Filling the gap

1 in 3 children in Tanzania are of early childhood age but across the country there are huge gaps in the provision of adequate, quality care for younger children, especially those aged 2-4. This is particularly true for children who live in Tanzania’s most rural and underdeveloped areas such as Mtwara. 

EdUKaid’s own needs assessment conducted in January 2025 showed that a desperate lack of early stimulation, nurturing care and safe places to play mean that children in rural Mtwara are regularly at risk of harm and missing out on unique opportunities to develop the foundations they need to learn and thrive. 

The issue has been exacerbated by recent changes in Tanzania’s pre-primary entry age which has risen from 4 to 5 years old – leaving an entire year group without access to education and unprepared for formal schooling.

Addressing the issue

To respond to this challenge a parent-led and community-owned Play Scheme has been piloted in 2025 -26. EdUKaid House has been converted into a vibrant learning environment where parents and caregivers are trained to use play- based activities that enhance cognitive, social, and emotional skills in young children – developing school readiness through positive play and improving children’s developmental outcomes.

EdUKaid aims to create sustainable projects with full community ownership and engagement and this pilot scheme is an excellent example of this, with the community  working on every aspect of the project from creation of materials and resources to trained volunteer parent facilitators and on to the establishment of a community committee who will be responsible for the long term management of the scheme.

The project aligns with our Mission and Vision of Equality in Education whilst also addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the World Health Organisation Nurturing Care Framework, and our strategic drive to empower the Tanzanian team to have overall responsibility and autonomy with the UK providing a fundraising arm by 2028.

Aligned to our Mission and Vision

The Play scheme  project aligns within EdUKaid’s  mission and vision of Equality in Education, and its goal of improving educational and life opportunities for children across rural Mtwara. This pilot project aims to extend the range and number of children we reach, providing learning through play and encouraging school readiness.

Learning through play

The scheme focuses on learning through play with a clearly structured curriculum which supports children’s physical, cognitive, language, social, and emotional development while encouraging parents and caregivers to play an active role in their children’s learning journey.

The Highlights

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38 children have been enrolled and are benefiting from the morning Play Scheme programme
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38 parents/caregivers actively engaged in the play scheme and equipped with the knowledge and skills to support play-based learning at home
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More than 109 children have benefited from the Evening Play Scheme sessions

Feedback

“My daughter will have opportunities I never had. I will make sure.”
Mother, Chemchemi

My daughter struggled socially before joining, but she has now made friends and feels included. We are very grateful for the support”. 

“I will assure you to provide a huge cooperation with EdUKaid team and the community. I rule to lift up the project to the desired goals .” 

Ward Councillor Mr Ally Ally

The goal

The aim is to provide access for children in rural areas and develop the confidence, curiosity, communication skills, and foundational abilities they need to successfully transition into pre-primary education and lifelong learning within the safe confines of their communities. We aim to roll this pilot project out to other areas in Mtwara. 

Share our Project

Our Projects

EdUKaid Partner Schools

EdUKaid has focused on developing and supporting the provision of pre-primary schools alongside the Tanzanian government led facilities, undertaken renovation projects and raised funds to pay the salaries of teachers and teaching assistants.

EdUKaid Community Centre

In 2022, with a grant funded by The Herbert & Stefanie Straus Memorial Trust, EdUKaid’s run-down office building in the coastal town of Mikindani was transformed into into a multi-functional, mixed-faith, Community Centre.

Nanyamba Girls MHM Wash Project

The Nanyamba Girls MHM Wash Project will bring WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) infrastructure to 12 of the Nanyamba schools covered by the Heshima project, so girls no longer have to choose between managing their period and staying at school.

The Community Led Pre-Primary Satellite Project

Mtwara is a predominantly rural region with many remote villages located far from formal schools. Young children often have to walk several kilometres, frequently without adult supervision, making access to education unsafe and difficult.

The Play Scheme Project (pilot)

1 in 3 children in Tanzania are of early childhood age but across the country there are huge gaps in the provision of adequate, quality care for younger children, especially those aged 2-4.

Capacity Building and Localisation Project for EdUKaid Tanzania 2025/2027

Recent strategic reviews and a detailed capacity assessment undertaken in both Tanzania and the UK highlight the need for devolved authority, underpinned by stronger local systems, including governance, HR, finance, and programme delivery.

Supporting Literacy

Within our community centres there is a strong focus on encouraging and developing literacy skills, using a variety of techniques and approaches to achieve this.

Heshima Project, Nanyamba

EdUKaid's work on Heshima project started in 2020, when an initial needs assessment across 16 partner schools found rising drop-out linked to early relationships, early marriage and truancy, even as enrolment was growing.