We sponsored Kasimu… Then his family situation improved so much we were no longer needed! Hooray!
The best result we can hope for is our support is no longer required! Here’s some info about Kasimu as it was when we sponsored him.
Kasimu is a 7 year old boy in Tanzania.
Here’s the information we can share with you:
GUARDIANS:
- Mother
- Father
FATHER/MALE GUARDIAN OCCUPATION:
Agriculture / Farmer
MOTHER/FEMALE GUARDIAN OCCUPATION:
Agriculture / Farmer
Kasimu is an only child in his household.
CORRESPONDENCE LANGUAGE:
Swahili
HOBBIES:
- Dolls
- Hide and Seek
EDUCATION:
- UK School Year Equivalent: Year 3
- Favourite subject: Maths
About Kasimu’s Project
CLOSEST MAJOR CITY:
Lindi
COMMUNITY:
Coastal, Town
MOST COMMONLY SPOKEN LANGUAGE:
Kiswahili
NO. OF RESIDENTS:
6,391
MOST COMMON OCCUPATION:
Day LabourDomestic Services
TYPICAL HOUSE CONSTRUCTION:
- Roof: Tin/Corrugated Iron
- Wall: Tin
- Floor: Dirt
REGIONAL DIET:
- Beans
- Cassava
- Fish
- Maize
- Rice
About Kasimu’s Country:
Tanzania
Capital City:
Dodoma
Population:
51.04 million
Life expectancy:
Male 60.34 years, Female 63.13 years
Population with improved drinking water:
Urban 77.2%, Rural 45.5%
Population with improved sanitation:
15.6%
Percentage of children underweight:
13.6%
Literacy Rate:
Male 75.9%, Female 65.4%
Child Labour:
21%
Religion:
mainland – Christian 61.4%, Muslim 35.2%, indigenous beliefs 1.8%, Zanzibar – more than 99% Muslim
Percentage living below the poverty line:
46.60% (22 million)
A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY
Shortly after achieving independence from Britain in the early 1960s, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the nation of Tanzania in 1964. One-party rule ended in 1995 with the first democratic elections held in the country since the 1970s.
Unlike its warring neighbours, Tanzania is one of the few countries in the Great Lakes Region to enjoy relative peace and political stability. It’s renowned for its abundant wildlife, the Serengeti and Lake Victoria, but remains one of the most resource-poor and impoverished nations in the region.
HOW TANZANIA MAKES A LIVING
Almost 68 per cent of Tanzania’s population, over 33 million people, live in poverty. Tanzania has very little in the way of natural resources and consequently relies on agriculture for its income. In fact, almost a quarter of the country’s GDP is gained through agriculture and the sector employs approximately half the working population. However, despite its numerous natural wonders in the Serengeti and Lake Victoria, only a small percentage of the land can be cultivated for crops, limiting the scope for development.
CHALLENGES FACED BY CHILDREN
There are certainly plenty of challenges faced by children in Tanzania. Up to one third of deaths in children under-five years are related to poor hygiene. In fact, every hour five children in Tanzania die due to preventable diarrhoea alone.
Tanzania is making good progress in containing its HIV and AIDS epidemic. The national prevalence among the general population is estimated to have dropped from 7.1 percent in 2004 to 5.3 percent in 2014. Nevertheless, it’s estimated that about 100,000 Tanzanians between 15–49 years are newly infected with HIV each year.