Work on new women’s groups has been suspended for the last four months due to the Corona virus situation in Tanzania. With the government now encouraging a return to more normal business, and with Busega Scotland’s Covid Action Plan in place, Julieth Godwin, our Assistant Project Leader, has begun to assess women in Igombe town and Mayega village.

We have had two groups before in Igombe but Mayega is a new location for our family support work. The aim is to  identify 30 women in each community, who have vulnerable family situations, and help with capital for their own Village Community Bank (VICOBA). The capital payment is about £700, made in three instalments, while Julieth checks that the funds are being well administered. The women can take loans to develop small businesses. The VICOBA capital grows from the interest paid. In effect, Busega Scotland kick starts mutual self-help.

Once the two new groups are in place, Busega Scotland will have supported 180 women across three different communities. In Mayega, the home of our Children’s Centre, we also have a water project and involvement in the primary school.

The photograph shows Julieth (on the left) meeting with Mayega Group Chairperson, Willemina Medadi, and the Village Executive Officer, Peter Irunda. The VEO is the government’s representative at village-level and will recommend women for assessment by Julieth.