Mayega Children’s Centre was in lockdown until Tanzanian schools went back at the end of last month. But no school didn’t mean no education. We employ two teachers on the Centre staff and they ensured that teaching and study took place. In some ways this was a bonus, as there could be concentration on the children’s weaker subjects. The test results we get weekly suggest significant progress is being made. Of course, hard work deserves its reward and so the children had a ‘soda and biscuits’ party to celebrate what they had achieved, and some form of normality resuming.

When our Mayega children finish school they are picked-up by our Moving-on project and enrolled in vocational education. After college, we keep in touch by our Assistant Project Leader Julieth Godwin ringing around weekly. It is to let everyone know we are here, through rain and shine. Busega Scotland is a big family. Julieth had the pleasure of meeting up with Enosi, when he was in Mwanza with his lorry. He is a driver and qualified mechanic and his work base is some 600 miles away, so he is an infrequent visitor. He left Mayega about 5 years ago and his making his own way in the world.

The Mayega Water Project is attracting a lot of very positive attention in Tanzania. Officials from Busega District Council and Simiyu Regional Council have visited. They been very complementary towards the toilet construction at Mayega Primary School. The majority of funding has originated from Rotary Clubs in the UK and East Africa, and from Rotary International, but the local Rural Water and Sanitation Authority is also making a significant contribution.

The lead Rotary Club in Tanzania is from Igoma, near to the city of Mwanza. This is over 80 miles from Mayega. The town of Musoma is 70 miles in the other direction, along the shore of Lake Victoria. Members of its Rotary Club commemorated their visit to the toilet construction with a video clip.

Schools went back in Tanzania on 29^th March and the Mayega primary pupils duly lined up for handwashing. The school is having two sessions a day, to elongate teaching time and make up for the Covid disruption. Head teacher, Ernest Damiano, said the pupils wash hands before each session but social distancing is a big challenge, ‘we have a big number of pupils and few classrooms and desks, so there is still crowding’. Soon the 945 pupils will have proper toilets, to replace the dilapidated dry ones they have been forced to use until now.

Christine has been reviewing the menu at Mayega Children’s Centre. To be able to consult with children and staff at such a distance is challenging but through WhatsApp it is possible. In fact, we have been having great success recently with virtual Monday morning staff meetings. This keeps our sense of working together going across the miles.

But back to the diet! The first step was to appoint a food leader to represent the children’s views, while bearing in mind the need for a healthy and varied diet. A consensus has been reached. Less sugar, a preference for rice over ugali (maize porridge), sweet potatoes when available, and more variety of vegetables at the main meals.

Swahili chapatis are a culinary wonder and a preparation stool, rolling pin and thick frying pan have been purchased for preparation. It is possible to make them with less specialised equipment and here is a link if you want to have a go.

https://jayne-rain.com/east-african-chapati-recipe/

The news item ‘On Site’ on 070620 gave an update on the Mayega Water Project and progress in constructing toilets at Mayega Primary School. The second stage is to construct family toilets in each of Mayega’s sub villages (seven in total). This will benefit families and also teach building techniques for government recommended VIP toilets. It is possible for villagers to construct such toilets themselves over time, building bit by bit as funds are available. The photograph shows the early stage construction of the first toilet, partly funded by Busega Scotland. The Rural Water and Sanitation Authority is managing the work and a grant from Rotary International is providing the majority of funding.

Pamoja pamoja – forward together!

We had a very nice surprise just recently when Moses Lauwo of Igoma Rotary Club delivered a hand washing station to Mayega Children’s Centre. We have had facilities at the Centre gate since the start of the Corona crisis but the Rotary device is a step up. Many thanks to Moses and his colleagues for their kindness. There is also a washing station for workers on the construction site for the new toilets at Mayega Primary School.
The Tanzanian government has decided to reopen primary and secondary schools on Monday 29th June. The first country in East Africa to do so. Universities and colleges are already open. The latest official figures say there are 66 patients hospitalised with Covid across 10 of the country’s 26 regions. Our local contacts suggest there are no cases in Mayega or Busega District but we have heard of cases in the city of Mwanza.

An article on the News page for 040520, with the title Global Success, described the work of the Mayega Water Group, in collaboration with Rotary clubs in Igoma, Tanzania and Elgin, Scotland, in achieving a Rotary International Global Grant for a water project at Mayega village.
We are delighted to report, work is underway at the Primary School to construct new toilets. Materials have been purchased and are stored at the school in one of the classrooms (schools in Tanzania are currently closed because of Corona virus). A block making machine is on site and voluntary village labour is helping with manual tasks. A fundi (tradesman) is organising the work and close supervision is provided by headteacher, Ernest Damiano, and Igoma Rotarian, Moses Lauwo.

Ernest expressed the community’s happiness with the project being underway. ‘’The Mayega community is thanking Rotary and Busega Scotland for your commitment, in making sure the children of Mayega use the VIP toilets which has the standard hygiene. Before they had very poor toilets. Thank you so much. God bless you’’.

Moses added, ‘’ Please be informed that we are moving smoothly and at the right direction. We are almost done with the bricks preparation and then construction will start. The entire community is inspired’’.
Other key stakeholders are Busega District Council, the rural water authority, RUWASA, and the village. An onsite briefing was provided by Ernest, to villagers and the Regional Education Officer. The presence of regional officials reflects the importance of the project, not only in Busega District but also in Simiyu Region, also.

