Browsing by Author "Mwashilindi, Mikael Kaombeka"

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    Neglecting the right of children to participate in decision making in rural Tanzania: consequences and future prospects
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2009) Mwashilindi, Mikael Kaombeka
    This study investigated Neglecting the Right of Children to Participate in Decision Making in Rural Tanzania: Consequences and Future Prospects. The study was conducted in Mbozi District of Mbeya Region. Data collection methods were Questionnaires, Interviews and Focus Group Discussions. To obtain data for the study, 120 respondents from 4 villages in 4 different wards and from the District Headquarters were involved. They included 50 adults employed for questionnaires, 40 children were involved in interviews and 30 leaders like School Committees (SCs), District Official (Dos) and women were involved in Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Findings revealed that Neglecting the Right of Children to Participate in Decision Making had dramatic consequences. Consequences included lack of ownership/sustainability, killing creativity/talents, creating dependency, children loosing direction/dream, killing responsibility and missing children ideas/contributions. Others were lack of confidence, children felt not appreciate/loved, lack of patriotism, misunderstanding in institutions, increased crimes, perpetuating conservatism, killed the spirit of transferring knowledge, slowed implementation, created people who do not accept advice, children did not know procedures, children did not know their rights, children failed to express themselves and inadequate experts. The study recommends the following: there should be capacity building to community members, community leaders, leaders at other levels children rights should be incorporated in the school curricular, the government should set aside adequate funds for capacity building. Also the Government and NGOs should support more programs to be advertised in mass media such as in the radio, televisions and news papers. The Government and NGOs should support children assemblies at all levels, a similar study should be carried out in other rural areas to find out any relationships in the findings. Another study should be carried out in urban areas. Finally, another study should be conducted after five years to find out if there are changes taking place.