Tanzania continues with efforts to raise awareness on Dyslexia and this time the region is organizing a second instalment in the series of special athletics events to that effect.
The second season of the Dyslexia Awareness Run, racing under the theme of ‘Run for Literacy,’ is expected to raise dust on the 5th day of October 2025.
Dyslexia Tanzania is organizing the marathon being one of the platforms for engaging children and parents to support Dyslexia Children in Arusha and Tanzania as whole.
“We have several platforms that can allow children suffering from Dyslexia to display their talents,” explained Caudence Ayoti, the founder of Dyslexia Tanzania, who points out that they previously held talent shows for the children.
“Dyslexic children are now slow learners, but they are the ones with special skills that cannot be expressed through normal education environments, but most of the remarkable inventions in the world can be credited to people with Dyslexia,” said Caudence.
During the first season, held in 2024, more than 600 participants raced in the Dyslexia run, though the target was 1000, this time around, the organizers are setting a higher target of 1500 runners, because the event incorporates various other active inputs for a more inclusive event.
The Program Manager for Dyslexia Tanzania, Nsape Mwasyoke said the marathons are usually held in the months of October, aiming to raise more voices on the issue of dyslexia.
The race will start from Mgambo grounds, at Uzunguni, with runners racing through Kijenge roundabout, Philips, Sanawari and back to the starting point again.
“The second season includes more races including 2.5 kilometers and 5 kilometers in addition to the main event of 10 kilometers run, which makes all people be able to participate,” stated Mwasyoke.
On his part, Johns Habib Rashid, the co-founder of Dyslexia Tanzania, said the condition affects many children especially during learning sessions in class, but in reality, the dyslexic pupils are usually the ones with differently wired form of learning and in fact, most happen to be geniuses.
“The society does not understand the dyslexia condition, because it is a new concept,” said Johns, adding that while it is normal in the US and Europe, Tanzania and Africa must now start learning about the ailment.
He pointed out that over 20 percent of the global population suffer from Dyslexia, which means billions around the world and even millions in Tanzania.