Category Archives: General

11.9.23 Back to school

Our new A level students Elizabeth, Yohana and Pascali reported to their schools in August. They were allocated places by the Ministry of Education on the strength of their O level results. This is a major achievement in itself. Credit goes to the young people and to Busega Scotland’s teacher at Mayega, Mr Reni, who provides invaluable tutoring. He is second from the left in the photograph.
Elizabeth is studying English, Geography and History at Dutwa Secondary School.
The boys are at Minaki Secondary School. Yohana is studying Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics and Paschali is doing Chemistry, Biology and Geography.
They are government schools that have good reputations. Dutwa was opened in 1998. Manaki is much older, being the third oldest secondary school in Tanzania. Originally an Anglican mission school, it was taken over by the Tanzanian government in 1970.
Good luck to our students in their studies.

6.9.23 Kisundi to fly

Women’s groups in our Family Support Project receive grants from Busega Scotland in three instalments. These occur on the recommendation of our supervisor, Julieth Godwin, who works closely with the groups for a year. If all goes well the women then ‘fly’ themselves. They become independent and we withdraw. The final stage is to obtain Community-based Organisation status from their local authority. As registered groups, they become eligible for support such as training and government loans.
Kisundi became a CBO in July and will receive their final payment of £185 in September. The growth in their vicoba (group bank) is typical of what our groups achieve (we have facilitated twelve). Up to now Busega Scotland has donated £678 to Kisundi and the thirty-three women have added £736 through business loan interest payments and savings. The vicoba is a simple concept. The seed corn capital gives the women a chance to help themselves.

6.9.23 Familiar faces

Christine and John visited Tanzania in June, and amongst many delights met up with three young men who had lived at Mayega Children’s Centre, and then went to college through our Moving-on programme. They have taken very different career paths.
Lukondia has had two recent contracts in construction, and in the last job he was a health and safety officer.
His catchphrase was always, ‘I’m very serious’! Not a bad characteristic in health and safety. He has submitted numerous applications for new opportunities and is confident with his work record, and references, that he will be successful.
Then we met Hassan at his work. He and his team were putting in a ceiling in a house in the final stages of construction. His leadership qualities were evident at Mayega, in college, where he was student president, and now as the team leader. The quality of their work is widely known and they have been employed as far a field as Dar es Salaam.
Finally there was Joffrey. A very familiar face as he video calls John for football chats! Unfortunately, he doesn’t support the right team. His work is in sales for a large Tanzania telecoms provider. He sells sim cards and phone credit, a business for which there is much competition. Joffrey says Busega Scotland taught him to be hard working and self-reliant.
In the Tanzanian working environment all three of our young men have to be both of these.

1.3.23 A second Shindig for Susie

In 2018, a nine-year-old girl arrived at Mayega Children’s Centre with virtually no sight. Busega Scotland sought the best treatment available and organised a Shindig for Susie to raise immediate funds.

 

 

Four years have passed, and despite the treatment and regular check-ups Susie has lost her sight. She now attends a residential school for children with visual impairment. Looking to the future, Busega Scotland’s support for Susie will far exceed what will be needed for other children at Mayega.

A second Shindig will be held at Garmouth and Kingston Golf on Saturday March 18th at 7.00 for 7.30 with superb local musicians playing blues, folk, acoustic and fiddle music. Entry is free, with a bucket collection, raffle, and competitions.

For full details please email [email protected] or call 07936 383800.

Folk who can’t attend may wish to donate and this is possible through the Donate Now page on the website.

1.3.23 Celebrating success

 A party was held at Mayega Children’s Centre to celebrate the examination success of our Form 4 students. Pascali, Johana and Elizabeth all passed their school leaving exams and are waiting to go onto A level or college.
Until 2021, no young person at the Centre had achieved high enough grades to pass Form 4. This year our trio were placed 4th, 9th and 10th in their school. A real cause for celebration.
The big difference between now and then is the employment of Teacher Reni (in a cap in one of the photos) to help support the children in their studies. This has transformed the learning culture and attainment at the Centre.

28.2.23 First shipment of the year

February saw the arrival of our first ‘bulk food shop’ of the year. We may call it that but the name belies what exactly arrives on the lorry. As well as non-perishable foodstuffs – rice, beans, wheat flour, maize meal, cassava, vegetable oil, sugar, salt, yeast and baking powder – there are cleaning and personal care items.
Despite the cost of the lorry, buying in the city is more economical though not cheap. In British pounds the cost was about £1575. There are three ‘bulk food shops’ a year and other items are often included, like replacement mattresses, chairs, sheets and blankets.
The arrival of the lorry causes much excitement. Not only the fun of unloading but also the reassurance that there is food in the store – so important to children from impoverished backgrounds.

5.1.23 Hoping for the best in 2023

Busega Scotland took great pride in keeping an up to date website, allowing supporters to keep abreast of news and developments. Unfortunately, technical issues overwhelmed us in 2022 and little was posted, although we did launch our newsletter Nyumba Moja (One House) to keep folks informed.
We will try to get the website up and running again in 2023, along with further issues of Nyumba Moja.
One function of the site was to have our Annual Reports and verified Annual Financial Statements easily available to readers. This has not been possible for the 2020/21 reports but they can be obtained by emailing us. The 2021/22 reports will be available in February.
If you would like to see the back issues of Nyumba Moja then please do email us.
The email address is [email protected] . Our Donate Now button on the website is working fine if you would like to contribute to our work.
We would like to take a moment to acknowledge the generosity of so many people who give money, time and expertise in allowing our work in Tanzania to go from strength to strength in 2022.
With best wishes for the New Year,
Trustees, staff and beneficiaries of Busega Scotland.

29.1.22 Busekwa

Busega Scotland is beginning a new women’s group at Busekwa village in Ilemela District. We have established other groups in Ilemela but this is the first time in Busekwa. The group will support about 30 women developing their gardens, growing vegetables for sale and to feed their families. The money provided by Busega Scotland will be held in a vicoba (credit union) administered by the women but overseen by our Assistant Project Leader, Julieth Godwin. Julieth is very skilled at facilitating groups and the women will take loans from the vicoba to provide inputs for the gardens. Interest paid on the loans and general savings grows the capital. Our experience shows that within a year the women double the capital donated initially by Busega Scotland (usually about £800). The women are motivated by knowing the money belongs to them and they are the sole beneficiaries of their hard work.