THE SPEECH BY H.E. MAALIM SEIF SHARIF HAMAD, THE FIRST VICE PRESIDENT OF ZANZIBAR, AT THE OPENING OF SOS WORKSHOP AT ZANZIBAR BEACH RESORT, MONDAY 13TH JULY, 2014.
Honourable Representatives of Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar,
Honourable Chairperson, Board of Trustees SOS Children’s Village Zanzibar.
Members of the Board of Trustees SOS Children Zanzibar
Honourable Director, SOS children’s Villages Tanzania/Zanzibar,
Honourable Representatives of NORAD and ADA
Representatives of SOS Children’s Villages International and regional offices,
Dear Delegates from SOS Children’ Villages:-Austria, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Malawi,Mozambique, Morocco,Uganda,South Africa,Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Representative of Civil Society Organizations.
Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen, good morning!
Assalaamu Alaykum.
First and foremost I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Almighty God for availing us good health and protecting those who travelled from different countries to attend this workshop. My deep appreciation goes to the organizers for giving me this privilege to officiate at the opening of this workshop of its kind which bring together representatives of SOS Children’s Villages Member Associations from different countries.
May I take this opportunity to welcome you to Zanzibar. For all of you who have travelled from afar I ask you to feel at home among brothers and sisters. It is my hope that you will take advantage of your stay to visit some attractive parts of Zanzibar, which is known for its great historical sites that combine with natural splendour and beauty of its beaches to make it a world wonder. KARIBUNI SANA (YOU ARE MOSTLY WELCOME TO ZANZIBAR).
I am told that the purpose of this five- day workshop is to provide a forum for SOS Member Associations funded by ADA and NORAD to share experience of advocacy work to date, develop knowledge and skills in SOS’s approach to advocacy, and make plans for developing advocacy work and capacity. You are meeting to present and discuss successes and challenges experienced by Member Associations in the following areas;
(1)Planning and implementing advocacy work, (2) In mainstreaming advocacy in programmes, (3) Work together to develop knowledge and skills for planning and implementing advocacy, (4) Communications strategies, (5) Mobilising resources for advocacy projects, and (6). Monitoring and evaluating advocacy work.
Distinguished Participants,
Before I say few words on the Workshop,I would like to extend my gratitude to Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD, Austria Development Aid (ADA), SOS-Norway and SOS-Denmark for the great work they are doing to raise funds to support Programmes/Projects implemented by SOS Children’s Villages in Tanzania and Zanzibar. Through such support SOS Children’s Villages Tanzania and Zanzibar are able to implement programmes which are impacting in a positive way on the children who are orphans and those living in most vulnerable families. Such programmes include;
(1)Family Based Care, which takes care of children who are orphans and those abandoned by their parents, (2) Family Strengthening programme which empower the poor and destitute families, and communities to respond to the needs of children who are at the risk of losing parental care, (3) Advocacy projects which are contributing to raise awareness about the rights of children in alternative care, and (4) Promoting children protection.
Both governments, i.e The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, recognize and appreciate value added through such interventions, which indeed are a great assistance to both governments.
Our Governments are proud of the good work done by SOS Children’s Villages Tanzania and Zanzibar. SOS Children’s Village in Zanzibar is known for its great work which include among other things, (1) Supporting individual care givers and their families to build their capacity so as to provide quality care to children, and (2) supporting communities and local authorities by strengthening systems and structures to better respond in sustainable manner to the needs of children, especially those at risk of losing parental care.
Distinguished Participants,
The protection of children and the promotion of their well-being are closely linked to the development and well-being of their societies. On the basis of the vital importance of human rights, equitable development and the centrality of human security, it is important for all stakeholders to join hands to promote the agenda of child protection, in order to ensure that all children live a life free from all forms of violence, are protected in conflicts and disasters and thrive in a safe family environment. Being key partners of the Government, I should request you to focus your investment in supporting the government in the following fields;
(1) To build and strengthen local and national child protection systems, (2) To address the scourge of child abuse, neglect and exploitation which remain major problems threatening the well-being of children.
Child protection needs are immense and diverse in any country. In Tanzania, they are further augmented by widespread poverty and the impact of HIV and AIDS. A total of 282 children’s homes exist and are spread all over the 21 regions of mainland Tanzania. There are 11,216 children in the 282 children’s homes out of whom 6,089 are boys and 5,127 are girls.
69.6 percent of the children are aged between six and seventeen years. 21.6 percent of the children are under five. 9.8 percent are eighteen and above. 79 percent of the children homes are owned by CBOs, NGOs and FBOs.13 percent are owned by individuals, 4 percent by affiliated homes, 0.4 percent by government and 4 percent by families. The main factors causing children to end up in the homes include; increase of orphans, provision of shelter for street children, and sympathy of the children home’s owners.
Distinguished Participants,
Other reasons are family poverty, child harassment, verbal and physical abuse, thrashing, parental drunkenness, family conflicts, social irresponsibility, divorces and early pregnancy.
In both Zanzibar and the mainland the true extent of child abuse and violence does exist and increasingly it is catching headlines in the media suggesting that violence against children, sexual exploitation and abuse is a significant problem occurring at the level of home, communities and in schools. Other problems affecting children, which call for partner’s support, include children without appropriate care, which include children living and working in the streets, orphans and the neglected and child labour. In Zanzibar, it is estimated that 9.2 per cent of the children aged between 5-17 years are likely to be involved in child labour.
This situation demands combined efforts of the government, civil society organizations and private sector to promote a culture where children, especially orphans and most vulnerable are taken care of in loving and caring family environment.
Distinguished Participants,
I would like to take this opportunity to commend the contribution and significant role played by SOS Children's Villages International in helping children who are orphaned, abandoned or the neglected. SOS Children’s Villages work enable such children to grow within an alternative family setting environment. I am pleased that all countries represented in this workshop carry flags of good and noble work undertaken by SOS Children’s Villages.
Besides, SOS Children’s Villages launched CARE FOR ME! In December 2012 as a research and advocacy campaign to help realise every child’s right to quality alternative care. Statistics show that about 153 million children Worldwide are living without parental care.
For many of these children they receive care is inadequate or even dangerous. SOS Children’s Villages through CARE FOR ME! Campaign seek to foster research and advocacy at national and international levels to ensure that fundamental rights of children in alternative care are observed and respected by all stakeholders involved.
I believe through CARE FOR ME campaign, SOS Children’s Villages, in collaboration with partners and stakeholders will be able to reach more children with quality care.
Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to conclude my remarks by stressing on the importance of institutional engagement towards better quality, better environment and better services for children. CARE FOR ME Campaign which represents efforts of SOS Children Villages International to promote the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children, to improve child care systems and ensure a child’s right to quality care are observed by all stakeholders is a great initiative which is part and parcel of CARE FOR ME Campaign.
I therefore urge you to use this unique opportunity presented over the next five days to reflect and learn from each other and plan together about ways to reach more children with quality care through advocacy.
I wish you fruitful deliberations and sharing experiences over the next five days. Also do find some time to enjoy our beautiful Island and experience the Zanzibar hospitality.
It is now my pleasure to declare this workshop officially open.
Thank you for your attention.