Cheka Sana Childrens Trust (registration number 1130841) is a non-profit charity that was formed in the UK in 2009. Cheka Sana means ‘laugh a lot’ in Swahili aptly named as we aim to bring back the smiles of these disadvantaged and orphaned street children.
The charity is currently working alongside the local NGO Caretakers of the Environment, Tanzania (COET) and the four projects they run; Kuleana street children centre, Binti Maringo restaurant, Tanzania Street Children sports academy and is in the process of building and developing Cheka Sana day nursery.
Cheka Sana was originally formed by four past volunteers to the Kuleana street children centre. Once returning from volunteering the four decided to create the charity in the UK with the aim of supporting street children and other vulnerable children within Tanzania. The charity has since grown and now has seven trustees and directors on the charity, all of which were previous volunteers to the projects we support.
Our aim
To provide children with their basic rights to shelter, security, food, health care, leisure and a general happy, cheerful childhood.
We achieve this through supporting grassroot local projects, and providing long term support and guidance to children through counselling and a full reintegration programme.
Every child deserves the right to enjoy their childhood, with the potential for a bright and happy future.
Our vision
To provide the tools necessary to enable the local community to offer their children their fundamental rights in order to empower them with the prospect of a sustainable future.
These street children are vulnerable to sexual, drug and physical abuse and involvement in petty crime and prostitution. We strongly believe in the right of the child to protection from cruel acts and exploitation.
The Projects We Support
The projects we support are local grass-root Tanzanian NGO called Caretakers of the Environment (COET, Registration no. 14/NGO/1978). They are based in Mwanza, North Tanzania in which they carry out great work for extremely needy children within the area. Their aim is to alleviate the number of street children in Mwanza, hence their slogan
‘no child should live on the street’.
There are four projects they are currently running, Kuleana street children centre, Binti Maringo restaurant, the TSC sports academy and the planned Cheka Sana day nursery.
For more information and to support this fantastic charity click here.
