We had a very nice surprise just recently when Moses Lauwo of Igoma Rotary Club delivered a hand washing station to Mayega Children’s Centre. We have had facilities at the Centre gate since the start of the Corona crisis but the Rotary device is a step up. Many thanks to Moses and his colleagues for their kindness. There is also a washing station for workers on the construction site for the new toilets at Mayega Primary School.
The Tanzanian government has decided to reopen primary and secondary schools on Monday 29th June. The first country in East Africa to do so. Universities and colleges are already open. The latest official figures say there are 66 patients hospitalised with Covid across 10 of the country’s 26 regions. Our local contacts suggest there are no cases in Mayega or Busega District but we have heard of cases in the city of Mwanza.

An article on the News page for 040520, with the title Global Success, described the work of the Mayega Water Group, in collaboration with Rotary clubs in Igoma, Tanzania and Elgin, Scotland, in achieving a Rotary International Global Grant for a water project at Mayega village.
We are delighted to report, work is underway at the Primary School to construct new toilets. Materials have been purchased and are stored at the school in one of the classrooms (schools in Tanzania are currently closed because of Corona virus). A block making machine is on site and voluntary village labour is helping with manual tasks. A fundi (tradesman) is organising the work and close supervision is provided by headteacher, Ernest Damiano, and Igoma Rotarian, Moses Lauwo.

Ernest expressed the community’s happiness with the project being underway. ‘’The Mayega community is thanking Rotary and Busega Scotland for your commitment, in making sure the children of Mayega use the VIP toilets which has the standard hygiene. Before they had very poor toilets. Thank you so much. God bless you’’.

Moses added, ‘’ Please be informed that we are moving smoothly and at the right direction. We are almost done with the bricks preparation and then construction will start. The entire community is inspired’’.
Other key stakeholders are Busega District Council, the rural water authority, RUWASA, and the village. An onsite briefing was provided by Ernest, to villagers and the Regional Education Officer. The presence of regional officials reflects the importance of the project, not only in Busega District but also in Simiyu Region, also.

Busega Scotland, Covid-19 and a talent for needlework, link Happiness Charles, in Mwanza, Tanzania and Anne Grant, in Elgin, Scotland. Happiness is a member of our Moving-on Project and Anne is a Busega Scotland trustee.
There is an article on the website News Page, 180520 – PPE, which tells the story of Happiness making face coverings. Anne is doing the same. While the skills are similar, the motivations are different. Happiness is trying to make ends meet, while Anne is raising funds for Busega Scotland (and to give folk like Happiness a chance in life). Both women are united in their fight against the Corona virus.
If you need a face covering, we are sorry that we can’t get one from Happiness, but Anne has sewing kits available. The kit has enough fabric to make two adult sizes or a small adult and child size. Full instructions are included.
The cost is £7.50 per kit (including post and packaging).
If you would like to make a purchase please contact John and Christine on [email protected] and we can arrange things for you.
Technical details: eco-friendly face coverings, reusable, washing at 60 Celsius, 100% cotton, pleated, nose band, with pocket to insert your own filter.
The photo shows some of the attractive fabrics Anne is using.

Our Sadio Mane article runs over four posts on the News page.

It was inspired by an email from California. Our great friend and former Mwanza resident, Susana Carpenter, sent us this message.

Sadio Mane, the Liverpool star footballer from Senegal, has given the world a lesson in modesty, compassion and love after some fans spotted him carrying a cracked iPhone. His response when questioned about the broken phone was legendary:

“Why would I want ten Ferraris, 20 diamond watches and two jet planes? What would that do for the world? I starved. I worked in the fields. I played barefoot, and I didn’t go to school. Now I can help people. I prefer to build schools and give poor people food or clothing. I have built schools [and] a stadium; we provide clothes, shoes, and food for people in extreme poverty. In addition, I give 70 euros per month to all people from a very poor Senegalese region in order to contribute to their family economy. I do not need to display luxury cars, luxury homes, trips, and even planes. I prefer that my people receive a little of what life has given me.”

Susana was the leader of a Tanzanian kindergarten for disadvantaged children. Christine and John introduced her to the joys of Liverpool Football Club, by watching matches together. Susana was very enthusiastic and even got out of the habit of using the word soccer!

One of the rewards of working with Busega Scotland are the connections that we make.

Many, many years ago, John was a coach at a football club (Speymouth Juniors) in his home village of Garmouth. One of the players was James Wallen, son of Busega Scotland trustee, Jenny. James was a skilful player in his own right but (unfortunately) not in the same bracket as Sadio.

Jenny has made two trips to Tanzania, to work in Mayega Primary School and at the Children’s Centre, using her knowledge and experience as a teacher.

