Back at it 10.11.20

It is not only the US that has been gripped with election fever. Tanzania went to the polls on 28th October, when the incumbent president, John Pombe Magafuli, was re-elected with a landslide victory, gaining 84% of the vote. There were claims of voting irregularities and international bodies critical of the election. Nevertheless, Dr Magafuli has been sworn-in for his second term. The Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Party of the Revolution has won the five previous elections and is the second-longest ruling party in Africa. They have effectively been in charge since independence in 1961.
The elections cause significant disruption as the country moves into election mode. There are interparty tensions and the population worries about political violence. People often stay at home until after the inauguration and tension reduces. Busega Scotland had its weekly staff meeting by WhatsApp, connecting up Mwanza with John and Christine. Pastor Deuli, Kabula and Julieth were in fine form, as plans were made for future work in what is a very busy agenda.

10.11.20 Making up for lost time

       All colleges and schools in Tanzania were closed for about 3 to 4 months from late February.

For our two first year students at Nyakato College, Malesa and Jeremiah, this meant that alternative accommodation had to be found. We decided it was safer to return them to Mayega village rather than seek rooms in the city, where exposure to Corona was more prevalent. We could not accommodate the boys at the Children’s Centre, as they were too old to be there. Places were found with local people known to Centre staff.

Having effectively missed a full term at college, we were concerned how Malesa and Jeremiah would settle down and make up the lost time. Their response, and that of the college has been excellent. On reopening, the college increased the teaching week to 6 days, altered the timetable to add another 2 hours to each day and shortened college holidays.  The students are following national vocational courses and preparing for set examination dates.

Malesa is studying welding and Jeremiah electrical installation and both are doing well. Malesa would like to find employment in the Mwanza boat yards, building and maintaining vessels. Jeremiah’s hope is to find suitable electrical work as the electricity supply is expanding into Tanzania’s rural areas.

22.10.20 Recognition

Julieth Godwin is Busega Scotland’s Assistant Project Leader. She has special responsibility for women’s groups and supporting young people who have left Mayega Children’s Centre and are living in the community. She has great energy and people skills.
This has been recognised outside of Busega Scotland. Julieth has three children, with two of them attending Pendo Primary School.The school is in a group of three (with 767 pupils) and there is a combined parents’ council. Julieth was elected chair of the council as parents know she will speak up on their behalf.
The Standard 7 pupils had a recent graduation celebration and Julieth was amongst the invited guests. The guest of honour was the District Commissioner, who is the local representative of the President. Julieth is pictured at the ceremony, first on the right in the front row. Congratulations to her.

22.10.20 Care and commitment

 

Susie arrived at Mayega Children’s Centre a couple of years ago with no real sight and had never been to school. She has travelled from Mayega to the Kilimanjaro Medical Centre (KCMC) in Moshi on five occasions and has had multiple eye operations. The round trip by bus each time is over 1,000 miles. She is a very positive girl.

Susie’s trust in the Children’s Centre and hospital staff is remarkable. Her rock through all the KCMC travails has been the Centre’s matron, Leya Lusana. Leya’s commitment to Susie is total. The photo shows them on the bus in Mwanza in the early morning, about to depart for Moshi.

On this last trip aids were provided to assist Susie at school. The telescope is to help see the blackboard and the magnifying glass for close-up work.

Susie’s story has generated a lot of support, including a concert to raise funds and individual donations. Her bravery and spirit inspires people. The annual review at KCMC is already in the diary. Leya and Susie will set off for Moshi again next October. The care she receives through Busega Scotland gives a vulnerable child hope for the future and we will be there every step of the way.

14.10.20 People and Places

This is Busega Scotland’s most unusual fundraising project in 2020, that we hope will connect people far and wide.
The poster provides full information but, in essence, it is a community writing project designed in a small way to offset the effects of Covid. Last year Big Busega Parties connected people and People and Places can do that again this year.
We hope readers will be inspired to take part and please bring the project to the attention of any folk you think will be interested. It is our hope that many authors will come forward.

