Monthly Archives: November 2020

25.11.20 Working together

Busega Scotland and Busega District Council (MDC) have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in place to describe their responsibilities towards Mayega Children’s Centre. In summary, MDC are the owners of the Centre (having taken over this year from a defunct local organisation) and Busega Scotland run the Centre on behalf of the Council. One very important aspect of life for the children is the availability of running water. As recently as 2018 it was carried in buckets from Lake Victoria, a hazardous pursuit to collect dirty water. MDC has worked with Busega Scotland and other partners to bring mains water to Mayega village and the Centre.
The Council shares the cost of the water used by the children. MDC pay two-thirds of the cost and Busega Scotland one-third. Having such help allows us to have a kitchen garden as well as reducing our overall costs.. The total bill is about £150 per month. The Council have also been making repairs to facilities in the Centre – toilet cisterns and sinks. An additional standpipe has been installed to allow water to be drawn easily from the large storage tank if the mains supply is interrupted. Such support is really encouraging and appreciated.

21.11.20 Sharing Christmas

Busega Scotland is launching its first ever Christmas appeal to help support a new women’s group in 2021.
Despite Covid restrictions, two groups have been established in 2020, bringing the total to six groups with about 180 women and families involved. At the heart of each group is a VICOBA (Village Community Bank). Busega Scotland provides capital and the women grow their assets by taking loans, paying interest, and using the VICOBA for savings. The loans are for developing small family businesses and emergencies, particularly medical problems. This helps to keep family finances stable.
Busega Scotland has a dedicated worker for Family Support, Julieth Godwin, who assesses the women and the functioning of the group before any capital is paid into a VICOBA. The amount paid is £25 per woman which, in a group of 30 women, totals £750, paid in three installments.Sharing Christmas is seeking donations of £25 to meet the cost of places in the group. All the money received will be paid into the VICOBA.
If you would like to donate, then this can be done through the Donate Now button on the website or for more information (we have prepared online leaflets) please email [email protected] . Please let us know if you do donate so we can send you a thank you note and keep you informed of the group’s progress.
Please tell your family, friends and colleagues about Sharing Christmas.

10.11.20 Major repairs

Everyone loves before and after pictures. Even better are before, during and after.
Busega Scotland has been doing a lot of repair and maintenance at Mayega Children’s Centre. This has included the stove and chimney in the kitchen, the security fence and the septic tank. It has to be said that the work (of which some would be expected) is a result of the harsh climate (extreme heat and torrential rain), poor materials and dubious workmanship.
However, we have found a fundi, Mr Deus, who is excellent in solving our various practical problems. He has been fixing the foundations and walls at the side and back of the dormitory. The repairs have been completed, re-painting finished and, most importantly, the work inspected by matron, Leya Lusana. Job done.

Back at it 10.11.20

It is not only the US that has been gripped with election fever. Tanzania went to the polls on 28th October, when the incumbent president, John Pombe Magafuli, was re-elected with a landslide victory, gaining 84% of the vote. There were claims of voting irregularities and international bodies critical of the election. Nevertheless, Dr Magafuli has been sworn-in for his second term. The Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Party of the Revolution has won the five previous elections and is the second-longest ruling party in Africa. They have effectively been in charge since independence in 1961.
The elections cause significant disruption as the country moves into election mode. There are interparty tensions and the population worries about political violence. People often stay at home until after the inauguration and tension reduces. Busega Scotland had its weekly staff meeting by WhatsApp, connecting up Mwanza with John and Christine. Pastor Deuli, Kabula and Julieth were in fine form, as plans were made for future work in what is a very busy agenda.

10.11.20 Making up for lost time

       All colleges and schools in Tanzania were closed for about 3 to 4 months from late February.

For our two first year students at Nyakato College, Malesa and Jeremiah, this meant that alternative accommodation had to be found. We decided it was safer to return them to Mayega village rather than seek rooms in the city, where exposure to Corona was more prevalent. We could not accommodate the boys at the Children’s Centre, as they were too old to be there. Places were found with local people known to Centre staff.

Having effectively missed a full term at college, we were concerned how Malesa and Jeremiah would settle down and make up the lost time. Their response, and that of the college has been excellent. On reopening, the college increased the teaching week to 6 days, altered the timetable to add another 2 hours to each day and shortened college holidays.  The students are following national vocational courses and preparing for set examination dates.

Malesa is studying welding and Jeremiah electrical installation and both are doing well. Malesa would like to find employment in the Mwanza boat yards, building and maintaining vessels. Jeremiah’s hope is to find suitable electrical work as the electricity supply is expanding into Tanzania’s rural areas.