Busega Scotland is once again thanking St James’s Place Foundation for a very generous grant, that will support young people in the Moving-on Project. The Foundation had previously supported Moving-on and a further, very welcome £1000 has just been received. John was happy to accept a cheque from Andy Lees, who has a Partner Practice with St James’s Place Wealth Management and is also a Busega Scotland trustee.
In Mwanza, we have six motor mechanics students about to graduate with national vocational qualifications. It is clearly helpful if mechanics have driving licences, so our trustees agreed to use the St James’s Place grant to fund residential driving courses. This will maximise job prospects, and allow a quicker transition of our young people to independence. In order to recognise this ‘crossroads’ in their lives, the mechanics were asked, and have agreed, to pay back modest sums to Busega Scotland and so cover part of their driver training costs. Welcome to the adult world!
The mention of driving brings to mind further excellent news. Earlier in the year, our Family Support Project supervisor, Mr Alphonce Kagezi had a motor cycle accident and sustained a broken leg. We were delighted to receive a photograph of the now recovered ‘King of Igombe’ – a lovely early Christmas present. Busega Scotland has supported Mr Kagezi throughout his recovery.

The work of Busega Scotland relies on the hard work and generosity of many people and organisations. Some money is raised to be used in very specific ways.
In Mayega, the two thousand villagers were without piped water until early 2019, when the Mayega Water Project connected up the mains supply. The water project is a collaboration between the village, Busega Scotland, Busega District Council and the Rotary Club of Elgin.
We are delighted to announce, that the project has been awarded a grant of £5688 from the Rotary Club of Elgin and Rotary District 1010, to construct a kitchen at Mayega Children’s Centre and complete the installation of standpipes across Mayega village.
The provision of these simple services is having a transforming effect on the lives of youngsters at the children’s centre, the primary school and local families. As well as being time consuming, there are risks in collecting water from Lake Victoria; the disease bilharzia is endemic, and attacks from hippos and crocodiles are possible. The water at the lakeside is also dirty.
To raise money for the project, a Valentine Gin and Prosecco Night will be held at Johnstons Woollen Mill in Elgin on Friday 15th February. Hosted by Elgin Rotary Club and Busega Scotland, there will be drinks, a buffet, auction, raffle and musical entertainment.
It is the generosity of Elgin Rotarians and Johnstons, in making their venue available, that supports colleagues many thousands of miles away in Tanzania, who are themselves dedicated to improving the lives of villagers in Mayega.

On 23rd November, Busega Scotland trustees hosted one of their flagship Quiz Nights at the Drouthy Cobbler in Elgin.
Fourteen teams took part, and in addition to the regular quiz there was a Heads and Tails, a Hairy Bottle and Raffle to entertain the crowd. Andy Lees and Mike McClafferty fronted the event, and most teams were relieved to avoid the booby prize for last place – tubes of Smarties (such delicious irony!). The smiling picture shows the team from Alba Place, who said they had a great night and were delighted not to finish bottom! The winners were the ‘Only here for the Beer’, who, unbelievably, had only a team of three against other tables of four.
The Quiz Night raised funds for Shida, the nine year old girl at Mayega Children’s Centre with severe sight problems. The £718 will pay for further treatment, and give a very brave little girl a chance of a bright future.
Busega Scotland has hosted many previous Moray  Quiz Nights but the total raised this time is the highest ever. Many thanks to all who made the event possible, and took part.

Arnold and Valerie Barrow leave in January for their fifth volunteering trip with Busega Scotland. As ever, their time in the period leading up to Christmas is taken up with fundraising.
A special coffee morning was held at the Stowmarket Salvation Army Corps on Saturday 24 November 2018. A delicious supply of produce was on offer, all freshly cooked so that individual items could be frozen for use at Christmas. Items for sale included cheese scones, flapjacks, mince pies, fruit tarts for the family, fruit and sponge cakes, chocolate slices, scotch eggs and a beautifully decorated Christmas Cake. Additionally, an artistic friend had created small, beautifully decorated snowmen and Father Christmases out of walnut whirls.

