Mtoto Kwanza: Championing Every Child’s Right

In July 2025, Iringa Development of Youth, Disabled and Children Care (IDYDC), through the Mtoto Kwanza Project, led a successful three-day field visit across the districts of Kilolo, Mufindi, and Mafinga Town Council (TC). The visit was conducted in collaboration with the Regional Social Welfare Officer and Child-Focused Lead Journalists. This important outreach aimed at promoting inclusive Early Childhood Development (ECD) by engaging hard-to-reach groups—especially children with disabilities, those in vulnerable family settings, and those living in care institutions or attending inclusive schools.

The Mtoto Kwanza Project is a national initiative spearheaded by the Tanzania Early Childhood Development Network (TECDEN) in partnership with Children in Crossfire (CiC), and implemented across all 26 regions of mainland Tanzania. It is funded by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and aligns with the government’s National Multisectoral Early Childhood Development Programme (NM-ECDP) 2021/22–2025/26. In Iringa Region, IDYDC was selected as the lead Civil Society Organization (CSO) to coordinate implementation at the regional level.