstanzania.com). Volunteers from around the world contribute by:
Teaching: Supporting English, math, and life skills classes, addressing low literacy and numeracy rates.
Fundraising: Supporting classroom construction and medical clinics.
Community Activities: Leading arts, crafts, and sports to foster joy and community.
Outreach: Raising awareness through social media and events.
Volunteers, including tourists from Zara Tours, often combine safari itineraries with volunteering through programs like the 8-day Zara Tanzania Charity with Adventure package, which includes visits to the centre and tree-planting initiatives. Sarah, a UK volunteer, described teaching English as “heartwarming,” empowering children for tourism careers. By joining Volunteers Tanzania, you can make a tangible impact while immersing in Tanzanian culture.
Community Impact and Future Goals
The Moshi Kids Centre is an engine of community development, addressing poverty and child labor while aligning with Tanzania’s national goals. Graduates are equipped to contribute to their communities, with some pursuing vocational training at Zara Charity’s Moshi Women Make a Change Training Center. The centre’s garden and nutrition programs reduce food insecurity, impacting 345 million people globally, including Tanzania. Future plans include:
Expanding to accommodate more children.
Adding a vocational training wing for older youth.
Launching mobile outreach for rural villages.
Integrating digital literacy for modern job markets.
As Zainab Ansell noted, “Today’s children need a helpful hand and the right guidance at every stage. We’re committed to being that support.”
How You Can Help
You can support the Moshi Kids Centre from anywhere:
Sponsor a Classroom: For $850/year (~$2.30/day), fund education, meals, and supplies for 30 children.
Volunteer: Join Volunteers Tanzania to teach, mentor, or support projects (volunteerstanzania.com).
Donate: Fund classrooms, desks, books, or health supplies at zaracharitytanzania.org.
Spread Awareness: Share this post with hashtags like #MoshiKidsCentre, #ZaraCharityTanzania, and #VulnerableChildren.
From Survival to Success
The Moshi Kids Centre is more than a building—it’s a beacon of love, resilience, and possibility. Through Zara Charity Tanzania’s vision and Volunteers Tanzania’s support, it transforms the lives of vulnerable children, offering education, health, and hope. In a region where poverty and malnutrition persist, the centre proves that every child can thrive with the right resources. Join us to create a brighter, more equitable future for Moshi’s children, one life at a time.