Project Summary

Wings Balance Initiative (WBI) is a Non-Governmental Organization with the headquarter in Majumbasita, Kipawa ward near Ukonga, Dar-es-salaam Tanzania. Wings Balance Initiative (WBI) was registered in 2020 from Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MoHCDEC) (Tanzania) with REG No 00NGO/R/1355.The organization has three project sites, the major one at Kipawa ward, located in one of the outskirts of Dar-es-salaam , the second one at Mnazi mmoja ward, located in the city centre of Dar-es-salaam city and the others proposed site at Arusha and Dodoma city council.

Currently Wings Balance Initiative (WBI) is operating the grand project called POSITIVE YOUTH POWER GROUPS. The project was launched to identify vulnerable youth living and working on the street , group them and provide potential knowledge through training in five phases
1. Discovering Life Purpose
2. Maximise one’s potential
3. Discovering individual value
4. Creation of youth own identity
5. Creation of youth growth and care plans

Problem: What problem is this project trying to address Counted 2019

There are an estimated 10,700 and 5098 counted youth living and working on the street in Dar es salaam. Not only have these street youths experienced the trauma of a family situation which has led them to run or be pushed away from home, but once they are on the street and disconnected from the protection of their family, community and social networks, they are at risk of falling ill, suffering abuse and neglect, working in hazardous environments and engaging in criminal activity in order to survive. Over 75% of the street youth identified poverty and lack of education as two of the reason they live on the streets.

Impact how this solution makes a difference

With this approach, groups of 20 street youth, ages 14 – 21, are given training and support to discovering their life purpose, , maximizing ones potential, discovering individual value, creation own identity and creation youth growth and care plans The approach will take place in 5 stages:
1). The Formation Stage: youth Workers establish contact and gain trust with groups of youth on the street, and help them form small groups and elect a leader. The groups will then begin learning basic skills on discovering their life purpose.
2). Maximizing potential: Groups will receive different training on how to maximize their potential.
3. Discovering individual value this program enables youth to work their own way out of poverty and build their own future in discovering different value needed in order to have life success.
4. Creation own identity with very little external help. Youth will now start search and create their own identity according to what they choose.
5. Creation of youth growth plans, here they will create their plan that will be the way of reaching their goals. All activities are done on the street and in house training, with a Youth Workers meeting with the youth on a daily basis to help them establish safe, productive and innovative ways and tools to make a living. With this support and encouragement, it is expected that the boys and girls will be able to move on and build independent lives as valuable members of the community.

Founding Story

WBI positive youth power group approach informs everything that we do, and our “Aha!” moment also came from the youth themselves. WBI in Dar es salaam office has a space where the youth can have a meeting, play, learn and participate in the many activities that we offer. One of these activities is a debate club, which helps volunteers and staff to remain in touch with important issues raised by the youth.
Recommendations from the youth themselves resulted in the understanding that the youth wanted to be empowered to change their own lives. Most of youth did not want to continue staying on the street wanted to find their own path to rent their own room and economic independence, and felt that they could support each other in their journeys. Positive youth power groups find is their answer.