The role of non-governmental organization in enhancing access to primary education for orphans: The Case Study of World Vision Tanzania in Nshamba Area of Development Program, Kagera Region

The purpose of the study was to investigate the role of NGO in enhancing access to primary education for orphans, the case study of World Vision Tanzania in Nshamba Area of Development Project (ADP), Kagera Region. Specifically, the study examined the varied source of funds of World Vision Tanzania (WVT) that facilitate access to primary education for orphans, survival activities (projects) for mobilizing resources for assisted orphans, and views on the sustainability of WVT projects. The study was conducted in 4 primary schools, 4 villages in Nshamba Area of Development Program (ADP), Muleba district. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected by use of questionnaires, interviews and documentary analysis, in which 140 respondents participated. Research findings indicated that the main source of funds was external donors, who offered almost 80 percent of funds for World Vision Tanzania interventions. The Government and community contributions accounted for only 20 percent. Thus, WVT is effective in accessing orphans through vital services of classroom construction and rehabilitation, providing orphans with school uniforms, stationery food and health care. Despite successfully accessing primary education, WVT faced a few shortcomings including delaying of services to reach the intended orphans, and failure to cover all orphans in the area, as currently less than 50 percent are covered. Recommendations for improvement and for further study are given. These improvements include resource mobilization for community members, mobilization of ADP’s own resources instead of heavily depending on external resources, the collaboration of NGOs for avoiding overlapping, the government to monitor the NGOs’ activities especially those which deal with orphanage and the communities to be in the forefront for care and support for all orphans. Indeed, the study has revealed that the needs of orphans are complex. It is not only access to primary education but also survival needs support, whereas poverty is widespread, the coverage of orphans remains to be desired as about a third of them are not covered by donor funding. What is to be underlined is that orphans need to be equally educated and given survival support.