Here are the highlights:

None of our colleagues in Tanzania, or the children and young people we are responsible for, have been sick with Covid. We have an Action Plan in place to mitigate risks.

While the pandemic has prevented volunteers travelling to work in Tanzania, a positive consequence has been the increased responsibility taken by our Tanzanian staff.

Two new women’s groups have opened up with their own VICOBAs (village community banks) to help develop small businesses. We provide capital for the VICOBAs.

Much improvement and repair work has gone on at Mayega Children’s Centre. We are ready for mains electricity, have repaired windows, walls, plumbing system and the security fence – not glamorous but necessary.

Clear evidence of academic improvement for the Centre’s children (see the previous news item – Examination Success).

Two boys left Mayega and settled into life at college, training to be an electrician and welder.

The photograph shows Malesa in the welding shop at Nyakato College. Our Moving-on graduates are showing resilience and a great work ethic in finding jobs.

The Mayega Water Project has built toilets at Mayega Primary School, seven new water distribution points in the village (bringing the total number to 18) and is piloting a design for family toilets. The project benefited from Rotary Global Grant funding of $40,000 US.

The ownership of Mayega Children’s Centre passed to Busega District Council (BDC). We have a Memorandum of Understanding to run the Centre. This is a major step forward in assuring the Centre’s future.

Our work is well supported In Tanzania by the Council and other organisations. BDC provided capital to double the toilet capacity at the primary school, repaired the plumbing at the Children’s Centre and they are meeting two-thirds of the water bill.