À propos de nous

Community Development Watch  ·  Established 2015

A Child's Place of Birth
Should Never Determine
Their Destination.

We are a community-led organisation working with vulnerable children and youth in Tanzania. Since 2015, we have addressed education, health, mentorship, digital skills, and climate action together, because no child should be supported partially when they need support fully.

Support Our Work Devenir partenaire
📚 Education 🩺 Health 🌟 Mentorship 🌱 Climate Action 💡 Youth Skills
160,000+
Jeunes Accompagnés
10+
Écoles partenaires
10+
Years of Impact
5
Programme Pillars
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Who We Are and What We Stand For

Built on a Belief. Driven by Purpose.

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Notre vision

A Tanzania Where Every Child Can Achieve Their Dream

To build a Tanzanian society where every child and youth is inspired and empowered to achieve their dreams, regardless of where they were born or what they were born into.
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Notre mission

Knowledge, Skills and Support to Overcome Every Barrier

Fournir aux enfants et aux jeunes les connaissances, les compétences et le soutien dont ils ont besoin pour surmonter les défis, réaliser leurs aspirations et contribuer de manière significative à leurs communautés.
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Nos valeurs fondamentales

The Principles That Guide Every Decision We Make
Excellence Égalité Diversité transformation Intégrité Apprentissage Transparence Responsabilité Collaboration Dignity for All

"We don't just provide school kits, we restore dignity. We don't just plant trees, we grow future guardians of our planet."

CODEWA  ·  Community Development Watch  ·  Tabora, Tanzania

Context and Strategy

From Challenge to Turning Point

Understanding the context that shaped CODEWA and the research pivot that changed everything.

La Réalité Urgente

Only 52% School Enrollment in Tabora

Le Défi en Tanzanie

Across Tanzania, education is too often a luxury. In the Tabora region, the cycle of poverty is reinforced by high rates of stunting and anaemia. For thousands of adolescents, financial barriers like school kits and transportation are not just inconveniences — they are the walls that stop a child's future before it begins.

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Missing School Materials
A uniform or exercise book costs a full month's income
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Distance and Danger
Girls walk up to 15km on isolated roads before sunrise
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No Healthcare Access
One illness becomes a permanent dropout without insurance
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The Invisible Barrier
Poverty writes a story of limitation that supplies alone cannot rewrite

Notre évolution stratégique

A Turning Point: The 2018 Discovery

In 2018, our research partnership with Dr. Pierre Rialland, PhD in Economics (University of Essex) and Industrial Policy Consultant at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), confirmed what our teachers had observed for years: trauma, low self-esteem, and social isolation were the primary hidden barriers blocking student potential — not lack of supplies alone.

"We realized that giving a child a pen without giving them a vision for their future is only half the battle. Our seminars became the missing link that turned supplies into success."

CODEWA Strategic Framework, 2018

What Changed After 2018

✓
Launched Mentorship and Inspiration Seminars placing role models at the heart of the mission
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Moved beyond basic charity to address the psychologie de l'aspiration
✓
Grew to reach 160,000+ youth across 85+ schools and institutions nationwide

A Message from Our Founder

Issu d'une expérience vécue

"

Si vos rêves ne vous font pas peur, c'est qu'ils ne sont pas assez grands.

My journey with CODEWA did not start in an office. It started in a small village where my first question every morning was not "what will I learn today?" but "will I eat today?" Raised by a single mother with no income and no certainty, we survived by planting vegetables just to pay my school fees. That small garden was my first classroom. It taught me that dignity grows from the ground up.

Then a teacher looked at me, hungry, without books, and invisible, and said three words: "You can do this." Those words changed the entire direction of my life. I realized then that a kind word and a role model can make a child forget their hardships and start imagining a future.

When I became a teacher myself, I looked into the eyes of my students and saw my own reflection. I saw brilliant minds held back by empty stomachs, missing books, and untreated illness. And I learned a painful truth: you cannot teach a starving child. Education is the key out of poverty, but it means nothing without food, healthcare, safety, and hope.

In 2015, I founded CODEWA to be the bridge I once needed. We treat every child not as a "beneficiary," but as a future leader. I will only be satisfied when I see these children happy and able to support their communities. This is my responsibility and the meaning I give to my life.

I was that hungry child. And I refuse to leave the next generation behind.

Sadath Mwamsema
Sadath A. Mwamsema
Co-Founder and Executive Secretary, CODEWA
Registered NGO No. 00NGO/R1/00579  ·  Operating since 2015
Sadath Mwamsema, Co-Founder of CODEWA, with students in Tabora
Pour moi, ce n'est pas qu'une simple citation ; c'est le chemin que je parcours chaque jour à travers CODEWA.

Mahatma Gandhi

That is not just a quote. It is the path we are living every day through CODEWA.

Notre Théorie du Changement

Poverty Does Not Come
From One Direction.

Poverty doesn't push a child out of school with one problem it comes from every direction. A child may lack school supplies, access to healthcare, confidence, practical skills, or even daily nutrition. And addressing just one of these challenges is never enough.

