Home - The Small Things

The Small Things integrates a comprehensive family preservation program with high-quality, loving, community-based residential care. That means keeping children in homes where they belong, caring for them when their families can’t, and doing all that we can to reunify children in our care with relatives.

The Problem

0+ Tanzanian women still die in childbirth every year

0% of Tanzanian children have lost one or both parents

0% of Tanzanians live under the poverty line

Our Impact Since 2013

0% of children entering orphanages are expected to return to family without support

0% of children in our care are now returning home by age 5, with TST’s support

0% of residential kids will eventually return home, through our programs

Keeping families together

Meet Leah: When we first met this hard-working Mama, she was struggling to support her children off an income of 50c per day, through manual labor. With support from our Family Preservation Program, Leah built up a business, doubled her income in seven months, and now chairs her local VICOBA (community banking) group!

Leah graduated from the program in early 2020, and continues to go from strength to strength. By working with strong mamas like Leah, we prevent children from going into orphanages due to economic hardship.

Learn how we keep families together

Providing a loving home

Meet the Francis Family: Happiness, Glory, Pendo and Ndetaulwa were referred to The Small Things by local social welfare after concerns about their wellbeing at home. Immediately after entering our best-practice residential care, our Child Welfare and Family Preservation teams sprung into action, working with the family to support their needs and develop a plan toward eventual reunification.

In the meantime, the Francis kids have fitted in well at Happy Family Children’s Village under the doting care of our trained Mamas (childcare staff). They are thriving at school, and enjoy visiting their family at home during the school breaks. Though we love have having them, we know that even our best care cannot compare to a small, loving family, so we look forward to the day that we can send them home.

Learn more about our Residential Care

Meet kids and families in need of sponsors

Our goal is to keep children in homes where they belong, caring for them when their families can’t, and helping reunite them with relatives after leaving our care. But we can’t do it alone – sponsor today, and build a wonderful relationship with one of the children that we support.

See more kids

“I have worked in and around children’s homes my entire life, in the US and abroad. The kids and environment at Happy Family Children’s Village are some of the most happy, healthy, and loved that I have seen.”

Robin, Social Worker

“It’s amazing knowing that money that would otherwise have gone towards a cup of coffee has such a direct impact, and makes such a difference for the family I sponsor.”