DAR ES SALAAM: A community outreach initiative, implemented in collaboration with Hadithi Nzuri and WeMedia, is seeking to restore hope, dignity and opportunity among vulnerable children and young people living in challenging conditions across Dar es Salaam.
Through this partnership, Hadithi Nzuri and WeMedia seek to leverage their collective resources and expertise to make a meaningful difference in the community.
The initiative is expected to bring about tangible change, though specifics on programs and activities are yet to be disclosed.
Amid rising youth unemployment and urban displacement in Tanzania’s major cities, We Give Back 2025 highlights both the scale of exclusion faced by street-connected youth and the untapped potential that emerges when systemic barriers are addressed.
The initiative engaged 156 children and young people across Sayansi, Ubungo, Coco Beach, Morocco and Kariakoo, many of whom have spent between three months and 15 years living on the streets.
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Findings from the We Give Back Impact Report (2025) reveal a population that is young, skilled and motivated to rebuild their lives, yet constrained by systemic challenges such as lack of identity documentation, unstable shelter, limited access to skills training and unmet health and psychosocial needs.
“Our work at Hadithi Nzuri begins with listening,” said Baraka Peneza, Founder of Hadithi Nzuri.
“Through sharing food, we create safe spaces where people open up and tell us who they are, what they know, and what they hope for. What we continue to see is not a lost generation, but young people who need access, guidance, and someone willing to walk with them.”
According to the report, only four out of the 156 participants had National Identification (NIDA) cards, while 86 urgently require registration a significant barrier to employment, training, and social reintegration.
Interest in skills-based vocational training through VETA was notably strong, particularly in driving and automotive studies, ICT, hospitality, welding and electrical work.
Hadithi Nzuri’s approach combines storytelling with action, using food as a bridge to build trust and uncover deeper needs.
Beyond immediate support such as meals, clothing, shoes, blankets, and hygiene essentials, the initiative prioritizes long-term reintegration, including assistance with identity documentation, vocational training pathways, job placement, health referrals and emotional guidance.
The partnership with WeMedia has strengthened the initiative’s ability to document impact and amplify voices that are often unheard.
“Hadithi Nzuri exists to remind us that every person deserves to be seen and supported,” Peneza added.
“When communities come together and stories are told with honesty and respect, real change becomes possible,” he said.
WeMedia noted that the partnership aligned naturally with its purpose and values.
As a company that helps brands tell meaningful stories, WeMedia saw We Give Back 2025 as an opportunity to give back by sharing the stories of children and young people whose voices are rarely heard ensuring they are seen, understood, and given a fair chance to participate fully in society.
Event partners—including Dough Works (KFC & Pizza Hut), Chemicotex (Tressa & Whitedent), GSM Beverages, Demichtoph, Tembomax, Ruby International, Keds Limited, Men-Men-Men the Podcast, and Code Studios emphasized those insights from We Give Back 2025 point to the urgent need for collaborative, locally driven solutions that move beyond short-term charity toward sustainable reintegration.
Hadithi Nzuri is calling on government institutions, vocational training bodies, employers, civil society organisations, and community leaders to work together to remove structural barriers particularly those related to access to identification, skills training, and dignified pathways into work and society.
The organization’s vision remains a Tanzania where hope is accessible to everyone, and where communities support one another before looking outside for help.