Kishapu Today

Kishapu Today
Kishapu is predominantly agrarian with 90% of its
residents living as subsistence farmers and cattle
herders. Sadly, the region has been devastated by
unpredictable and insufficient rain in recent years
which has resulted in drought, famine, pestilence,
malnutrition and lack of economic opportunities.
The Kishapu District and Shinyanga Region are
reputed to be potentially very rich in minerals such
as gold and diamonds. A few mines are now
operating although the fruits have not yet trickled
down to the common man. As a result, many
residents have moved to bigger cities such as
Mwanza, Dar-Es-Salam, Arusha and Shinyanga in
an attempt to escape their poor conditions.

Once in the big cities, however, it's not uncommon
for people to be forced into dealing drugs,
committing crime, and engaging in prostitution in
order to survive. Prostitution and drug abuse in
turn promote the spread of HIV and AIDS. The
steady migration out of Kishapu has caused the
village to gradually loose its vitality and potential.
KCDC's mission is to help revitalize Kishapu to
encourage residents to stay and not move to
bigger towns where many face a worse life.