14.10.26 Scottish activity

A major part of Busega Scotland’s work at home is fundraising. It can be relentless but the support we receive is more than remarkable. All of our fundraising initiatives are magnificently supported.
We had about 100 hundred people attend the Musical Curry Evening at Elgin Youth Café. Over £1800 was raised for the Trees Matter project at Mayega Children’s Centre, and for other activities.
The Galloway Walk has raised £1170 so far for Susie, a blind girl at the Centre, who receives special education at a boarding school. Seven walkers took part. The two ladies are behind the camera!
On Sunday 18th October, there will be be an Afternoon Tea and pre-loved clothes sale in Crossgates, Fife. This is new for Busega Scotland in hosting such an event, and in a different part of Scotland.
We will be forever grateful to folk who organise and participate in our events and appeals.


14.10.26 Moving on with Moving-on

Our support for Mayega leavers is bundled-up into a project called Moving-on, led by a Mayega Children’s Centre social worker, Anitha David (in the photo).
The support commences prior to a young person leaving secondary school at Form 4 and follows through into continuing education. This can be at A-level, college, or university.
Anitha is relatively new in post and has been conducting a review of the project to identify improvements in practice.
We have had one new entrant into the project this year. Salome has started her A-levels in History, Geography, and English at a school 75 miles north of Mwanza. We wish her well.


13.10.26 Women’s groups progression

Each group facilitated by Busega Scotland has an established life cycle. Assessment – commencement – payment dates – evaluation. That means each group lasts 12 months before continuing independently.
As existing groups end then new ones start in a programme managed by Busega Scotland’s co-ordinator, Julieth Godwin. Julieth is very skilled at groupwork and in juggling many tasks at any given time! The photo shows the new Mlimani group.
This year three groups have progressed successfully and are now independent. Two new ones have stared and a third will be underway by the year end. These six groups involve two hundred women in business development and mutual support.
There is a seminar planned to look at how the project is working and to identify areas for improvement. It has evolved greatly over its eight years of operation.

13.10.26 Weather warnings

The Tanzanian government has brought forward national school examinations through fears of the El Nino impact on weather during the October to December rainy season. Heavier than normal rainfall, higher temperatures, and a higher risk of flooding is expected. The rain could fall in destructive downpours.
Mayega Children’s Centre is at the bottom of a shallow slope and staff will be preparing food sacks as sand bags just in case. We always have a good food store in case supplies are disrupted.
The budget is now in place, following a Musical Curry Night fundraiser, for the Trees Matter project at the Centre. Staff are hesitant to start planting given the weather uncertainties, but preparations are being made to move a fence to increase the size of the Mayega garden.

 

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.