Who are the people?
Tanzanians usually live with their extended families in huts that are clustered together. A spirit of cooperation prevails as family members share work and resources.

The majority of Tanzania’s population lives in rural areas. Many Tanzanians are small-scale farmers growing only enough food to feed their families.

Unemployment is high—approximately 16 percent overall—and more than half of all households live in poverty. The poor spend three-quarters of their income on food, but their diets are of low nutritional value.

One-fourth of all households are headed by women, but lack of education is a problem for the female population. Most girls of primary school age do not attend school, contributing to high illiteracy rates among Tanzanian women.

Some Tanzanians want to have as many children as possible because they are highly valued. A large family means more hands to help on the farm and ensures that parents will be taken care of in their old age.

In some communities, traditional male attire looks like women’s clothing. Thus, it can be difficult to distinguish between a boy and a girl when looking at a child’s photograph.
Tanzanians usually live with their extended families in huts that are clustered together. A spirit

Country Comparison	Tanzania	United States
Population	37.6 million	295.4 million
Land Mass	342,100 sq. miles	3,537,439 sq. miles
Life Expectancy	46 years	78 years
Infant Mortality Rate (per 1,000)	78	7
Literacy Rate	69%	97%
Primary School Enrollment	82%	92%
Access to Safe Water	73%	100%
Average Annual Income (GNI per capita)	$330	$41,400

Religion

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What is it like to live there?
Tanzania, the largest country in East Africa, is comprised of the mainland and the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar. Tanzania has dramatic natural features and interesting wildlife, but its people face many challenges, including poverty and malnutrition.

Lakes and rivers provide Tanzania with an abundance of inland water. At the north central boundary lies Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa. Lake Tanganyika, Africa’s deepest and longest freshwater lake, extends along the northwest border. Tanzania also is home to Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain at 5,895 meters.

Variations in altitude lead to great diversity in climate. The coastline is hot and humid. The central plateaus are warm and dry. The base of the mountains are lined with thick forests.

Farming activities, in combination with animal breeding, forestry, fishing, and hunting, make up the primary sector of the economy. Unfortunately, much of the land is not fit for cultivation due to perennial drought.

Giraffes, zebras, monkeys, lions, and elephants are among the more than 400 species of animals living in Tanzania. The Serengeti Wildlife Reserve, located in the northwest part of the country, is one of the best-known reserves in the world.

• Equipping families and communities to care for orphans and vulnerable children while providing life-skills training to those affected by HIV and AIDS.
• Constructing new classrooms to create a positive learning environment for sponsored children.
• Providing school uniforms to enable children to attend school.
• Conducting immunization campaigns to protect children from potentially deadly diseases.
• Developing water sources to provide families with safe, clean drinking water.
• Teaching mothers about the importance of hygiene, nutrition, and disease prevention in safeguarding their children’s health.
• Working with local churches to nurture Christians in their faith.
• Helping farmers increase their yield by providing seeds and training in new agricultural techniques.

• Pray that churches and families will respond to God's call to care for orphans and widows, especially those affected by HIV and AIDS.
• Pray that your sponsored child might be open to God’s love and grace.
• Ask God to guide your sponsored child as he or she learns, grows, and moves toward a future full of hope and possibilities.
• Pray for God to protect the health of your sponsored child and his or her family.

Tanzania is participating in our "HopeChild" program to provide additional resources for children and families impacted by HIV/AIDS in this high prevalence region.