The Reaching Children’s Potential (RCP) program of the Ukwega Ward in central Tanzania measures its success by the growth and development of the children in the program. Read about 25 girls and boys who reached their first, second, third, and fourth birthdays in good health and on target to reach all their development milestones in January, 2021. We celebrate them and their families!
First Birthdays: This is a proud milestone! In Tanzania, about 6 in 10 deaths occur in the first year of life; with 4 of those occurring the first month, according to UNICEF. RCP families have the information and resources to ensure a healthy start for their children. This month, we celebrate the first birthdays of 7 children!
Girls
Daines Ntuluhungwa – January 19, 2020 from Ukwega
Jesca Msigwa – January 28, 2020 from Makungu
Boys
Joseph Munyi – January 1, 2020 from Lulindi
Brown Kikoti – January 6, 2020 from Makungu
Clavian Balama – January , 2020 from Makungu
Jerryson Chahe – January 22 from Makungu
Wolrio Azrikam – January 24, 2020 from Lulindi
Learn more about four of the children who are celebrating their first birthdays this month:
Joseph Munyi
1/January2020
Lulindi village
Joseph’s mother joined the RCP Program at its inception in July 2017. His favorite foods are porridge, ugali, beans, bananas, fish, and avocados. He loves playing with toys and with his friends. Joseph has three sisters and one brother. His mother says he is so loving with his siblings, parents, and friends. He is doing great and is in good health.
Daines Ntuluhungwa
19/January/2020
Ukwega village
Daines’ mother joined the RCP Program in June 2019 when she was two months pregnant with Daines. Daines’ favorite foods are rice and vegetables. She dances whenever she hears music and she loves to play games with her sister. She has two older siblings. Daines’ mother says Daines is doing well and is a happy child. Her mother hopes she becomes a teacher when she grows up.
Clavian Balama
6/January/2020
Makungu village
Clavian’s mother joined the RCP Program in October 2019 when she was six months pregnant with Clavian. Clavian’s favorite foods are rice and beans. He loves playing with toys, especially toy cars. Clavian is the first born in his family.
Jesca Msigwa
28/January/2020
Makungu village
Jesca’s mother joined the RCP Program in July 2019 when she was three months pregnant with Jesca. Jesca’s favorite foods are Rise Against Hunger meals and milk. She loves to draw on the floor, play with toys, and play with her dad. She has one older sister who is in Standard Three. Jesca’s mother says Jesca is doing great and her father is her favorite person. She loves playing with him all the time.
Second Birthday: By the time a child turns two years old, s/he should be walking and running alone, talking a little, carrying toys, and exploring boundaries. This month, we celebrate the second birthdays of 7 children!
Girls
Letina Kikula – January 2, 2019 from Makungu
Aneth Lufyagila – January 14, 2019 from Makungu
Boys
Reyvan Kikoti – January 20, 2019 from Lulindi
Daniel Kasuga – January 21, 2019 from Ukwega
Baraka Myungile – January 22, 2019 from Mkalanga
Clever Ngusulu – January 25, 2019 from Makungu
Ivan Sulime – January 29, 2019 from Mkalanga
Learn more about four of the children who are celebrating their second birthdays this month:
Baraka Myungile
22/January/2019
Mkalanga village
Baraka’s mother joined the RCP Program in February 2018. Baraka’s favorite foods are mashed bananas, beef, and potatoes. He loves to play with his friends and pretend he is driving cars. He has two older brothers and two older sisters. Baraka had some challenges, especially when it came to food because he lacked an appetite. But after starting to eat Rise Against Hunger meals, his appetite has returned and now he is happy to eat all kinds of foods. His weight is also increasing day by day and he is not getting sick regularly.
Aneth Lifyagila
14/January/2019
Makungu village
Aneth’s mother joined the RCP Program in July 2019 when Aneth was eight months old. Aneth’s favorite foods are beef and beans. She loves to dance to music, pretend she is cooking, play with toys, and play with her older sister. Aneth has five siblings. Her mother says she is always happy.
