In a pioneering initiative, Arigatou International — Geneva, the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) Tanzania, and the Global Religions for Children Foundation joined forces to carry out a training workshop in Tanzania. Launched during the Day of the African Child, the workshop equipped religious, community leaders, and social workers with skills to nurture the spiritual development of children in their formative years. The event is based on the innovative Toolkit, “Nurturing the Spiritual Development of Children in the Early Years,” developed by the Consortium on Nurturing Values and Spirituality in Early Childhood for the Prevention of Violence.
The workshop, held from 16-20 June 2024, brought together 16 participants from various faith communities, including Roman Catholics, Mennonites, the Shia Muslim community, and the Bahá’í community. Over the course of three days, participants reflected on the critical role of spiritual development in preventing violence in early childhood and learned how to facilitate similar workshops in their local communities for parents and caregivers.
A highlight was the participation of Mr. Mathis Haule, Deputy Director of the Child Development Department from the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups in Tanzania. In his address, Mr. Haule provided an insightful overview of the challenges related to violence against children in Tanzania and emphasized the government’s ongoing collaboration with stakeholders to address this pressing issue.
Underscoring national initiatives for Early Childhood Development (ECD), Mr. Haule stated, “We are currently developing a national ECD program and guidelines for parenting. These initiatives do not currently include aspects of spiritual development despite its importance, and by participating in this workshop we look forward to understanding how we can integrate spiritual development into our national initiatives.”
This workshop marks the first implementation of the Toolkit in Africa, positioning Tanzania as a leader in advancing spiritual development within the region. Participants include child development NGO representatives, project officers, religious leaders, and government consultants, many of whom bring substantial expertise in child development and ECD. Their main takeaways have centered on bridging the gap in integrating spiritual development into existing ECD programs and its profound link to preventing violence.
Participants reflected on the multifaceted nature of spirituality and its significance in shaping a child’s early years. Discussions focused on fostering safe environments, positive relationships, and empowering experiences that cultivate spiritual growth.
The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Suchith Abeyewickreme, Technical Lead, at Arigatou International – Geneva; Mr. Francisco Vila, Head of Programs at Arigatou International – Geneva; Ms. Joyce Mdachi, Coordinator at GNRC Tanzania; and Mr. Venance Temu, Project Officer at GNRC Tanzania. This initiative was possible thanks to the support of the Smart Peace Foundation.
As the program continues, the participants are expected to carry forward the teachings to their communities, contributing to a larger movement across Africa that prioritizes spiritual development as a cornerstone of child protection. The Shia, Bahai and Mennonites communities, as well as, the NGO Ladies Joint Forum committed to implementing the Toolkit within their existing ECD programs.
Following the workshop, a roundtable discussion took place on 21 June 2024, bringing together 11 religious leaders from diverse communities including the Anglican Church, Moravian Church, Shia Community, National Muslim Council of Tanzania (BAKWATA), Lutheran Church, Bahá’í Community, Hindu Community, and the Inter-religious Council for Peace Tanzania.
The roundtable aimed to introduce the Consortium and the Toolkit, explore potential synergies and collaborations, and discuss strategies for integrating the Toolkit into existing Early Childhood Programs. The discussion also focused on advocating for the inclusion of Spiritual Development in Early Childhood Development Programs at both national and regional levels.
We extend our gratitude to our partners for their steadfast commitment and to the participants for their dedication. This initiative was made possible with the generous support of the Smart Peace Foundation.