13.10.20 Maintenance

Running a children’s home has many challenges.
First and foremost, there is care, health and education of the children. Over the years we have made great strides and our children are happy, healthy and well cared for. Educational attainment is at a level never previously achieved.
We now have a piped water supply, toilets and showers and solar power. The three buildings are ready for mains electricity and fundi meme (electrician) Richard has finished preparation for connection. One snag. The electrical supply organisation TANESCO has a shortage of meters and can’t connect until we are allocated one. We have to be patient.
Making repairs across our site is a regular (and expensive) occurrence. We have a very good builder, fundi Deus, who we engage for this work. We receive a bill of quantity (itemised estimate) for each job and from this a price is agreed and a contract drawn up. Recently the fence has been repaired and work is now required on the septic tank.
This is not glamorous work in any shape or form but helps us improve our built environment. You will note that Deus was careful not to damage the passion fruit vines while doing the fence repairs.

1.10.20 Yes we can!

More than anything else, Busega Scotland has facilitated a community of people interested and committed to supporting vulnerable children and families in Tanzania. September 2020 shows this perfectly.
The Busega Scotland Kiltwalk season is finished. 2 people walked a marathon, 13 did 5 miles and 6 walked 77 miles of the Great Glen Way. The walking attracted over 200 donations from as far away as Germany and Japan. The total amount raised for Busega Scotland was an incredible £16,472. This included 100% top up donated by the Hunter Foundation..
While this was going on, the Touch Ministry in Mwanza was delivering sacks of rice and maize to Mayega Children’s Centre. The Ministry was doing what it could to help and this is not unique in Tanzania. One local safari company makes donations, the District Council pays two-thirds of the Centre’s water bill and government engineers have provided ‘benefit in kind’ professional expertise to the Mayega Water Project.
The Kiltwalk fundraising has provided Busega Scotland with a level of financial stability that we never thought possible in these Covid times. The challenges of raising funds and using them to best effect will always be with us but It is heartening that so many folk put their trust in our work in Tanzania.
To all we say, ‘asante sana’, thank you, and know by coming together, ‘tu na jenga nyumba moja’, we are ‘building one house’.

27.9.20 The journey ends

The third day of the walk is a challenge for its three major ups and downs. 15.6 miles from Invermoriston to Drumnadrochit, having the option of a ‘higher route’ that was heroically negotiated by our Edinburgh friends (Cenzo and John decided that discretion was the better part of valour). The views over Loch Ness are stunning and the Loch Ness Clay Works provides a quirky stop for a cuppa.
Cenzo and John were guinea pigs for their newest culinary creation, ‘the energy ball’.
Food is a crucial (and essential) part of the trek experience. The ‘last supper’ served by Andy before the daunting 19.6 miles from Drumnadrochit to Inverness was an incredibly tasty bucket of pasta. If that wasn’t enough, the lemon cake and 3-mug cafetiere served at the outlandish Abriachan Eco-cafe, 7 miles into the last walk, inspired, fortified and supercharged us towards Inverness.
The arrival at the Castle was bittersweet. The walk was complete but it was the parting of the ways.The photo at finish was taken by a chap who had walked the 100 miles from Fraserburgh – ‘there’s always one’ but this did not dim our sense of achievement!
Many thanks to the group for their walk and fundraising efforts.

23.9.20 The journey begins

The Great Glen Way is a 77 mile route starting at Fort William and ending in Inverness. It opened in 2002 and follows the Caledonian Canal, disused railway trackbed, forest tracks and minor roads.
It cuts a swathe across the north highlands, along Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and the iconic Loch Ness. For the first three days it is a relatively gentle walk but the last two days are tougher.
The Busega Scotland team was six strong. Maura, Mark, Anne and Andy from Edinburgh, and Cenzo and John from Moray. The easier 42 miles from Fort William to Invermoriston had its moments.
John forgetting his car keys (and Maura graciously going back for them), Mark’s first day blister and Cenzo frantically looking for a way of making ‘proper coffee’ at the Fort Augustus guest house (thankfully, he was successful).
Anne and Maura made serene progress and Andy was the willing ‘pack horse’.
The Great Glen was the third Busega Scotland long distance walk after the Moray and Speyside Ways. There are some lessons learned. The best part of the walk is the camaraderie, good conversation passes the miles, steep downhill is worse than steep uphill and the last two miles are always the toughest, whatever the length of walk.

21.9.20 Last practice

Ben Rinnes is the highest summit in Moray. A climb of over 1700 feet. It is a Corbett – a mountain in Scotland between 2500 and 3000 feet high.

This was the venue for Cenzo and John’s last practice walk before their Great Glen trek. Getting some climbing into their legs.

They were accompanied by Jordyn, who made a tremendous effort to reach the top. She was rewarded with a sash, welcoming her into the Busega Scotland walking group.