19.8.26 Kiselele up and running
Following on from the last post, the Kiselele women’s group started on 13th August.
The woman in the first photo is selling tea and chapattis at the market. The group will provide funds in the form of loans to grow her business.
The second photo shows Julieth, our group co-ordinator, assessing women to join the group. We have developed a questionnaire for that purpose.Photo three celebrates the first day of the group.
The three office holders have been appointed – chair, secretary, and treasurer. The group has a constitution to govern its business. If all goes well, they will receive their first grant from Busega Scotland after three months.The women have called their group Wezesha Mwanamke or Empower Women.
We wish them well.
6.7.26 All change
Busega Scotland’s involvement in each of the women’s groups it facilitates lasts 12 months – from the point our co-ordinator Julieth completes her assessments to when the final grant is paid.
This year two groups have completed, at Inuka and Kikongo. Julieth has completed the evaluation of the Inuka group and Kikongo’s is underway. We are planning to include evaluations in editions of Nyumba Moja, focusing on group impacts, described by the women themselves, and financial details.
One striking observation from an Inuka member:
The group has increased my respect and confidence in my businesses, in the street and in the whole community that surrounds me. Also, to be respected and appreciated in my family because now I increase the family’s income as a mother and a wife as well. There are my neighbours who come to ask me to give them advice and ideas that made my businesses successful.
A new group is being formed in the village of Kiselele on the outskirts of Mwanza. There is a market and the group will support vendors develop their small businesses.
6.7.26 Mayega news
It is never quiet at Mayega Children’s Centre with much going on.
1. Following a number of our young people moving onto college and A-levels we have had vacancies. Five new boys have arrived, bringing us up to our capacity of twelve. They are all of primary school age, so a big welcome and have a long, happy, and successful stay at the Centre!
2. Our Sharing Christmas appeal raised funds for the children to go on a trip to the big city of Mwanza (Tanzania’s second largest with a population of of over 1 million). The children opted for visits to the airport, shopping mall, and Bismarck Rock (the historical site of a statue of Otto Von Bismarck back in German colonial times). Two groups travelled to Mwanza in June. There will be a full report on the trip in the next edition of our newsletter, Nyumba Moja.
3. We have reported many times on the educational success of Mayega young people, with four now at university. But the next generation are doing wonderfully well. In recent primary school examinations, the Centre had nine children involved and all were in the top ten of their classes (sizes range from 62 to 134 pupils). In Standard 6, our children occupied the top three positions!7.3.26 Architect on site
We are planning to make significant changes to the dormitory and dining room arrangements at Mayega Children’s Centre. The plan is to build a separate boys’ dormitory and use that current space as a larger dining room and social area. This will allow the boys’ and girls’ dormitories to be in separate buildings.
A local architect, Kenny Owire, has volunteered to prepare drawings for the new dormitory and he has already made a site visit. He is working on behalf of our Dormitory Project Team, which combines knowledge and expertise from Tanzania and Scotland.
Once the drawings are finalised we can seek quotes for the work and then search out funding. Many thanks to Kenny and the team for their commitment to the project.
14.1.26 Sharing Christmas 2025
Our Sharing Christmas Appeal for 2025 was a wonderful success!
The focus was providing sporting and recreational equipment and materials for Mayega Children’s Centre and maybe trips out. We think all are possible through the generosity of our supporters.
We will now ask Mayega staff and children to prioritise the use of the funds and form-up a spending plan.
The total amount raised (including Gift Aid) was £1544. £437 came through our friends at Aberlour Fostering and thirteen other supporters made contributions.
Christmas was truly shared and a big thank you to all who donated.
11.1.26 Mayega’s Christmas and New Year
The children at the Centre had their Christmas and New Year’s meals and celebrations.As always, fun was had by all.
Our links with the Kirawira Serena Safari Camp continues and staff from there kindly brought supplies and treats for the children. We are very grateful to the camp for their continuing support. They also brought a gift of a chitenge to mark the retirement, at the end of 2025, of our Matron, Leya.
A chitenge is a vibrant, patterned fabric similar to a sarong. They are very common in Tanzania, being used as a wrap, or fashioned into dresses and skirts. Smaller pieces of the cloth may form headscarves or slings for babies, and there are other household uses. A very versatile gift to celebrate Leya’s long service.
11.1.26 Busega Scotland Accounts 2024-25
The table below shows our summary verified accounts.
Apologies – the bottom sentence in the left hand column should, of course, read ‘Bank as of 30th November 2025‘.
Our reporting year is December to November and the accounts will be sent, along with an Annual Report, to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) as part of Busega Scotland’s monitoring return.
If you would like to receive a copy of our 2024-5 Annual Report and Financial Statement then please email busegascotland@gmail.com .
8.12.25 Today is my first day at school ……..
And, I think that I’ll just play it cool (as the rhyme says)!
For Elizabeth, Yohana and Pascali, school is well and truly behind them, and the photos show their first days at university
Sociology
Computer Science
Environmental Science with Resource Management
We wish them all well and they will be supported through our Moving-on Project.
Our trailblazing student, Tangu, has had very good results in her first year of a degree in Population Studies and Rural Development.
The educational success at Mayega has brought increased financial pressure on Busega Scotland and the Student Sponsorship Appeal remains open. Please email busegascotland@gmail.com for further details.
14.11.25 Retirement and leaving-do
We are sad to be saying goodbye, in the next while, to two important members of Mayega Children Centre staff. Our Matron, Leya Lusana, who has been at Mayega since it started, is retiring. Asteria Benedicto, our Head of Care and a qualified social worker, has been with us for a couple of years and is leaving for personal reasons.
On Saturday 8th November, there was a farewell party, with cake and presents for Leya. Our latest newsletter, Nyumba Moja, has a fascinating article about her time at the Centre and the changes she has experienced.
Both women will be sorely missed by the children and their colleagues. They have made their own unique contributions to what Mayega is today. We thank them so much for that and wish them well in the future.
If you would like a copy of Nyumba Moja please email busegascotland@gmail.com .