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| TANZANIA |
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Rising out of the plains of Tanzania is Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. Tanzania is also home to world famous wild life reserves such as Serengeti National Park and the Masai tribe of nomads. Tanzania has the most incredible tribal diversity in Africa. The country includes all of the major ethnic and linguistic groups on the continent – an amazingly varied population to inhabit a single country. The ‘Spice Islands’ of the Zanzibar Archipelago, Pemba, Mafia, and the entire Tanzanian coast is home to the Swahili people, a vibrant mix of Arab, Indian and Bantu origins who historically based their livelihoods around Indian Ocean trade. Tanzanians place a high value on their country’s multicultural heritage and in contrast to its neighbours, tribal rivalries are almost nonexistent. Religious frictions are also minimal. Although political differences flare up they rarely come to the forefront in interpersonal dealings. Tanzanians always give an inevitably warm reception to their visitors. In Tanzania, it’s sometimes hard to know where the family ends and the community begins. Doors are always open, helping out others is expected and celebrations involve everyone.
The workings of society are oiled by a subtle but strong social code. Tanzanians place a premium on politeness and courtesy. Greetings in particular are essential. Much of the daily life of Tanzanians is shaped by struggle to make ends meet in an economy that is ranked as one of the world’s poorest. Most students don’t have the opportunity to finish secondary school and many of those that do have unemployment to look forward to, especially in rural areas.
Tanzania faces huge challenges from HIV/AIDS and rampant youth unemployment. YCI in collaboration with local NGOs in Morogoro and Zanzibar is working towards creating HIV/AIDS awareness, youth skills development, environmental protection, and women’s empowerment.
For more information about YCI programming in Tanzania, read the “Program Country Profile – Tanzania
| HDI: |
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164/177 |
| Population: |
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36.9 million |
| Life Expectancy: |
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50.71 years |
| Infant mortality: |
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71.69/1,000 births |
| Adult Literacy Rate: |
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69.4% |
| Youth Literacy Rate: |
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78.4 % |
| HIV prevalence:
(ages 15-49) |
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8.8% |
Population living below
the
national
poverty line: |
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36% |
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Program Overview
