THE EXPERIENCES AND PERCEPTIONS ENCOUNTERED BY YOUNG CARERS OF VISUALLY IMPAIRED ADULT BEGGARS IN TANZANIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR ACCESS TO BASIC EDUCATION

This paper examines the experiences and perceptions encountered by Young Carers of Visually Impaired Adult Beggars (YCVIAB) in Tanzania with a goal to understand their plight and suggest more helpful practices in supporting their access to basic education. Data was generated in Dodoma Municipality in which begging phenomenon using children as guides is deeply rooted. Through intensive interviews with Young Carers of Visually Impaired Adult Beggars’ family members (YCVIABFMs), influential community members, Visually Impaired Adult Beggars (VIABs) and Young Carers of Visually Impaired Adult Beggars (YCVIABs) themselves, the study captured the experiences and perceptions of Young Carers of Visually Impaired Adult Beggars (YCVIABs) and how the same constituted bottlenecks towards their access to basic education. The study revealed that Young Carers of Visually Impaired Adult Beggars (YCVIABs) encountered the most dreadful experiences and the perceptions of their plight were multifaceted with majority of stakeholders having a negative perception. Negative perceptions culminated into low level of support to Young Carers of Visually Impaired Adult Beggars. Unless interventions at policy and practice level are in place, the quest of basic education access for every child in Dodoma municipality and Tanzania in general will be a day dream.