Featured Project: Iselamagazi, Tanzania
23 December 2008

Good News from Iselamagazi

We have a number of successes to share with you about the Iselamagazi Area Development Programme (ADP).

Azimio drama group uses dramas based on
everyday experiences to educate community
members about HIV and AIDS.
An ADP is a phased programme that covers a sizeable geographic area over a period of time, beginning with a small group of communities. As communities begin to reach their goals and are able to fund initiatives on their own, World Vision gradually reduces its financial help by reducing the number of sponsored children in those communities

The good news is that after many years of hard work, the Iselamagazi community nearly has the capacity to continue their development work without World Vision’s direct assistance.

This report lists the changes that have happened in Iselamagazi over the past few years, changes that have made such a difference to people’s lives, bringing them hope for the future.

Iselamagazi ADP achievements at a glance

Health

One of the most dramatic changes in health in Iselamagazi ADP has been a decrease in the malnutrition rate for children under 5 years of age, from 41 per cent at the beginning of the project to 0.8 per cent today. To improve the health of the Iselamagazi community, the ADP has:
  • Trained more than 4,500 people in primary health issues, such as the importance of vaccination, malaria and diarrhoea control, improved nutrition, and prevention of eye infections and bilharzia (a waterborne disease); incidence of preventable disease has decreased from 89 per cent to 23 per cent, and mosquito nets are now used by 65 per cent of the population
  • Educated community members about HIV and AIDS through drama performances, classes and clubs in schools, distributed brochures and t-shirts and trained teachers and community counsellors to teach others about HIV prevention
  • Trained specialised health groups, including volunteer health workers, traditional birth attendants, village primary healthcare committees, women’s nutritional groups, primary school health clubs, HIV and AIDS counsellors and community care coalitions
  • Built four dispensaries and six houses for health staff and provided equipment and furniture, including solar panels, scales, benches, beds and chairs, to health clinics
New classrooms at Iselamagazi Secondary
School allow more children to continue their
education to secondary level.
Education

New and improved classrooms have raised enrolment rates from 50 per cent when the ADP began to 99 per cent. The percentage of students passing national examinations has increased from 1 per cent to 53 per cent, and 20 per cent of students now go on to secondary school, also up from 1 per cent. To help accomplish this, World Vision has:
  • Built more than 75 primary and secondary school classrooms, at least 25 teachers’ offices, well over 20 teachers’ houses and a large number of sanitary latrines
  • Arranged mock examinations to assist students and teachers to plan revision for national examinations
  • Held annual parents’ days to educate parents about the importance of education
Agriculture

The ADP has trained about 70 contact farmers in crop production and livestock management so they can teach others in their community. More than 2,000 farmers have adopted new technologies and put their training into practice, increasing food production in Iselamagazi. The following improvements in crop yields per hectare have been noted:
  • Maize yields have increased from two bags per acre to 12 bags per acre
  • Rice yields have increased from seven bags per acre to 15 bags per acre
Economic development

Iselamagazi ADP has also promoted alternative income-generating activities to enable community members to purchase basic necessities and food in times of shortage. To achieve this the ADP has:
  • Set up small business groups and trained members in small business skills
  • Supported more than 40 school leavers to start small businesses
  • Trained 36 representatives of women’s groups to raise poultry, make preserves, tie dye and sew clothing
  • Set up a microfinance institution to provide small low-interest loans to assist with small business start up
Environment

To raise community awareness of environmental protection, Iselamagazi ADP has:
  • Established tree nurseries in nine schools
  • Started environmental clubs in 12 schools
  • Trained more than 30 farmers in agroforestry (growing trees alongside crops to improve yields and provide additional income)
  • Trained more than 30 women to make and use improved stoves, which reduce firewood consumption and create less smoke
Leadership development

Together, the community and World Vision have set up a community-based organisation called Iselamagazi Community Development Agency and registered it with the government. The agency is made up of nearly 100 smaller community groups. It will continue to facilitate community development once World Vision has completed its time in Iselamagazi. In preparing community leaders for this role, World Vision has:
  • Trained more than 50 community leaders in leadership, budgeting, fundraising, book-keeping, auditing, monitoring and project management
  • Trained leaders about child rights and human rights
  • Assisted leaders to write a constitution for the Iselamagazi Community Development Agency
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World Vision New Zealand supports long-term development in 14 countries. Projects are funded by child sponsors and Pacific Partners.


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