A UK registered non-governmental organisation, Islamic Help is planning to build a 4bn/- centre to be named ‘Children’s Eco Village’ in Kisemvule, Coast region to support more than 160 orphans in the country.

Addressing reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the organisation’s country director, Ishak Ahmed said the village will be self-sustaining by running various projects to generate income.

“The two years 4bn/- project will be spent on buildings, facilities within the building, road infrastructure, sports, the village, farms and livestock,” he noted.

Ahmed said they were seeking 800m/- for the construction of six children’s houses and that already the office of the organisation in UK has donated half of the funds. “We have already spent a total of 120m/- for the project,” said Adam Rajabu, the programme manager.

Rajabu said the ogranisation plans to run a fundraising Iftar and dinner for the village to be held this week to be graced by retired President Ally Hassan Mwinyi.

He said the village will build 16 houses in the lush green 30-acre land to accommodate the orphans.

The programme manager said the project will have a training centre and a farm as income generation ventures for the village and provide neighbouring communities with a model for community development and capacity building.

“We want to come out of the syndrome of depending on donors. We want to create self sustainable project that our children and neighbours will benefit from,” said Rajab.