Tanzania: Small but Mighty Leadership in Autism Care

In Tanzania, a staggering 53% of children aged 2-5 from low-income families are experiencing developmental delays in health, early learning, and psychosocial well-being. The repercussions of these delays can be profound and long-lasting. Recognizing a critical gap between government policy and implementation to support families, the visionary minds behind the Tanzania Early Childhood Education and Care (TECEC) was launched as a local non-profit to reduce this gap of serving  its vulnerable population.

At the heart of TECEC's goal to empower and support parents, caregivers, and preschool teachers, is to provide holistic support to children from conception to 8 years old in low-income families across Tanzania. In essence, TECEC is steadfastly dedicated to ensuring every child in Tanzania not only survives but thrives.

The impact of TECEC is both extensive and meaningful:

 - Over 22,000 children ages 0-8 have already been served (girls served = 54%).

 - 240 families directly benefit from parenting training and personalized home visits.

 - 123 public preschool teachers have been trained in TECEC early learning models, enhancing their ability to support young learners.

 - 14 communities and villages actively participate in TECEC programming, fostering community engagement and support.

Driven by the unwavering belief in the potential of every child, Executive Director Joel Elphas is motivated by the simple joy of seeing a child smile at the start of each day. Leading a dedicated team of eight individuals, they are making a significant impact in 30% of Tanzania's rural region. Joel and his team aim to be a beacon of hope and encouragement for those young children who often go unnoticed in society.

Joel's strategic foresight has led to invaluable partnerships with leading autism experts from across the globe, each representing a different continent. Through these collaborations, TECEC is at the forefront of elevating the standard of care by disseminating advanced methodologies to those working with this vulnerable population.

The Global Autism Coalition proudly stands in collaboration with TECEC, recognizing and supporting its efforts to expand and deepen its impact throughout Tanzania. Together, they are championing a brighter future for all young children.