The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), Eastern and Coastal Diocese, is gearing up to build a state-of-the-art centre for children with special needs in Kitopeni, Bagamoyo District. The project is spearheaded by extensive research and international collaborations, and has now received a major boost from President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her aides, who donated TZS 250 million (approx. USD 105,000) toward its construction.

Final design blueprints have been drawn up, drawing inspiration from best practices observed in Germany, Finland, and China. These designs focus on inclusive education, therapy, nutritional care, and holistic support. The Diocese has formally acquired the land and is undergoing legal registration and ownership transfers. Central preparatory stages such as site clearing, soil testing, and foundation layout are set to begin shortly, with assurances that contractors will bring transparency and accountability to the process.

Samia’s office committed TZS 250 million, split as TZS 150 million from her personally, TZS 100 million from her advisors, and an extra TZS 50 million by her. ELCT’s diocese-led campaign has already gathered TZS 2.7 billion internally, while public pledges total TZS 3.5 billion putting the initiative well past its halfway mark toward the TZS 6 billion goal.

The building will feature classrooms, therapy rooms, nutritional and sanitation facilities, and spiritually supportive spaces tailored to developmental and intellectual challenges. Layout and material choices place emphasis on sensory accommodations, safety standards, and avenues for skill development. Church leaders have pledged high levels of fiscal and project oversight, with public accountability frameworks already part of the plan. The President affirmed that the government would collaborate on construction execution and likely coordinate regulatory inspections, contractor oversight, and long-term operation support.

With foundational design, land clearances, and initial funding in place, the Bagamoyo Diaconic Lutheran Centre is ready to transition fully into the build phase by late 2025. Successful completion will provide a model facility offering education, therapy, and dignified care for Tanzanian children with disabilities aligning with national social-inclusion objectives. The project’s success hinges on continued fundraising to reach the TZS 6 billion target, maintaining strong accountability practices, and fostering active partnerships between ELCT, government bodies, construction partners, and donors.

The construction of this centre signals a vital step forward in Tanzania's commitment to inclusive infrastructure. With robust designs, secured land, promising funding, and strategic collaboration set, it’s poised to become a national beacon for special-needs care and a replicable blueprint for future projects across East Africa.

Posted on : 09 Jul,2025