Author Archives: christinecarney

14.1.26 Sharing Christmas 2025

Our Sharing Christmas Appeal for 2025 was a wonderful success!

The focus was providing sporting and recreational equipment and materials for Mayega Children’s Centre and maybe trips out. We think all are possible through the generosity of our supporters.

We will now ask Mayega staff and children to prioritise the use of the funds and form-up a spending plan.

The total amount raised (including Gift Aid) was £1544. £437 came through our friends at Aberlour Fostering and thirteen other supporters made contributions.

Christmas was truly shared and a big thank you to all who donated.

11.1.26 Mayega’s Christmas and New Year

The children at the Centre had their Christmas and New Year’s meals and celebrations.
As always, fun was had by all.
Our links with the Kirawira Serena Safari Camp continues and staff from there kindly brought supplies and treats for the children. We are very grateful to the camp for their continuing support. They also brought a gift of a chitenge to mark the retirement, at the end of 2025, of our Matron, Leya.
A chitenge is a vibrant, patterned fabric similar to a sarong. They are very common in Tanzania, being used as a wrap, or fashioned into dresses and skirts. Smaller pieces of the cloth may form headscarves or slings for babies, and there are other household uses. A very versatile gift to celebrate Leya’s long service.

11.1.26 Busega Scotland Accounts 2024-25

 

The table below shows our summary verified accounts.
Apologies – the bottom sentence in the left hand column should, of course, read ‘Bank as of 30th November 2025‘.
Our reporting year is December to November and the accounts will be sent, along with an Annual Report, to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) as part of Busega Scotland’s monitoring return.
If you would like to receive a copy of our 2024-5 Annual Report and Financial Statement then please email busegascotland@gmail.com .

8.12.25 Today is my first day at school ……..

And, I think that I’ll just play it cool (as the rhyme says)!
For Elizabeth, Yohana and Pascali, school is well and truly behind them, and the photos show their first days at university
Sociology
Computer Science
Environmental Science with Resource Management
We wish them all well and they will be supported through our Moving-on Project.
Our trailblazing student, Tangu, has had very good results in her first year of a degree in Population Studies and Rural Development.
The educational success at Mayega has brought increased financial pressure on Busega Scotland and the Student Sponsorship Appeal remains open. Please email busegascotland@gmail.com for further details.

14.11.25 Retirement and leaving-do

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 .

14.11.25 Developing the facilities 

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!

14.11.25 Further success

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.

8.10.25 Hat trick

Three new women’s groups have started in 2025. They are at Inuka, Kikongo and Igombe.

99 women are involved. This brings the total number of groups facilitated by Busega Scotland to 17 with over 500 women participating (our estimate is that more than 2000 children will be in those families and will have their life chances improved).

Kikongo is interesting. The village is at one end of the John Pombe Magafuli Bridge that was completed in December 2024. It takes traffic west from the city of Mwanza to the gold mining area of Geita. Crossing part of Lake Victoria, the bridge is named after the previous president of Tanzania who died in 2021. The bridge is the longest in East Africa and the sixth longest on the continent at 3,200 metres.

One young person was from Mayega Children’s Centre was involved in the construction.

8.10.25 Massive effort

Mayega Children’s Centre has been granted a new piece of land by Mayega village to increase the size of our compound. The new land measures 50 x 22m.

The first task was to secure the area by shifting some existing fencing and adding more. Then, without being asked, Patron Isaak and Security Guard Michael set about levelling old sweet potato ridges and using just hoes. What an effort! It took them a week but now the children have a sports field.

Part of the land is destined for a new dormitory, and a project team has been established to progress the project. We have the skills in place but have the challenge of finding finance. Meanwhile the children are enjoying their new-found play space.

8.10.25 Academic success

 

It was a tough year for seven Mayega Centre students. Four faced Form 4 national examinations and three their A-levels. Here is the Roll of Honour, as they all passed.

Agnes – accepted on a certificate course to become an early year’s teacher.

Big Emma – has started a diploma in science education.

Small Emma – has gained a certificate place in accounts and marketing.

Ibrahim – has started A-levels.

Johana – has a degree place studying computing.

Pascali – secured a degree course in environmental science and management.

Elizabeth – has the qualifications for a degree course and is awaiting a place.

The photos show Agnes starting her enrolment process and Johana on his final day of national service. He and Elizabeth were both selected for three months service. This is based on merit in personality and academic ability. Well done to both our ambassadors!