Daniel Kasuga
21/January/2019
Ukwega village
Daniel’s mother joined the RCP Program in June 2019 when Daniel was five months old. His favorite foods are rice and meat. He has two older brothers and loves to play with soccer balls. His mother says he loves smiling and he has been growing healthier than his brothers.
Ivan Sulime
29/January/2019
Mkalanga village
Ivan’s mother joined the RCP Program in February 2018. His favorite food is rice and he loves to play with soccer balls. He has one older brother. Ivan’s mother says Ivan has been growing healthier because she has been giving him deworming tablets and practicing good hygiene habits that she learned from workshops.
Third Birthday: At this milestone, a child’s vocabulary should be expanding, and s/he should making up stories and play activities, and learning to build relationships. This month, we celebrate the third birthdays of 10 children!
Boys
Sila Mgeveke – January 1, 2019 from Lulindi
Emanuel Kasunga – January 3, 2018 from Ukwega
Erasto Mfulu – January 4, 2018 from Makungu
Amani Kilave – January 16, 2018 from Ukwega
Joel Segesela – January 16, 2018 from Lulindi
Herrieth Motto – January 23, 2018 from Makungu
Izack Msungu – January 24, 2018 from Ukwega
Girls
Tunaitwa Duma – January 9, 2018 from Ipalamwa
Sujudu Duma – January 9, 2018 from Ipalamwa
Giveness Bihile – January 26, 2018 from Makungu
Learn more about four of the children who are celebrating their third birthdays this month:
Sila Mgeveke
21/January/2018
Lulindi village
Sila’s mother joined the RCP Program in May 2019. His favorite foods are bananas, rice, ugali, porridge, beans, avocados, fish, meat, and Rise Against Hunger meals. He loves playing with toys and playing soccer with his friends. He has three sisters and two brothers. His mother says he likes eating and is very smart.
Joel Segesela
16/January/2018
Lulindi village
Joel’s mother joined the RCP Program in September 2017. His favorite foods are ugali, beans, vegetables, avocados, bananas, and fish. He loves playing soccer, fetching water, collecting firewood, trying to do farming activities, and playing cooking. He has five sisters and one brother. His mother says he is very socialized and active. He loves doing whatever work his mother is doing.
Tunaitwa & Sujudu Duma
Identical twins
9/January/2018
Ipalamwa village
The twins’ mother joined the RCP Program in September 2017. Tunaitwa and Sujudu’s favorite foods are beans, bananas, and cabbage. They love playing and drawing on the floor. The twins have four older siblings – two sisters and two brothers. Tunaitwa was born first. As a baby, she was much weaker than her sister and she was stunted. After she started eating Rise Against Hunger meals, she began to gain weight and currently she is doing great and is no longer stunted. Sujudu has been growing in good health and has not been stunted. Their mother says, “I can’t imagine how life would have been without this RCP Program because it has been very helpful in raising my children by providing advice, knowledge, and meals.” Their mother shared that the pregnancy with the twins was unexpected. She hadn’t sought to have more children after the four she had. At first, she felt much stress, but says she found hope again through the program and with the home visits with her RCP Caregiver. Both twins are now doing great and their mother is happy and loves her children very much.
Fourth Birthday: By the time a child reaches four years old, s/he should be able to hop, throw and kick balls, and climb and swing with ease. At this age, Tanzanian children are often helping with household tasks and taking care of younger siblings. S/he likely is helping carry water and wood, and maybe shucking peas, corn, and beans. Playtime at this age is lessened, and the child becomes important for family support. This month, we celebrate one child who is turning four!
Girl
Azalia Mgoba – January 5, 2017 from Ukwega
Azalia Mgoba
5/January/2017
Ukwega village
Azalia’s mother joined the RCP Program in June 2019. Azalia’s favorite foods are rice and meat. She loves playing with toys and playing mom like carrying dolls on her back and sometimes imitating her mother when doing some domestic activities like washing. She has three siblings. She loves smiling and laughing. She is also very active and her mother would like her to become a doctor in the future.
Learn more about the impact of Global Volunteers’ Reaching Children’s Potential (RCP) program in this story.
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