At the TSI Moray ‘Joining the Dots’ conference earlier this year (see news item on 280316) John met a former colleague , Sheena Main, a Service Manager with Aberlour – Scotland’s children’s charity. Sheena and John discussed the work of Busega Scotland and, in characteristic fashion, Sheena became enthusiastic about what we do and links that may be established between Aberlour and Busega Scotland. This is a bit of a ‘Goliath and David’ connection but Aberlour has local services in Moray. For example, we have accepted an invitation to Alba Place’s open day on 18th September. Alba offers services for children with disabilities.Sheena provided some gifts for the children at Mayega in the form of balloons and mini-frisbees. As the photograph of Malesa shows the children received the gifts with great enthusiasm. When Sheena heard all about Busega Scotland’s work in Tanzania she concluded ‘that’s just like what Aberlour does here, so maybe we should re-name Busega Scotland as ‘Aberlour in Africa!’. Good try Sheena, but no take over – we remain Busega Scotland but welcome your commitment and enthusiasm!
A MORAY-based charity has been given a £2500 grant for its work in Tanzania. The cash award will pay the yearly course fees at college for eight young people who recently left an orphanage funded by Busega Scotland. In addition, the money will also pay for their food, accommodation, clothing and footwear. Busega Scotland is run by retired Garmouth couple John and Christine Carney, who spend large chunks of the year in Tanzania.
Mayega children were happy to check out the Busega Scotland web site yesterday. The connection was slow but it was worth the wait. They got very excited looking at the photos of the students who used to live at the centre.
The children also received gifts of colourful towels from a supporter in Elgin. Having a towel is a luxury. The youngest children had first choice of colour .
It is only now that the pain has subsided enough to tell this story. On 18th May Christine and I visited Bukumbi. This is the site where the first missionaries to Tanganyika settled in 1883. They were French White Fathers and from these modest beginnings Christianity spread out across East Africa and, locally, a hospital, nursing college, schools and technical college (that our five would be motor mechanics attend) have developed. Outside the site of the first church there was a sign – a sign in two senses of the word. 
Surely this Scouser was about to be rewarded for venerating such a holy place? The events in Basel that evening sadly proved otherwise…………………
Julieth Godwin, the Busega Scotland apprentice, has just completed a piece of research on employment issues for vulnerable young people leaving orphanages in Mwanza. The research report ‘Findings on the research of different orphanages in Mwanza city on employment problems facing different orphans as they finish their stay in the orphanages’ is Julieth’s first piece of research and written in English rather than Swahili, her first language. The report concludes that support systems are needed for young people, after they leave orphanages, as failures in employment highlight how ill equipped leavers are to live independently. The report will be considered carefully by Busega Scotland’s Moving-on Project, as we seek to learn lessons from our first period of operation. If you would like to comment on Julieth’s research she can be contacted through 
Sarah tries out a tablet computer donated to the Mayega Children’s Centre. Its amazing how quickly children get the hang of things! We are still working on trying to get an internet connection but pre -loaded educational games gave her something to try out. There are no telephone lines in Mayega . Internet is over the mobile phone network . Although we managed to get two different connections both were very slow. It may just have been a bad internet day- we have been having many of those. We will explore this further as educational internet access would help the children .
Rev Deuli and the Holy Trinity Parish Church, Mwanza (Charismatic Episcopal Church of Tanzania) joyfully accepted the gift of communion trays from The Mearns Coastal Parish of the Church of Scotland. People said they could not believe that they had such a gift from Christians in Scotland.
At the end of April, John and Christine Carney travelled to Basel, Switzerland to meet members of the congregation, and the Living Links committee, of the Anglican Church Basel (ACB). The church has supported the Mayega Orphanage for a number of years and is now interested in the Moving-on Project. John and Christine delivered two presentations, at the morning and evening services, and had lunch with committee members. It is Living Links who make recommendations to the church council on what charitable causes ACB will support. The indications are positive, with Assistant Chaplain Rev Dr Russell Hilliard describing Busega Scotland as the ‘real deal’. It will make such a difference if Living Links do decide to recommend the Moving-on Project. John and Christine enjoyed the warmth and hospitality of ACB, and thanked the church for their interest and support of the work in Tanzania.