James now works abroad and in of all places, Senegal – Sadio’s birthplace. He works for an NGO called Speak Up Africa, that promotes public health and sustainable development. It has a particularly good website
https://www.speakupafrica.org/
Being big on investigative journalism, we asked James what people in Senegal think about our footballing and altruistic hero. This is some of what he said:

‘’He is a source of national pride as probably the most internationally famous Senegalese football player of all time. Part of his appeal comes from his pure skill as a player, and part comes from his humble and generous attitude towards fame and wealth. His story is one of rags to riches and of “making it” against extremely small odds while not succumbing to the temptations of conspicuous consumption, and is considered not to have forgotten his roots, his upbringing, his people. His is thus revered as a national icon and inspiration throughout Senegal.’’

Intrigued, we asked Jamie if he could get a Senegalese insight into Sadio from his friends in Dakar. Thiouna Ndiaye, Kouly Mbaye, Papar Momar Toure and Bijou Carla responded.

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Our Senegalese friends told us about Sadio’s upbringing and footballing career.

He was born in 1992 in the village of Bambali. From an early age he honed his skills in Senegalese football tournaments called Nevetanes. Like many local players he played barefoot and had none of the advantages in life that suggested he could become a professional footballer. Indeed, his parents wanted him to stay home and concentrate on his studies but with the help of friends he moved to the capital and joined the Generation Foot footballing academy.

His globetrotting then began. After spells at Metz, Salzburg, and Southampton he arrived at Anfield in 2016. He has played 69 times for his national team and scored 19 goals. He is known as Nianthio or Lion in his native language.

Alongside his footballing exploits, Thiouna said Sadio, ‘’is admired for his simplicity and calm nature’’.Kouly went further, ‘’through his social actions in his community, he is the pride of an entire people. All Senegalese people have a deep respect for him’’.

Papa believes, ‘’he is appreciated by all and especially recognized for his discretion, his patriotism, and his generosity towards his home community’’.

Even people like Bijou, who are not big football fans, know about Sadio. He is ‘’ an all-round great guy who invests in his home community. He does a lot for his village and his country and is an inspiration to a lot of people, especially the Senegalese youth”.

One sentence from Sadio Mane inspired us to write so much about him and his life.

‘’I prefer that my people receive a little of what life has given me.”

Is this also a descriptor for Busega Scotland? We are many folks coming together to help, in a modest way, to provide opportunities for some very disadvantaged people in Tanzania.

Sadio is a kindred spirit and we admire what he does on the football field but more importantly off it.

Thank you, Susana, for sparking our interest and James and Jenny for introducing us to our new Senegalese friends Thiouna, Kouly, Papar and Bijou.

Last year it was the worldwide Busega Parties that brought people together and this year it is Sadio. Both as a person and as a footballer.

YNWA

Busega Scotland is taking its responsibility towards the 21 children and 6 staff very seriously.
In collaboration with Tanzanian colleagues, we have:
A general Covid-19 Action Plan in place
Bought PPE, in case of an outbreak at the Centre – face masks, disposable and heavy rubber gloves and aprons
Face guards are on order
Plenty of soap, disinfectant and hand sanitiser
An outbreak plan has been co-ordinated with Busega District Council
Our staff have carried out training and on 21st may the District Health Officer addressed the staff and children
The children are on lockdown and only essential visitors are allowed inside the Centre
There is a handwashing station outside the gate for everyone entering to use
We have a supply of food and other supplies to last until September

The latest information from Busega District is of no confirmed cases locally. One risk is the main road running through Mayega to the Kenya, as many lorry drivers have tested positive at the border (which is currently closed). Tanzania has been in partial lockdown but colleges and universities are open from 1st June. We expect schools to follow shortly.

Life is never dull at Mayega Children’s Centre.
During lockdown, Mwalimu Reni and Patron Emma have been keeping the children going with schoolwork. Reni has been checking the learning with testing. He believes Mayega pupils have done poorly in the past because they were not familiar with examination conditions. He is committed to changing that and the extra teaching will also help.

In a recent storm, part of the fence was blown down. This really was Murphy’s Law – anything that can go wrong will go wrong. The damaged section was holding up the passion fruit vine! It is so dense it acted like a ‘sail’ in the typically ferocious tropical wind.
Our project leader, Gadlord Deuli, travels monthly to the Centre (a reduced frequency due to Covid) and we hire a car to reduce infection risk. Public transport can be very crowded. During his last visit, a contract was signed with Fundi (tradesman) Deus to repair the fence. Deus has become our ‘go to man’ for repair and maintenance tasks.
Work is going on now to review the Centre’s menu. The children get a varied diet – rice, maize, cassava, wheat flour (as mandazi – like doughnuts), beans, meat, chicken, fish, vegetables, and fruit.

The children have preferences and we are trying hard to incorporate these. Scales have also been bought to help the cooks with portion size and to avoid any waste. As you might imagine, we get regular feedback on the diet from children and staff!