The two  Women’s Groups at Chole came together with Busega Scotland, CODEHDAF (our Tanzanian partners) and Bukumbi Hospital for a progress celebration.

The first women’s group had increased it’s vicoba capital (credit union) in less than a year from the 700,000/- donated by Busega Scotland, to 2,500,000/-. This was through members’ contributions and 200,000/- from the sale of produce from the communal shamba (market garden).

The success of the project has attracted funding from the Goat Race Charity in Dar es Salaam and the celebration had its own version of the race!

The new money has enabled implements to be bought for the second women’s group and health insurance to be arranged through the hospital.

The Chole FSP now has 63 participating families and goes from strength to strength. The memorable event was brought to a close by the singing of the Tanzanian national anthem to the tune of ‘God Bless Africa’. A memory for ever.

Staunch supporter Peter Hagenbuch will be doing the near impossible on 25^th November, for Busega Scotland and 14 other charities. He will be walking 50 miles from his home in Uphall, West Lothian to Scone in Perthshire. Peter is inspired by a long distance walk that took place near his boyhood home in the south of England and has been taking on the challenge pretty much annually for the last 20 years. Confidently, he only starts training a month before!

Officinadoes of Scottish history will know that Scone is the historic home of the Stone of Destiny, used for centuries in the coronation of Scottish monarchs. If you feel able to help crown Peter on his achievement you’ll have to be quick. The walk is on Saturday, but no matter as donations can be made through wwwtotalgiving.co.uk/mypage/peterh2017busegascotland

Peter is aiming to raise £150, that will be used to buy school and reading books for Mayega Children’s Centre.

The Family Support Project has now held its first two health education sessions in Chole, using DVDs produced by the UK charity Thare Machi. The joint initiative, between Busega Scotland and Bukumbi Hospital, is using Kiswahili DVDs to deliver interactive sessions on basic hygiene, cholera and malaria. The leaders are Julieth Godwin and Judy Campbell from Busega Scotland and a nurse rotation from the hospital.

Chole now has two women’s groups, with a total of 63 families involved. Just over 20 Group 1 women attended the first week and about 30 Group 2 women this week. The word is spreading. The aim is to get all families through the programme before starting screening and treatment for common infections. We hope that improved hygiene practices will then reduce infection rates going forward.

Judy loves working with her Tanzanian colleagues and the women but her highlight is the group singing at the end of each session. Unaccompanied and without inhibition – truly the African way.

The  Charismatic Episcopal Church Cathedral in Mwanza was the venue for a seminar on leadership for the four  churches in the Deanery .

Bishop Charles Sekelwa invited John to lead the training with Rev Deuli acting as translator.

Some of the ladies of the parish set to work cooking lunch for all who attended.

John and Christine had different priorities on a recent visit to Simiyu Region. John stopped off at Nyashimo to meet the Mayega Water and Sanitation Team, who are taking forward work with the Rotary Clubs of Mwanza and Elgin, to bring piped water to Mayega Chidren’s Centre, the local primary school, dispensary and the hamlets of Mayega village. This is a big project and we will not know until late next year if funding has been secured, from Rotary International.

Christine travelled onto the Children’s Centre to meet with the staff and be introduced to the new member of staff.

Rose will join the Mayega team on 1^st December and this will allow staff to take holidays in a more organised way.  Rose will start work as an assistant cook as she gets to know the children.

Christine enjoyed a game of snakes and ladders with the youngest children. As they are just learning numbers some of the older girls helped them move their pieces round the board.

As ever, Christine had a meal at the Centre but colleagues were concerned that John had not had his rice, beans and greens. Food was dispatched in the returning car, much to John’s delight! He announced the food as being ‘delicious’ and, of course, had seconds.

Judy, Christine and John, accompanied by Shaloom Project’s manager Msifiri Wana, had the pleasure of meeting the Archbishop of Mwanza at the city’s cathedral. It was an opportunity for Judy to thank Jude Thadaeus Ruwa’ichi for his help in smoothing her path through immigration formalities in Tanzania. The Archbishop was interested in the work of Busega Scotland and particularly our partnership with the catholic Bukumbi Mission Hospital. John also discovered he he and Fr Ruwa’ichi had something very important in common – support for Liverpool Football Club. This allowed the traditional parting words of You’ll Never Walk alone to be shared between them. John was very happy. Not so Mr Wana, who (unwisely) supports Arsenal.

Testing time for the FSP.

The Family Support Project in the village of Chole will soon be entering a new phase. As well as second group, bringing the total number of families to sixty-three, a testing programme for common infections will be undertaken and appropriate treatments given. Along with health education, it is hoped the screening and treatment will improve the health status of the women and under fives. A healthier community is a more productive one.

Debilitating illnesses, such as worms, bilharzia, amoebiasis and giardia are endemic around the shores of Lake Victoria. If we can show that the project can make a difference to the health of the community then this will strengthen bids for future funding. Henry Zepheren, laboratory technician and project field officer, went on a ‘spending-spree’ for equipment and reagents. Henry will do the testing and funding has come from Judy Campbell’s many supporters. Together we can make a difference.

Judy, Christine, Rev Deuli and John had the pleasure of attending the graduation ceremony of the Nyakato Vocational Training Centre in Mwanza. Busega Scotland has two students placed there but Monica and Mazebuka don’t graduate until next year. The ceremony was in stark contrast to graduations back in Scotland, with singing, dancing and even a fashion show. The event was long but thoroughly enjoyable. Fifty six students graduated in a variety of technical courses, with electrical installation the most popular. The keynote speaker was an engineer from a local company, who encouraged the graduates to apply for jobs with his firm. Another speaker urged the young people not to waste their qualifications by becoming conductors on dala dalas (public minibuses). After a superb end of graduation meal, the principal said our presence had ‘raised the status of the event’. High praise indeed! We have pencilled in next year’s ceremony, as Busega Scotland act as Monica and Mazebuka’s ‘parents’. How proud we will be!

You’ll have to get a move on!

That’s the clear message to quiz fans in Moray and Busega Scotland supporter Peter Hagenbuch.

Why the need for speed?

The Drouthy Cobbler Quiz Night is on Friday 17^th November, 7 for 7.30. Teams of four at £5 per person plus raffle. Tickets are selling well so please book now via busegascotland@gmail.com or directly through Mike McClafferty on 07814 448080.

You will not believe this. Peter is walking 50 miles from his home in Uphall, West Lothian to Scone in Perthshire on Saturday 25^th November in support of Busega Scotland and 14 other charities. Peter has been doing this pretty much annually for the last 20 years and says he only starts training the month before! He is aiming to raise £150 for Busega Scotland. Please support him if you can, by donating through wwwtotalgiving.co.uk/mypage/peterh2017busegascotland

Well done to Busega Scotland trustees for organising the quiz night and Peter for his epic trek!

Julieth Godwin doesn’t mind the world knowing – she is 30 today. Such a milestone had to be celebrated and Busega Scotland’s Assistant Project Leader brought her two children, Lulu and Godwin, over for the party. All over the world birthdays are celebrated with cake, and Tanzania is no exception. Godwin was so taken by his piece he couldn’t take his eyes off it. As helpful children, they both helped with the washing up, with Lulu acting as supervisor. The evening was rounded off with hugs for their new best friend, Judy. A great time was had by all.