The Problem

A Child Held Back From Every Side

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No School Supplies
A uniform or exercise book costs a month's income
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No Healthcare Access
One fever becomes a permanent dropout
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No Confidence
Poverty writes a story of limitation from birth
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No Digital Skills
The digital economy grows and passes them by
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No Nutrition
You cannot teach a hungry child
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No Safe Path
A two-hour walk in the dark ends education before it begins

Our Response

Five Pillars. One Integrated Response.

That is why CODEWA works across five integrated pillars so each child is supported fully, not partially. Because removing one barrier while leaving the others in place is not enough.

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Pillar 1
Éducation Holistique
Kits, bicycles, scholarships, ECD
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Pillar 2
Health & Dignity
Insurance, MHM, health literacy
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Pillar 3
Mentorship
Resilience Circles, Inspiration Seminars
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Pillar 4
les compétences numériques
AI, coding, career readiness
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Pillar 5
Action climatique
Trees, gardens, Climate Clubs

How Change Happens

From Input to Generational Change

IF  ·  The Holistic Input

Children and youth in Tanzania's highest-dropout communities receive education support, mentorship, healthcare, digital skills, and climate action, all five pillars together, not partially.

THEN  ·  The Behavioural Shift

They stay in school, access healthcare, gain confidence and practical skills, and begin to believe their background is a starting line, not a ceiling.
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LEADING TO  ·  Generational Change

A generation of empowered leaders emerges: self-reliant, employed, and community-minded, breaking the cycle of poverty for themselves and for the generation that follows. Every graduate becomes the role model for the next child in line.
500,000
Young people by 2030

Our 2030 Vision

500,000
Young People

By 2030, CODEWA Aims to Reach 500,000 Young People.

Not as beneficiaries. As future leaders who will support their own communities and prove that where you are born should never determine how far you go.

5
Integrated Pillars
2030
Target Year

Ten Years of Impact

Notre parcours d'impact

From two students and a teaching salary, to 160,000 young people reached across Tanzania. This is how CODEWA grew.

CODEWA beneficiaries in Tabora, Tanzania
160,000+
Youth Reached Since 2020
Est. 2015 · Tabora, Tanzania
2015
Year Founded
85+
Écoles partenaires
4
In University
150K+
Arbres plantés
2015 to 2017 🌱

Personal Sacrifice

Tout a commencé avec seulement 2 étudiants and a commitment from our founders to dedicate a portion of their teaching salaries to school materials and health insurance. Every shilling was personal.

2018 Key Pivot 🔍

The Hidden Barrier Insight

We realized that material aid alone was not enough. Our research revealed a vital truth: children from vulnerable backgrounds face invisible barriers including trauma, low self-esteem, and social isolation. We shifted strategy and launched Mentorship and Inspiration Seminars, placing local role models at the heart of our mission.

2020 to 2024 📈

Scaling the Vision

The results were transformative. As academic performance and leadership skills soared, demand from institutions grew. CODEWA partnered with over 10 schools and universities, reaching more than 160,000 youth with life skills and employability training.

2025 Milestone Year 🎓

Rêves Réalisés

Une année charnière : nos premiers étudiants ont été diplômés en Agriculture and Community DevelopmentActuellement, 4 beneficiaries are in their 2nd year of Bachelor's Degrees. As we expand into Early Childhood Education and Climate Action (planting 150,000+ trees), we remain guided by one belief: a better future for every child is possible when we remove the barriers to their potential.

Ce que nous faisons

Nos Piliers d'Impact

A holistic and sustainable strategic framework designed to transform communities and empower the next generation in Tanzania. Each pillar addresses a specific barrier. Together they build a complete path.

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Pillar 1

Éducation Holistique

De la Petite Enfance (DPE) De l'infrastructure de aux bourses universitaires,, we remove the physical and emotional barriers to learning. Children from low-income families don't just attend school, they thrive and lead.

✓ School kits, uniforms and bicycles

✓ Scholarships and exam fee coverage

✓ ECD spaces and caregiver training

Explore Programme
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Pillar 2

Youth Futures and Mentorship

Nous forgeons l'état d'esprit et les compétences for independence. Inspiration Seminars and Resilience Circles launch youth into self-reliant futures by rebuilding the self-belief that poverty quietly destroys.

✓ Resilience Circles (monthly mentorship)

✓ Large-scale Inspiration Seminars

✓ Life skills and employability training

Explore Programme
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Pillar 3

Health and Wellbeing

Nous veillons à ce que les élèves restent en bonne santé grâce à une assurance maladie communautaire and comprehensive soutien complet en matière de santé reproductive.. A fever should never end a child's education.

✓ Toto Afya Card (CHF health insurance)

✓ Menstrual hygiene kits for girls

✓ Community health literacy workshops

Explore Programme
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Pillar 4

Gérance Environnementale

Nous donnons aux jeunes les moyens de devenir les architectes d'une Tanzanie plus verte.. School-based Climate Clubs, fruit tree planting, and sustainable gardening nurture a lifelong culture of environmental stewardship.

