“Being invited to Parliament as guest of the Honorable Dr. Dorothy Gwajima in recognition of Railway Children Africa’s support to the Government in establishing Social Welfare Services Desks in 14 transport hubs across the country, is a powerful recognition of our shared commitment to sustaining child protection services at scale’”. Mary Gatama, Interim Country Director of Railway Children Africa, Tanzania.
With the support of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Railway Children Africa in collaboration with the Government has established Social Welfare Services Desks in 14 transport hubs in 11 councils including: Dar es salaam (Magufuli), Mbeya, Morogoro, Njombe, Songea, Mwanza (Nyegezi and Nyamuhongolo), Dodoma, Geita, Kahama, Kagera, Tabora, Songea and Shinyanga. These desks serve as a critical first point of contact for vulnerable community members arriving at busy transport hubs—creating a unique opportunity for early identification, protection, and referral before further harm occurs. The initiative also brings together key stakeholders to ensure a coordinated and timely response.
Complementing the Social Welfare Service Desks, RCA together with Government have developed a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). This SOP provides clear guidance and standardized procedures for offering social welfare and referral services at transport hubs, ensuring consistency and accountability across all locations.
Overall the initiative directly aligns with the Government’s National Plan of Action to end violence against women and children (NPA-VAWC II 2024/2025-2028/29) to enhance safety and security for children and vulnerable community members in public spaces, and further represents a coordinated and organized approach in addressing significant issues that affect children and vulnerable community members.
Since June 2022, more than 1,544 children have been supported across just three hubs—Nyegezi, Nyamhongolo, and Magufuli. Of these, 86% were successfully rescued from the streets and provided with direct services or referrals to longer-term care solutions, including family reunification and psychosocial support.
“This initiative demonstrates what is possible when Government, Civil society, and communities work together,” said Gatama. “It is not just about immediate assistance—it’s about building systems that last.”
The recognition in Parliament reflects not only the effectiveness of the initiative but also the Government’s endorsement of a sustainable model for integrating child protection services within national infrastructure. It also underscores the importance of continued investment and policy support to expand this model nationwide.
Railway Children Africa continues to advocate for increased attention to the needs of children at risk, especially those who are street-connected or separated from their families. The organization’s vision remains bold and clear: to ensure no child lost to the streets.