Helping Children Every Day - New Smile Children's Center

The heart of the New Smile program is the children's center. It plays an essential role in meeting the needs of the young children in the community.

Each day, 40-50 children from the village walk to the center to be fed - both in body and soul. The center workers spend about 2 hours every day preparing a meal in the kitchen - a small hut with an open fire. Meals are often beans and rice or a simple porridge, and for many of the children, this is the only meal they will eat all day.

The current center building is a small rented structure that is far too small for the number of children they are serving. During the dry season, the children take their food outside to eat, an option that works for about 8 months out of the year.

In addition to providing food, the center also provides a safe place for the children to spend their days. There are few resources available for young children in the area - no preschools, daycare centers, etc. Instead, the children are left to wander alone while their parents search for work. It is a common sight to see a small child, 2 or 3 years old, alone along the street. The center meets this need. The children play games, sing songs, and learn foundations like the alphabet and counting.

Most importantly, the children spend their days in a safe place where they know they are loved.

As you can imagine, providing for the children is not cheap and the center needs your support. Donate today to ensure that the center can continue serving the children of Gorfan, Tanzania.