Lukondya has been in the care of the Children’s Centre for over 12 years. So, the thought of leaving must be a bit daunting, but having completed his final school exams, he wants nothing else but to join ‘his band of brothers’ doing motor mechanics at Kalwande College.

A visit was arranged, along with a couple of nights stay in Mwanza, a place Lukondya had never visited before. He was impressed by the multi-storey buildings and how busy it was. At college, the students said Kalwande was a good and safe environment and he would have to work hard as the subjects were tough. Typically, the ‘Mayega boys’ said they would help him and Lukonyda reflected on his life at the Children’s Centre – he was happy with his progress there and would be sad to leave his ‘close family’.

The dining/community room at the Children’s Centre was the venue for our look forward into the future of the service. The Mayega staff and children’s representatives met with Mwanza-based colleagues, in a very open and frank discussion. There was a review of positives and negatives and a plan was drawn up to guide the Centre’s development over the next few years. A full report will be in the next newsletter, but our priorities will be improved educational outcomes, piped water, visitor’s accommodation and separate male and female dormitory buildings.  Busega Scotland feels that, with determination, hard work and the help of our supporters, these goals can be achieved. We are ambitious for the future of the Mayega children.

John and Christine arrived back in Tanzania at the end of November and it was heart warming to see old friends and colleagues again. Our house has been a busy place. We have received many visitors and have been making preparations for  a pretty demanding work plan.  Ester and Kabula were in a relaxed frame of mind when they called by, after their end of term exams. At this time of year, with Christmas in sight, the lot of students worldwide is a happy one. The girls chatted happily with one of our new Mwanza friend, Susana Carpenter. Susana works in the Shaloom Project, teaching the nursery class. She is a Maryknoll lay missionary from San Francisco.