✓ Fruit tree planting (1,500+ trees)

✓ Student-led Climate Guardian Clubs

✓ School gardens and eco-literacy

Explore Programme
CODEWA team and community in Tabora, Tanzania

Notre engagement envers vous

Trust Is Our Foundation

Reg. No. 00NGO/R1/00579

CODEWA operates with a robust governance system overseen by an independent Board of Directors. We provide measurable data so you see exactly how your trust creates change.

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Responsabilité radicale
Every euro tracked and reported
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Intégrité financière
Independent board oversight
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Collaboration communautaire
Led by the communities we serve
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Impact mesurable
Evidence-based programmes always

Transparency and Accountability

Radical Accountability. Measurable Impact. Community Ownership.

Trust is the foundation of every gift and every partnership. Here is what CODEWA's governance looks like in practice.

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Independent Board of Directors
A seven-member independent Board meeting twice yearly, including international economists, local community leaders, and programme specialists providing full strategic oversight.
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Evidence-Based Programming
Every programme is grounded in research, including a formal 2018 fieldwork study on invisible barriers to learning conducted in partnership with UNIDO.
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Monitored and Reported
All programme outcomes are tracked through internal monitoring systems and partner school records. Annual reports are publicly available on our reports page.
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Community Ownership by Design
From bicycle retention agreements to student-led Climate Guardian Clubs, every programme is designed for community ownership long after our involvement ends.
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Registered and Fully Compliant
Fully registered with the Tanzanian government under Reg. No. 00NGO/R1/00579. All national NGO reporting requirements met and financial records maintained transparently.
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Locally Led, Globally Aligned
Led by a founder who grew up in the communities we serve. Our work aligns with seven United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, grounding local action in global accountability.

Conseil d’administration

Seven Independent Directors

An international and local board providing independent oversight, meeting twice per year.

PR
Pierre Rialland
Chair, PhD Economist, UNIDO Consultant
SK
Shabani Kigumi
Vice Chair
SM
Sadath Mwamsema
Secretary and Co-Founder
MR
Marc Rialland
Senior Advisor, France
MP
Marisol Perez
Board Member, Spain
SJ
Sophia Juma
Board Member
JE
Jenipha Edephonce
Board Member

SDG Alignment

CODEWA's work aligns with seven United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, grounding local action in global accountability frameworks.

SDG 4 Education SDG 3 Health SDG 5 Gender SDG 8 Decent Work SDG 10 Inequalities SDG 13 Climate SDG 15 Land
Community Development Watch (CODEWA)
Reg. No. 00NGO/R1/00579  ·  Bonde Buildings, Zimamoto Street, Tabora, Tanzania  ·  Operating since 2015
 View Reports Contactez-nous

Rejoindre le mouvement

Ensemble pour le changement

At CODEWA, transformation begins with people. Children discovering their potential. Youth leading change. Communities standing together. Whether you are a donor, a partner, or a volunteer, there is a place for you here.

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Give to CODEWA

Every contribution reaches a real child in Tabora. Give to a specific programme or to our general fund and trust us to direct it where the need is greatest.

✓ From €5 to plant one tree
✓ From €25 for a health shield
✓ €155 for a full bicycle shield
Faire un don maintenant
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Devenir partenaire

Organisations, schools, companies, and institutions can partner with CODEWA to scale our reach, co-design programmes, and create lasting change in Tabora's communities.

✓ CSR and corporate partnerships
✓ Institutional and NGO collaboration
✓ School and university partnerships
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Devenez bénévole

When you volunteer with CODEWA, you bring hope, support, and opportunity to communities that need it most. Skills, time, and presence all create real impact.

✓ Field and programme support
✓ Digital and remote volunteering
✓ Mentorship and skills sharing
Devenir bénévole
CODEWA community and children in Tabora, Tanzania

Every Child Is Waiting

You Are the Bridge to a Child's Future.

Whether you give, partner, or volunteer, you are part of the answer. Let's transform lives together one child, one community, one generation at a time.

Faire un don maintenant See Our Reports
CODEWA community children, youth, and staff together in Tabora, Tanzania
Rejoindre la mission

Ensemble pour le changement

At CODEWA, transformation begins with people children discovering their potential, youth leading change, and communities standing together for a brighter future. We invite you to join us in building a Tanzania where every child can learn, dream, and thrive.

Faire un don maintenant Devenez bénévole
❤️

Don

Every donation counts help us change lives, one contribution at a time. Your gift reaches a specific child in Tabora with a specific solution.

Explore  →
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Collecte de Fonds

Turn your passion into impact by supporting causes that matter. Run a challenge, host an event, or rally your community for CODEWA's programmes.

Explore  →
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Devenir Bénévole

When you volunteer with CODEWA, you bring hope, support, and opportunity to communities that need it most. Your time is a gift that lasts.

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Rencontrez l’équipe de CODEWA

Committed to serve the community
Voir les membres de l'équipe