Africa-Press – Tanzania. TANZANIA Social Action Fund (Tasaf), through poor household relief programme, has disbursed more than 7.9bn/- as grants to over 7,100 beneficiaries in Ikungi District, Singida Region between 2014 and September this year.
Ikungi District Executive Director (DED), Mr Justice Kijazi told reporters here during a visit to witness activities run by various beneficiaries in the area that Tasaf had made a significant impact on his people.
“This programme is a catalyst to our people’s development. Economic projects spreading out everywhere in the district, modern houses being built each day and parents sending their children to schools voluntarily are clear indicators that Tasaf is a useful instrument and a blessing to our people” he observed.
In order to keep the projects initiated by Tasaf beneficiaries sustainable, Mr Kijazi emphasized on the need for all extension officers in the area to be ready to provide their professional expertise and oversee the projects regularly.
Testifying the impact of Tasaf for pupils who are the beneficiaries of the programme, Ighuka primary school Head teacher, Hango Daffi said it had increased the attendance to 90 per cent because almost all the challenges that earlier seemed to be a hindrance to the pupils were solved by the programme.
The same story was repeated by various students at Masinda secondary school, Ihanja division in the district.
“Before this programne came to my rescue, I had a real tough life…we had no food at home and many other basic needs. We relied on charities from neighbours. To make it worse, our father absconded to unknown. I had no desire of going to school at all. Indeed, I regard Tasaf as my saviour” said Hanifa Omar, a form three student at the school in her touching story.
The Headmaster for Masinda secondary school, Revocatus Ndyetabula said the presence of Tasaf in the area did not only reduce truancy and drop outs but also had improved the school’s academic performance.
