We are sad to be saying goodbye, in the next while, to two important members of Mayega Children Centre staff. Our Matron, Leya Lusana, who has been at Mayega since it started, is retiring. Asteria Benedicto, our Head of Care and a qualified social worker, has been with us for a couple of years and is leaving for personal reasons.

On Saturday 8th November, there was a farewell party, with cake and presents for Leya. Our latest newsletter, Nyumba Moja, has a fascinating article about her time at the Centre and the changes she has experienced.

Both women will be sorely missed by the children and their colleagues. They have made their own unique contributions to what Mayega is today. We thank them so much for that and wish them well in the future.

If you would like a copy of Nyumba Moja please email busegascotland@gmail.com .

It may not be the most glamorous aspect of our work but developing the infrastructure at Mayega Children’s Centre is important nevertheless. Under Busega Scotland’s stewardship a lot has been achieved; security fence, mains water and power (also solar), kitchen, school and dining rooms constructed, and land has been donated by Mayega village to build a new dormitory (funds permitting).

One couple have supported this ‘less glamorous’ work massively and have recently enabled the construction of an incinerator and clothes washing sink (work in progress). The children wash their own clothes and this is scheduled into the Centre’s timetable – hence we need a big sink!

This is continuation of an earlier website article ‘Academic Success’ posted on 8th October 2025.

One of the children at Mayega Children’s Centre has recently received results from his national Standard 7 examinations. These are primary school leaving examinations and need to be passed to proceed to secondary school.

Not only were the boy’s examinations passed but his results were exceptional. He was positioned top in Mayega Primary School and second in the whole of Busega District! There are about ninety primary schools in the district and we estimate that over five-thousand pupils will have sat the examinations.

The phrase ‘the next Einstein is in Africa’  was popularised by the South African physicist Neil Turock. It represents a belief (undoubtedly true) that the continent has vast untapped talent. In a very small way, Busega Scotland, through the exceptional staff at Mayega, is trying to release some of that potential. We are not claiming to have the next Einstein in our midst but who knows!!

Footnote: 53% of Tanzania’s population of 73 million are under 18 years of age.