Tanzania
Shelys brings clean water and renewed hope to Malaika Kids
Located in Mwananyamala, Dar es Salaam, Malaika Kids is dedicated to supporting children with special needs, providing care and creating an environment where they can learn, develop and feel included. The centre currently supports approximately 258 children, making access to safe, reliable water essential to their daily health, hygiene and well-being.
Yet, for many community-based organisations, consistent access to quality water remains a significant challenge.
As part of Shelys’ Pharmaceuticals Limited (Shelys') Mandela Day 2026 activities, the company set out to address this challenge in a practical and sustainable way by supporting Malaika Kids with the construction of a water well.
Drilled to a depth of 60 metres, the new well provides the centre with a reliable supply of good-quality, fresh water with no salinity. The initiative has made a tangible difference to the children, caregivers and others who use the centre, helping to create a healthier and more comfortable environment for everyone.
But the transformation did not stop there.
Shelys volunteers also helped give the centre a fresh look by repainting its interior walls, creating a brighter, cleaner and more welcoming space for the children. A commemorative donor plaque was unveiled at the centre, while Shelys also donated a television to support learning, entertainment and recreational activities.
Together, these contributions represent much more than improvements to the centre’s physical infrastructure. They are an investment in the health, dignity and well-being of children with special needs, while providing caregivers with a safer and more supportive environment in which to carry out their work.
The initiative brought Shelys employees and the Malaika Kids community together, with 20 Shelys representatives participating alongside approximately 40 representatives from Malaika Kids. Their collective involvement reflected the spirit of Mandela Day—turning compassion into action and demonstrating how meaningful change can begin with practical acts of service.
For Shelys, supporting Malaika Kids is a reflection of Nelson Mandela’s enduring vision of a caring and inclusive society, where vulnerable members of the community are treated with dignity, compassion and respect.
By helping to secure access to something as fundamental as clean water, while creating a brighter and more welcoming space for the children, Shelys has contributed to a change that will continue to benefit the Malaika Kids community long after Mandela Day.
We are proud to have played a part in this meaningful initiative and remain committed to making a positive and sustainable difference in the communities we serve—not only on Mandela Day, but throughout the year.
