A Tanzania In Diaspora Makes High contribution For National Multisectoral-Early Childhood Development Project

Tanzanians abroad have been struggling to bring charities back home to overcome problems such as education suppression, health- related challenges, poverty and lack of economic opportunities.

One of those many Tanzanians abroad is Jessica Kamala Mushala, of Lanham, Maryland, United States, President of SHINA (a Swahili word for thick trunk of a tree) Inc., a non profitable organisation she founded in 2002 to produce a deep-rooted activity for health and strong community in Washington DC, Metro area and Africa.

Who is Jessica Kamala Mushala and who inspired her for compassion acts?

She is experienced in Forensic Accounting, Taxation and IT Audit and has helped many businesses to develop systems and strategies  to help them.

She was born and raised  as a Lutheran in Bugandika ward,Missenyi District in Kagera region Northwest of Tanzania, is in marriage for 34 years, with 8 children and one husband from the same region.

She was born and raised as a Lutheran in Bugandika ward, Missenyi District, Kagera,Tanzania

“Being raised in a male dominated culture, I saw how my mother struggled to educate us girls. My mother, the late Yulliana Kokwitika, is the inspiration behind giving back to the community.

My husband, Amos Mushala was bestowed upon him by his father, the late Yoas B.B.Mushala, popularly known as YBB, not to forget home. Hence, ITIKA school and other community projects under SHINA Inc/SHINA Tanzania., ITIKA After Care in Bugorora, Bikorwengozi 70+ Day Care, Spirituality & Health programs, Special Needs Children, Vulnerable Children, Abandoned women and Prevention of Domestic Violence”, said she.

Furthermore, together with her husband, they have touched many lives not only in Kagera but other regions, including Unguja, Pemba, and other countries.

“Sometimes, when everything else fails, what remains is someone somewhere to care,” she insisted.

SHINA’s goal is to work predominantly at community level and collaborate with grassroots organisations in rural areas that tend to be overlooked due to the high concentration of donors in urban areas, and reach the most vulnerable, through the exchange of ideas, support and aid in the areas of need in health, education, economic, social and cultural development.

Tanzania Republic launched The National  Multisectoral Early Childhood Development Programme (NM-ECDP) spanning 2021/22 to 2025/26 which seeks to accelerate early childhood development gains of nurturing care for children of 0 to eight years old.

The programme  focuses on investing in human development, the strongest foundation for a child to become a healthy,responsible and productive adult.

Young children’s health development depends on nurturing care which ensures health, nutrition, responsive caregiving, safety and security and early learning.

The Nurturing care Framework Progress Report (2018-2023 issued collaboratively by Word Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations  Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN) and The Partnership  for Maternal, Newborn and Childhood Health (PMNCH), published by The Nurturing  Care Handbook, has ranked Tanzania among fourteen countries in the world, for translating national programmes into practice at subnational levels, engineered by Mtoto Kwanza Project in partnership  between Children in Crossfire Tanzania(CIC) organisation,  Tanzania Early Childhood Development Network (TECDEN) and Union of Tanzania Press Clubs (UTPC).

The NM-ECDP appeals for all children stakeholders in and out of the country to contribute, financially and in human capital to see that all children in Tanzania are developmentally on track to develop to their full potential.

The  NM-ECD  financial requirements budget is $394,392,824 as per average Bank of Tanzania in 2021, exchange rate USD 2,320.

Jessica Kamala Mushala and her Shina Inc. comes in

“SHINA Inc.is the organisation that gives hope  and inspires the hidden abilities of children, women and youth. Inspired by my mother’s struggle, and by my personal experience growing up in a male dominated African culture, made me aware that sometimes the only hope left in a state of desperation, is someone to care”, said Mushala.

Under the community outreach, the organisation has been able to cover various empowerment projects that contribute towards community  development such as classroom construction in Buyango and Bugorora primary schools( Missenyi District,Kagera Region), Ilemela Mwanza and  Pemba Northern district.

Vulnerable children in the NM-ECDP context are those children who are at risk of reaching their developmental potential due to various factors surrounding them. Those with malnutrition/stunting, any form of disability, developmental delay, HIV+ or exposed, orphans, children cared for by an elderly, adolescent/siblings or very sick caregiver, children in hardships to reach areas and very poor families. Children who have experienced any form of violence, displaced, humanitarian or those in special settings such as children who have accompanied their mothers to prison.

As if Mrs Mushala had known the coming of NM- ECDP, she had started ITIKA Bugorora Pre/Primary school in Kabingo village, Bugorora ward in Missenyi district.

(ITIKA means to respond for a call when Kabingo village  and other villages are mobilised to bring their kids to the school and other programs)

The school started in October 2020 with 92 pupils aged 4 to 5 years for a conclusive learning environment. They constructed two classrooms, headteacher and teachers offices, latrines, water tank- 24,000 litres, Solar Panel, TV in each class, Internet and Wifi, playing ground, palm trees around the school etc.

Two years of pre- primary education in Tanzania – the curriculum  focuses on  the development of literacy,  numeracy, social and emotional skills, and is preparation for primary education.

Davis Gisuka- Early Child Development and Education Specialist, Children  in Crossfire Tanzania Country Office, has informed this reporter that preschool needs to have competitive  teachers,learning facilities to enhance a better quality of learning  environment, with a space responsive to the children needs and flexibility of educators.

Gisuka mentioned other facilities as creative area and oudoor playing area and supply list for classrom such as blocks and puzzles, toys and board games.

However, Mushala told this reporter over the phone that they have met every criteria needed at preschool, and have been approved  by authorities to construct seven more classrooms, and when completed in 2025, with more than 419 pupils, computer room and library for a Primary school.

ITIKA Construction budget is over Tsh 650 million.

ITIKA After Care Program (IACP)

Shina Inc.also runs ITIKA After Care Program, a program  of its kind in Kagera Region, in collaboration with Bugorora ward, at Bugorora primary school, whereby 300 pupils are taught sports and games, arts and positive culture which are not taught at school. Pupils meet twice a week and the organisation pays for meals and  educators allowances.

It is obvious  that Tanzania National Multisectoral Early Childhood Development and International organs are pleased with this kind of compassion, as globally there are about 250 million children under five years in low and middle income who are at risk of not reaching their development potential.

By Mutayoba Arbogast