iACT is teaming up with Plan International Tanzania (PLAN) to scale our pioneering processes and programs to Burundian refugee camps in Tanzania. We’ll be providing a 9-month consultation for PLAN staff and working directly with Burundian refugee men and women to integrate our Little Ripples early childhood education model and implement our Refugees United Soccer Academy program.
Early Childhood Care and Development As of October 2017, there were 18,591 Burundian refugee children ages 3-5 living in the Nduta and Mtendeli refugee camps in Tanzania. Very few of these children are accessing any form of early childhood care and development (ECCD) activities. Additionally, many of these children do not have their basic needs met and have experienced trauma through displacement.
Currently, PLAN is providing ECCD activities in both camps and has more than 2,000 children enrolled in its ECCD programs. However, only an average of 64% of the children are regularly attending, with this percentage steadily declining. In the coming weeks, we’ll be conducting Little Ripples teacher training with PLAN ECCD refugee teachers in Nduta and Mtendeli refugee camps and working with PLAN staff to help improve the quality of ECCD activities.
Sport In Nduta and Mtendeli camps, very few sport activities are available. Furthermore, the school attendance rate for children ages 15 to 18 is incredibly low at just 3 percent. PLAN sees the Refugees United Soccer Academy as a perfect solution for addressing low attendance rates and the myriad of needs of Burundian refugee youth. And so, we’ll be launching the Refugees United Soccer Academy in the Nduta and Mtendeli refugee camps for youth boys and girls, ages 12 to 18.
Through Little Ripples and the Refugees United Soccer Academy, iACT will also help PLAN integrate our refugee-led approach in order to build the capacity of refugee teachers and coaches to lead the programs in their community.
Teamwork is at the heart of our change model. We’re excited to collaborate with PLAN and work alongside Burundian refugees as they rebuild their lives.
