Monthly Archives: April 2025

 26.4.25 A second group has completed

The women’s group at Lugezini has followed Kalwande in completing its support from Busega Scotland in 2025. With three groups still running, the number in the project has reached seventeen. One more will start this year.
We have been doing some number crunching. The figures in the table relate to the position just prior to the groups receiving their final grants. That is, eleven months from starting.
A conversion rate of 3,000/- Tanzanian shillings per pound has been used,
Item Kalwande (33 women) Lugezini (31 women) Combined (64 women)
BS grants (£) 660 620 1,280
Women’s contribution (£) 883 829 1,712
Business loans 68 58 126
Emergency loans 13   8   21
You’ll note that the women’s contribution exceeds the grants provided by BS. The money added by the women is from interest on loans and using the group to deposit savings.
When combining the two groups, the women’s contribution is 57% of the capital available to them. The capital can be used by the women to develop their small businesses or to cover emergencies.
The money belongs to the women and their groups will continue after Busega Scotland’s period of support has ended. The photo shows the Lugezini women receiving their final grant.

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26.4.25 Making a desert bloom

It is an irony of Mayega that for most of the year the sandy soil is bone dry, despite the village being on the banks of Lake Victoria. The lake is the second largest fresh water lake in the World, and the largest in Africa. Of course, water stress limits agriculture and prosperity.
There are ‘long rains’ in March to May, and ‘short rains’ in November and December. But it’s never that simple. Sometimes, there is too much torrential, and damaging, rain, and often the rains will fail. Living in Mayega can be a precarious existence.
The situation at Mayega Children’s Centre is moderated by a piped water supply from the lake. We have a garden, maintained by staff and the children. In dry periods the vegetables are watered but good soakings in the rains makes such a difference.
At the moment, mchicha (spinach), aubergines, pumpkins, and okra are growing particularly well. Patron Isaak is an enthusiastic gardener!

26.4.25 Undoubted progress

If we were asked, ‘what has been the biggest impact of Busega Scotland at Mayega Children’s Centre ?’, our answer would surely be ‘educational attainment beyond all expectations’.
But, of course, Busega Scotland only provides the potential to improve the children’s lives, it is the staff that make the difference. High up on the list of ‘Mayega heroes’ must be Renidius Willbrand.
Known affectionately as ‘Mwalimu (Teacher) Reni’, he has supported the children in their educational progress and their growing belief that that they can succeed. Passing exams is the norm now, and that was not previously the case.
Good things do come to an end, but this cloud really does have a silver lining. Reni has been appointed to a government teaching post in the south of Tanzania. This is the best next step for his career, and future security. We will miss him greatly, but are delighted and wish him all the best.
The search for his successor is underway. We have to maintain educational continuity.