
We enable, empower and enhance
Children, Youth and Women
We are Non Profit Organization dedicated to improve the development and socio-livelihood of Children, Youth and Women in Tanzania.
Elimu Community Light (ECOLI) is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) registered in 2006. ECOLI envisions Tanzania with educated and developed citizens. Through its mission, it enables, empowers and enhances the capacity of underprivileged groups (Children, Youth and Women) by promoting the access to quality formal and non-formal education, development opportunities and social components necessary to alleviate the pernicious effects of poverty. Since its inception ECOLI has been promoting core programs related to Early Childhood Development (ECD) aspects; provision of quality and equitable basic education; support most vulnerable children to access education and vocational skills; as well as empower youths and women on social-development potentials particularly in Arusha region and Tanzania in general. ECOLI believes that proper child rearing enables holistic development in all development domains of health, nutrition, early learning, responsive caregiving, security and safety. Also believes that linking vulnerable children with education and vocational skill, and empower youths and women to social livelihoods will enhance them to reach their socio-economic development potentials. ECOLI does not doing all these itself rather partners with development partners, cooperate with government and innovators as well as networking with other likeminded NGOs and groups to advocate for rights and development of children, youths and women.
Elimu Community Light envisions a Tanzania with educated and developed citizens.
Elimu Community Light’s mission is to enable, empower and enhance the capacity of underprivileged groups by promoting access to quality formal and non-formal education, development opportunities and social components necessary to alleviate the pernicious effects of poverty.
Through this mission ELIMU promotes Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs for children from birth to age eight; basic education and adult literacy; Child protection and safeguarding; MVC support, and Youth and Women empowerment.
The overall ECOLI’s objective is to build capacity, enable and promote the access of development opportunities to underprivileged groups in the society so that they can liberate themselves from the obstacles hindering their development individually and national in general.
Through its program ECOLI is determined to fulfil a number of specific objectives to achieve its vision and mission.

Our history.
Where we come from
1998
2021
In 1998 were tendency of increasing crimes among youths in the Daraja II community. Elimu Community Light Founder learned that the source was illiterate as the results of lacking education investment for children. The Elimu Community Light Founder realized the need for establishing community based ECD service. In 1999 Elimu Children Center was founded with the aim to provide ECD and parenting education services. For the first seven years 548 were transitioned to primary school education. (Elimu means Education in Swahili)
In 1998 were tendency of increasing crimes among youths in the Daraja II community. Elimu Community Light Founder learned that the source was illiterate as the results of lacking education investment for children. The Elimu Community Light Founder realized the need for establishing community based ECD service.
In 1999 Elimu Children Center was founded with the aim to provide ECD and parenting education services. For the first seven years 548 were transitioned to primary school education. (Elimu means Education in Swahili)
In Year 2006 the demand of ECD service to wider community increased (as community members began seeing the light of Education) that led to register an NGO. Whereby on September, 2006 Elimu Community Light (ECOLI) registered and expanded its ECD program from ward to district level and till 2007 children’s enrollment for primary school rose to 274 annually
In Year 2006 the demand of ECD service to wider community increased (as
community members began seeing the light of Education) that led to
register an NGO. Whereby on September, 2006 Elimu Community Light
(ECOLI) registered and expanded its ECD program from ward to district
level and till 2007 children’s enrollment for primary school rose to 274
annually
From year 2008 to 2011 ECOLI Expanded its ECD program by training more ECD caregivers and teachers in collaboration with Arusha city council community development and education departments. A total of 217 ECD teachers and caregivers were trained, hence reached 6,944 children from different 89 community based ECD centers and 12 pre-primary schools. It Expanded its partnership and cooperation with local government and like-minded civil society organization in ECD training and advocacy issues at the district to national level. During this period ECOLI became the member of various networks in the region and the country level includes the Arusha NGO Network (ANGONET), Tanzania Early Childhood Development Network (TECDEN) and Tanzania Education Network (TEN/MET) and PANITA to expand its advocacy through a collective voice. Also, at the same period ECOLI consulted by Maarifa ni Ufunguo organization to train over 400 ECD teachers from other 6 different districts of Tanzania through workshops and seminars.
From year 2008 to 2011 ECOLI Expanded its ECD program by training more ECD caregivers and teachers in collaboration with Arusha city council community development and education departments. A total of 217 ECD teachers and caregivers were trained, hence reached 6,944 children from different 89 community based ECD centers and 12 pre-primary schools. It Expanded its partnership and cooperation with local government and like-minded civil society organization in ECD training and advocacy issues at the district to national level. During this period ECOLI became the member of various networks in the region and the country level includes the Arusha NGO Network (ANGONET), Tanzania Early Childhood Development Network (TECDEN) and Tanzania Education Network (TEN/MET) and PANITA to expand its advocacy through a collective voice. Also, at the same period ECOLI consulted by Maarifa ni Ufunguo organization to train over 400 ECD teachers from other 6 different districts of Tanzania through workshops and seminars.
From Year 2015-2018 ECOLI’s project operations focused to support Most Vulnerable Children (MVC) to access education and health, improving literacy and numeracy capabilities to lower grades children at public schools. A total of 186 MVC supported, 52 pre-primary and primary teachers reached, 1027 parents participated and over 1924 slow learning children mastered literacy and numeracy skills.
Also, from 2017 to 2020 ECOLI’s operations focused on Institutional capacity building, innovation in education, and Youth and women empowerment.

ECOLI has been continuing to expand its institutional capacity by building it own office and come up with various innovations for improving teaching and learning environment; enhanced literacy and numeracy capabilities to lower grades to public Pre- schools; expanding learning environment beyond the schools’ environment; and enhanced the capacity of youth and women to engage in social economic need and livelihood thriving. A Total of 126 Youth and women have been involved in achieving their education goals, leadership inspiration, and entrepreneurship skills.
From Year 2015-2018 ECOLI’s project operations focused to support Most Vulnerable Children (MVC) to access education and health, improving literacy and numeracy capabilities to lower grades children at public schools. A total of 186 MVC supported, 52 pre-primary and primary teachers reached, 1027 parents participated and over 1924 slow learning children mastered literacy and numeracy skills.
Also, from 2017 to 2020 ECOLI’s operations focused on Institutional capacity building, innovation in education, and Youth and women empowerment. ECOLI has been continuing to expand its institutional capacity by building it own office and come up with various innovations for improving teaching and learning environment; enhanced literacy and numeracy capabilities to lower grades to public Pre- schools; expanding learning environment beyond the schools’ environment; and enhanced the capacity of youth and women to engage in social economic need and livelihood thriving. A Total of 126 Youth and women have been involved in achieving their education goals, leadership inspiration, and entrepreneurship skills.