By 11am all the produce was sold! Tea, coffee, bacon rolls and toasted teacakes were also on offer. Valerie and Arnold are much indebted to family members, Paul and Pauline Ling, without whose magnificent efforts the event could not have taken place. Over 100 people attended and an amazing sum of £500 was raised, all of which will be used to support the children at the Mayega Children’s Centre and the centre graduates now undertaking further education in Mwanza. Many thanks to the good people of Stowmarket for supporting the work of Busega Scotland.

It was a big change and challenge when Monica and Masabuka left Mayega two years ago to start their courses at Nyakato College in Mwanza. Swopping rural life for college in the city would be a challenge for anyone, and early on in her studies Monica captured the situation beautifully:
‘I have been at college since January. I am progressing well but I feel like a stranger because everything is new in my eyes. I had never been to a city before and Mwanza is very different from the village.’

Our two young people adapted so well that the college principal has said many times what wonderful ambassadors Monica and Masebuka are for Mayega, and how he would welcome other students from the Children’s Centre.
Their success is also a testimony to the Busega Scotland Moving-on Project, and the practical, social and emotional support it provides. Pastor Deuli, his wife, Jane, Julieth and Kabula are always on hand, along with college staff, to help with any difficulties that arise.
Two years down the line, Nyakato students celebrated the end of their studies in a very joyful, musical and colourful occasion. Our other Moving-on students, and project staff, attended the event to congratulate Monica and Masebuka on completing their National Certificate courses. They have their final exams to look forward to and then will be qualified, respectively, as an electrician and motor mechanic.

Full marks to Busega Scotland stalwart Peter Hagenbuch, who has successfully completed extraordinary 50 miles  charitable walks, in one day, on his last 20 attempts. How incredible is that. Intrigued, Busega Scotland’s investigative reporter caught up with Peter, and asked him a series of searching questions. Exclusively, here are the answers.

Peter, how did you come up with the idea and when did you start? I grew up in Canterbury and was inspired by a 50-mile walk from Margate to Maidstone. I didn’t do that one but when I became treasurer of Milton Keynes Guide Dogs we were looking for fundraising ideas. That was in 1982, and I raised £159 walking from North London to Milton Keynes.

How many long distance walks have you done and how much money have you raised? This year will be my 30th and I have completed the 50 miles on 25 occasions, raising £51,689.

What charities have benefitted? I have supported 68 charities; my interests and loyalties have changed over the years. This year there are five in my local area of Lothian, five in Central and South America, four in East and Central Africa, two in Asia and one in Gaza.

The ultimate question – why do you do it? I do it to raise money for charities with which I have a personal involvement, more than for the challenge. It’s always hard, so I feel I have earned my sponsor money. Walking 50 miles has a kind of perverse attraction for me! Not many people do 50 mile walks, at least not year after year. My friends and family, work colleagues and even people I have never met, seem to appreciate the effort I make and respond with touching generosity and words of encouragement which help me keep walking when I feel like giving up!

One of Peter’s charities is Busega Scotland and the walk from Newbridge, West Lothian to Callander in Perthshire will be on 24th November. Please support his efforts, if you can, at
https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/peterh2018busegascotland

Thank you.

The news this week about some of the younger children at Mayega is indeed heart-warming.
The Standard 7 exams at the end of primary school are critically important in Tanzania. They are a fork in the road. It is the end of school education for children who fail. A pass means onto secondary school. We have been waiting somewhat nervously for Elizabeth, Paschal and Yohana’s results. Safe kabisa, they celebrated with Grade B’s. All of the subjects were passed by each of them – Kiswahili, English, Social Studies, Mathematics and Science.  Very well done to all the children. Mayega Primary School entered 74 children for the Standard 7 exams and an overall B was the top grade gained in the school. Yohana was one of three pupils to gain an A pass in Maths
Three things have been learned. 1. Our Mayega children are bright (which we knew). 2. Our Saturday teachers, Seba and Julieth, are making a difference (which we assumed). 3. All the other children will be inspired (which is what we wanted).