WHO WE ARE
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FISCH stands for Future for Iringa Street Children. We were founded in 2007 and became a Trust within Tanzania in 2016. Our ground activities are holistic – they target physical, social and spiritual needs which include food, shelter within a family environment, health care, education, moral awareness and having the opportunity to hear about God and the love of Jesus.
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As well as supporting the basic needs of these children through a variety of programmes, our long term goal is for them to become self-sufficient, balanced, well rounded and valuable members of the community. We hope that by our actions and presence in the community we might prevent children turning to the street in the first place.
WHERE WE WORK
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Iringa is situated in the southern highlands of Tanzania, with a population of about 150,000 (as of 2020),  however the population of the wider Iringa region is approximately 1 million. The town stretches over a hilltop overlooking the Ruaha River to the south and spreads along the ridges and valleys to the north. Iringa has a constant stream of tourists passing through on their way to Ruaha National Park.
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WHY ARE WE HERE
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Life in Tanzania's villages can be hard. Families that once held together are being pulled apart as parents leave home to look for work in town, and children can often be the first impacted.
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Back in 2007 in Iringa, one in four children were already classified as an orphan or vulnerable child, well above the national average of 18%. The pressure hasn't eased since. Sources since have estimated over 2.6 million children across Tanzania have lost one or both parents, with 58% of under 5s growing up in poverty.
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We meet children where they are - with food, safety and someone who knows their name - and we walk them towards family, school and a future that lasts.
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