TCRS BACKGROUND

The Tanganyika Christian Refugee Service (TCRS) with its headquarters located at Mikocheni in Dar es Salaam was operated by the Lutheran World Federation - Department of World Service, on behalf of the World Council of Churches and in consultation with the Christian Council of Tanzania. The entity was established at the request of the constituent member churches of the Christian Council of Tanzania, as an ecumenical expression of concern and a programme of assistance to refugees who have found asylum in Tanzania. The Tanganyika Christian Refugee Service has over the years been conducting its programme of assistance in co-operation with the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Since its establishment in 1964 until 2006, TCRS was carrying out a programme of humanitarian relief and development activities with refugees and marginalized poor people in Tanzania. As part of the LWF/DWS strategy for local empowerment, TCRS became an autonomous and independent Tanzanian registered NGO in January 2006. TCRS is registered as a Trust Association and continues to be engaged in humanitarian, relief and development work in Tanzania on behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, the Christian Council of Tanzania and the global ecumenical network

Our Values

Focus groups

TCRS focuses on the vulnerable, marginalized and displaced people (VMDs) vulnerable poor people whose livelihoods are threatened by the effects of natural and human-made disaster, with special regard to internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees and disadvantaged communities in the remote areas of greatest vulnerability and endemic need. Special attention is paid to women, children, youth, elderly, people with disability and People Living With Communicable diseases.

Focus Areas

TCRS works in some selected villages of districts and locations with highest vulnerability to disaster and greatest concentration of poverty. It focuses on remote and vulnerable areas where adequate local capacities and services are not available. Currently, TCRS is working in 11 selected districts in Tanzania i.e. Ilala,Kakonko, Kibondo, Kigamboni, Kilwa, Kinondoni,Kishapu, Morogoro Rural,Ngara, Temeke and Ubungo.

CROSS-CUTTING THEMES

Gender justice by creating awareness with men and women on the need for gender equality, changing their mind set and including women in all interventions in all stages as equal members of society, empowering them through their inclusion in capacity building, formation of groups, VICOBAs and IGAs, to generate income and to have control over the generated benefits. Gender Based Violence is addressed and considered as unacceptable in the community and women are able to claim their rights methodologies in agriculture integrated in the humanitarian and relief support as well as in the sustainable development approach
Conserved environment and climate change mitigation and adaptation by ensuring the availability of the natural resources in the future/on long term by promoting conservation practices for the use of the natural environment, and climate smart
Conducive policies at national level in order to create an enabling environment for the implementation of strategies aimed at achieving the above-mentioned objectives.

STRATEGIC APPROACHES

INTEGRATED APPROACH focuses on environmental issues, HIV and AIDS, gender justice is integral to any action taken in any given sector.
INTEGRATED APPROACH focuses on environmental issues, HIV and AIDS, gender justice is integral to any action taken in any given sector.
FACILITATION APPROACH allows TCRS to facilitate the empowerment of people affected by disasters to rebuild their livelihoods, be aware of their rights, live dignified lives as active members of their community and hold duty bearer accountable.
RIGHTS BASED APPROACH emphasizes awareness raising on human rights standards and ensures that the root causes of poverty and exclusion receive proper attention in the formulation and implementation of communities development programs

Board of Trustees

Ensures that the funds and assets of TCRS are managed ethically toward achieving the objectives of the organisation.

Bishop Renard Mtenji

Chairperson

Rev. Canon Moses Matonya

Member

Dr. Rogate Mshana

Member

Eng. Robert Kitundu

Member

Adv. Victoria Mandari

Member

Ms. Clotilda Ndezi

Member

Dr. Shangweli Emmanuel

Director (Ex-Officio)