Busega Scotland, Covid-19 and a talent for needlework, link Happiness Charles, in Mwanza, Tanzania and Anne Grant, in Elgin, Scotland. Happiness is a member of our Moving-on Project and Anne is a Busega Scotland trustee.
There is an article on the website News Page, 180520 – PPE, which tells the story of Happiness making face coverings. Anne is doing the same. While the skills are similar, the motivations are different. Happiness is trying to make ends meet, while Anne is raising funds for Busega Scotland (and to give folk like Happiness a chance in life). Both women are united in their fight against the Corona virus.
If you need a face covering, we are sorry that we can’t get one from Happiness, but Anne has sewing kits available. The kit has enough fabric to make two adult sizes or a small adult and child size. Full instructions are included.
The cost is £7.50 per kit (including post and packaging).
If you would like to make a purchase please contact John and Christine on busegascotland@gmail.com and we can arrange things for you.
Technical details: eco-friendly face coverings, reusable, washing at 60 Celsius, 100% cotton, pleated, nose band, with pocket to insert your own filter.
The photo shows some of the attractive fabrics Anne is using.

Our Sadio Mane article runs over four posts on the News page.

It was inspired by an email from California. Our great friend and former Mwanza resident, Susana Carpenter, sent us this message.

Sadio Mane, the Liverpool star footballer from Senegal, has given the world a lesson in modesty, compassion and love after some fans spotted him carrying a cracked iPhone. His response when questioned about the broken phone was legendary:

“Why would I want ten Ferraris, 20 diamond watches and two jet planes? What would that do for the world? I starved. I worked in the fields. I played barefoot, and I didn’t go to school. Now I can help people. I prefer to build schools and give poor people food or clothing. I have built schools [and] a stadium; we provide clothes, shoes, and food for people in extreme poverty. In addition, I give 70 euros per month to all people from a very poor Senegalese region in order to contribute to their family economy. I do not need to display luxury cars, luxury homes, trips, and even planes. I prefer that my people receive a little of what life has given me.”

Susana was the leader of a Tanzanian kindergarten for disadvantaged children. Christine and John introduced her to the joys of Liverpool Football Club, by watching matches together. Susana was very enthusiastic and even got out of the habit of using the word soccer!

One of the rewards of working with Busega Scotland are the connections that we make.

Many, many years ago, John was a coach at a football club (Speymouth Juniors) in his home village of Garmouth. One of the players was James Wallen, son of Busega Scotland trustee, Jenny. James was a skilful player in his own right but (unfortunately) not in the same bracket as Sadio.

Jenny has made two trips to Tanzania, to work in Mayega Primary School and at the Children’s Centre, using her knowledge and experience as a teacher.

James now works abroad and in of all places, Senegal – Sadio’s birthplace. He works for an NGO called Speak Up Africa, that promotes public health and sustainable development. It has a particularly good website
https://www.speakupafrica.org/
Being big on investigative journalism, we asked James what people in Senegal think about our footballing and altruistic hero. This is some of what he said:

‘’He is a source of national pride as probably the most internationally famous Senegalese football player of all time. Part of his appeal comes from his pure skill as a player, and part comes from his humble and generous attitude towards fame and wealth. His story is one of rags to riches and of “making it” against extremely small odds while not succumbing to the temptations of conspicuous consumption, and is considered not to have forgotten his roots, his upbringing, his people. His is thus revered as a national icon and inspiration throughout Senegal.’’

Intrigued, we asked Jamie if he could get a Senegalese insight into Sadio from his friends in Dakar. Thiouna Ndiaye, Kouly Mbaye, Papar Momar Toure and Bijou Carla responded.

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Our Senegalese friends told us about Sadio’s upbringing and footballing career.

He was born in 1992 in the village of Bambali. From an early age he honed his skills in Senegalese football tournaments called Nevetanes. Like many local players he played barefoot and had none of the advantages in life that suggested he could become a professional footballer. Indeed, his parents wanted him to stay home and concentrate on his studies but with the help of friends he moved to the capital and joined the Generation Foot footballing academy.

His globetrotting then began. After spells at Metz, Salzburg, and Southampton he arrived at Anfield in 2016. He has played 69 times for his national team and scored 19 goals. He is known as Nianthio or Lion in his native language.

Alongside his footballing exploits, Thiouna said Sadio, ‘’is admired for his simplicity and calm nature’’.Kouly went further, ‘’through his social actions in his community, he is the pride of an entire people. All Senegalese people have a deep respect for him’’.

Papa believes, ‘’he is appreciated by all and especially recognized for his discretion, his patriotism, and his generosity towards his home community’’.

Even people like Bijou, who are not big football fans, know about Sadio. He is ‘’ an all-round great guy who invests in his home community. He does a lot for his village and his country and is an inspiration to a lot of people, especially the Senegalese youth”.

One sentence from Sadio Mane inspired us to write so much about him and his life.

‘’I prefer that my people receive a little of what life has given me.”

Is this also a descriptor for Busega Scotland? We are many folks coming together to help, in a modest way, to provide opportunities for some very disadvantaged people in Tanzania.

Sadio is a kindred spirit and we admire what he does on the football field but more importantly off it.

Thank you, Susana, for sparking our interest and James and Jenny for introducing us to our new Senegalese friends Thiouna, Kouly, Papar and Bijou.

Last year it was the worldwide Busega Parties that brought people together and this year it is Sadio. Both as a person and as a footballer.

YNWA