Although on the shores of the second freshwater largest lake in the world, Mayega is, for most of the year, dry and arid. At the moment, the rainy season is bringing some much needed relief but the downpours can be intense with spectacular thunder and lightning.
The climate has a negative affect on the buildings at the Children’s Centre, which have not been constructed to the highest standards. However, we have found a very good and conscientious fundi (builder) who is helping us make the necessary repairs.

We have also upgraded the kitchen with a screened window and door to improve hygiene standards. The rain is encouraging our tress to grow and we have just planted another fifty passion fruit seedlings. A plan to link up the Centre, Mayega Primary School and a school Moray in a tree garden project has been put on hold because of Covid 19. We’ll get started as soon as it is safe to do so.
Maybe the Centre can now be seen from space, as the children have made a very novel Busega Scotland sign!

The relationship Busega Scotland has with Mayega Children’s Centre (MCC) has changed in a very positive way. A defunct non-governmental organisation, that was previously responsible for the Centre, has been removed and been replaced by Busega District Council (BDC).
An MoU has been negotiated between Busega Scotland (BS) and the Council through which we run the Centre on the Council’s behalf. In reality, little will change on a day to day basis. The key clauses in the MoU are as follows:

BDC will be legally responsible for MCC under Tanzanian law.
BDC will be legally responsible for the children in residence; namely, for their health, welfare, development and education.
BDC will be the owner of the site, land, buildings and other assets, and these will be used solely for the benefit of children resident at MCC.
BS will manage MCC on behalf of BDC and will deliver, through the Tanzanian staff in post at MCC, services to the children that promote their health, welfare, development and education.
The security that the MoU brings to the Centre was a cause for much celebration, when the document was signed by John as Chair of Busega Scotland. The relationship with the Council has strengthened over the years. Confidence has built up, aided by the quality of service provided at the Centre, through the Mayega Water Project and support for the primary school. Referrals of new children for admission come through social welfare at the Council.

We are pleased to advise that that the Busega Scotland Annual Report and Statement of Accounts for 2018/19 were approved at our annual general meeting on 14th January. The reporting period of 1st December to 30th November is determined by our regulator, the Office of the Scottish Charities Regulator (OSCR). The Busega Scotland annual return was submitted on 17th January and checked by OSCR on 6th February. This concluded the reporting arrangements for 2018/19 and a copy the Annual Report and Statement of Accounts are available on this website at
https://busegascotland.co.uk/annual-accounts/

Busega Scotland’s Family Support Project normally supports women’s groups but we are working with one individual family. This is a collaboration that includes Tanzanian colleagues and some generous individuals in the United States. The family live in a separate room, adjacent to a house owned by a wonderful lady called Pendo.

She, along with a Montessori-trained colleague Sebastian, and our very own Julieth, are the support team, ably assisted by Julieth’s baby, Golden. When Golden arrives at Buswelu he is immediately whisked away by the girls, Lydia and Ester, who love showing him off to their friends. Julieth recounts, with a resigned shrug, the times she has to delay her departure home while Golden is retrieved from his admirers!

Over the last while there has been a big push at Mayega to improve the environment for the children. Much maintenance work has been carried out and everyone has embraced the tree planting. The passionfruit hedge is producing beautiful flowers and fruit. Another 50 seedlings have arrived for planting out, as the ‘green revolution’ continues.

Our colleagues from the fisheries department delivered 70kg of confiscated fish from illegal fishing (free of charge). This was gutted and laid out on the woodstore roof for drying.Our December arrivals, Daudi and Margaret are settling in well, and were joined recently by Yasini. Already, he seems reassured by the welcome he has received. The staff and children are excellent at this.

Late last year the electrics in the Centre were made ready for mains electricity. There are encouraging signs that the connection will soon be made as poles have been erected and wires hung. Then all we will have to do is pay the bills!

It is always a matter of great excitement when the lorry leaves Mwanza and then arrives at Mayega, with essential supplies for the next 4 months. Coming from a society where the next bit of shopping is only a trip to the supermarket away, it is perhaps hard to appreciate the importance of a well stocked storeroom at the Children’s Centre.

The children come from backgrounds where the next meal cannot be guaranteed and hunger was an ever present risk. Indeed, new children at Mayega are often seen to eat excessive quantities of food, until they become confident and secure in the knowledge that their needs will be met. On the last trip there were chairs and mattresses to replace broken and worn out items. We are also pleased to report that the lorry was successfully dug out of the Mayega sand.

An application is about to be submitted to Rotary International, seeking funds to implement Phase 3 of the Mayega Water Project. Phases 1 and 2 have already been completed.
Phase 1 – mains connection into the village, School and Children’s Centre
Phase 2 – water distribution points (DPs) in each sub-village and kitchen constructed in the Centre
Phase 3 – further DPs, constructing school and village toilets and community sanitation training
Three major partners in the project are the Rotary Club of Igoma in Tanzania, the Tanzanian Rural Water and Sanitation Agency and Elgin Rotary Club in Scotland. The relationship between these organisations is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding. The final signature has been added by the President of Elgin Rotary, Margaret Stenton. Elgin’s project lead is Ash Major. Busega Scotland has a co-ordinating role.
If successful, the Global Grant will amount to $40,000US and the project implemented this year. There is a Curry Banquet at Elgin Golf Club on 31st January to complete Elgin’s local fundraising. Many thanks to the numerous folk who have contributed to the Mayega Water Project. It has brought clean water to the community for the first time in over 30 years.

The conference brought women together from our groups in Igombe and Chole. Read the report through the following link:https://busegascotland.co.uk/reports/

A previous article can be found on the Latest News page on 3.12.19 ‘Learning from experience’.https://busegascotland.co.uk/3-12-19-learning-from-experience/

The admissions to Mayega Children’s Centre are through referral from Busega District Council. The Council is connected to vulnerable children through committees at village level. By this process, we heard about Daud, aged nine, and his sister Magreth, who is seven. It is an exciting time at the Centre when new kids arrive. Our staff and the children are excellent in helping their new ‘brothers and sisters’ settle in. Empathy is very powerful.

As well as youngsters arriving, we also say cheerio (but not goodbye) to our ‘Mayega graduates’. Our Moving-on project swings into action and the well practised supports are now picking up Malesa and Jeremiah.

The photo shows them visiting Nyakato College with our Patron, Emmanuel. The boys have passed their entrance exams and will soon begin their national certificate courses in domestic electrical installation (Malesa) and welding (Jeremiah).
We wish the boys well in their studies.

Christmas and New Year are busy times everywhere and Mayega is no exception. Caring for twenty-two children and young people is surely a challenge.
It has become a pre-Christmas tradition for the children to have a day out in Lamadi (the nearest town) for lunch and shopping. It is so important that the Mayega kids have some money to buy their own clothes; managing a budget and making style decisions! Important life skills.

Two special meals are prepared for Christmas and New Year. How nice and colourful the dining room looks and don’t you wish you were there for the food? We do!
Busega Scotland and the children at Mayega wish all our friends and supporters a very happy New Year.