Phase 2 of the Mayega Water Project has increased the number of water distribution points (DP’s) in Mayega village from one to six, with the seventh due on stream shortly. This covers all the sub-villages, with 535 households in total. There are also standpipes in the school and dispensary.

The dispensary previously relied on rain water harvesting – directing rain water off the roof into a tank.

Engineers from Busega District Council toured the DP’s and spoke to the ‘tap keepers’ to check all the points are working well. No significant problems were reported. The water is available in the morning from 7am to 12 midday and from 4 to 7pm. Household usage is recorded by the tap keeper. The cost is 50 shillings (1.5p) per large bucket.

One keeper was asked what difference the DP had made to her life. She said that it avoided an hour long trip to the Lake Victoria and back, to collect water. There have been two fatalities in the Mayega area in the last two years, and one other attack, from crocodiles.
The partnership between the village, the District Council, the Rotary Club of Elgin and Busega Scotland has been particularly encouraging, to deliver the Phase 2 on time and under budget. But most importantly, it is making such a difference to lives of the villagers.

Come on the Maroons………
Not a phrase you readily associate with the Carney family. Come on the Reds, is much more acceptable. However, John and Christine were delighted to hand over a full maroon and blue football strip to Ernest Damiano, Headteacher of Mayega Primary School. The previous week there had been a village meeting to discuss how the school could get hold of strips for the ward championships! Problem solved!
The timely gift came from Portessie Methodist Church in Buckie. Christine and John had given a talk to their Women’s Guild and were asked if they could make use of the kit. ‘Of course we can!’, was the immediate reply, and so the mainly brand new strips formed part of 92 kg hold baggage on the Carneys recent journey to Tanzania.

Returning vaguely to colour of the strip. Liverpool’s first great manager, Bill Shankly, said that his job was to ‘make the people happy’. The good folk from the Moray church have certainly made the young footballers of Mayega very happy. Let’s hope they do well in the tournament but any in case, as Ernest said, they will look the smartest!

Ernest Damiano is both Head Teacher of Mayega Primary School and the voluntary Co-ordinator of the Mayega Water Project. His commitment to the Mayega community is immense. He recently travelled, on a Saturday, over 70 miles by bus from his home in Nyashimo to Mwanza, to talk about the Water Project and the support his school gets through Busega Scotland (and Lhanbryde Primary School in Moray).
More about the School Support Project over the next few weeks, as some very exciting initiatives unfold. These are being driven by Ernest and Busega Scotland trustee and educationalist, Jenny Wallen. The Water Project is moving into its third phase and, funding permitting, will include toilets for the Mayega school and improved sanitary facilities in the village.
It is always a pleasure to see Ernest, with his infectious enthusiasm and positivity. He received a gift of a Mosstowie Primary School scarf from his fellow Head Teacher, Gary Forgie, as a gesture of friendship between the Moray and Mayega schools. Busega Scotland prides itself on growing such links as an important aspect of its work.

Two days before John and Christine left for Tanzania, the Rotary Club of Elgin held a Gin and Prosecco Valentine’s Night at Johnstons Woollen Mill Visitor Centre. This was a fundraiser for the Mayega Water Project, in which Elgin Rotary are partners.
The evening had a number of highlights – Callum and Angus (from Rotaract) providing superb musical entertainment and the auction, including a cashmere rug donated by Johnstons, a bottle of the Lord Lieutenant of Moray’s cask strength whisky and a Mayega Shuka. However, ‘the highlight’ was a ‘conga’ around the visitor centre, to the rousing tune of ‘500 miles’. Unforgettable.

Busega Scotland and the Mayega Water Group in Tanzania, thank Elgin Rotary and the Mill for hosting the event, and the many Moray folk who supported the fundraising most generously.
The Chair of Elgin Rotary’s International Committee, Ash Major, said ‘it was by any measure a great evening, as evidenced by the reactions as people left, and on Facebook next morning. We don’t yet know the final figures, but the Raffle and Auction raised over £1100, so we have already met our target.’
How good is that.
Footnotes
The Mill established in 1797 is the same mill which produces cashmere garments today.
A Mayega Shuka is an African blanket sold on behalf of Mayega Children’s Centre.

Arnold and Valerie Barrow have left Tanzania after a very successful trip. Their efforts in Mayega have seen a kitchen constructed at the Children’s Centre and five new distribution points (DP’s or standpipes) positioned across the village, bringing piped water to the sub villages and dispensary. The work, as part of the Mayega Water Project, is in collaboration with Busega District Council and Rotary District 1010, back in Scotland.

Arnold and Valerie used the generous donations from their own supporters to undertake important maintenance tasks at the Centre. This included repair and realignment of guttering, floor repairs in the girls’ dormitory and refurbishment of the outside toilet and shower block. The Barrows may be too modest to say it themselves but this must have been the most beneficial trip of the five they have undertaken. Massive thanks for all they have achieved.
Soon after Arnold and Valerie left Mwanza, John and Christine arrived with their own extensive itinerary. Having said all that, we should never forget the week in, week out contributions of our ten local colleagues, who keep the projects going most magnificently. This model, of combining the knowledge, skills and experience from two very different continents and cultures, is serving Busega Scotland well. All together – staff, supporters and volunteers – we are making a difference.

Our six mechanics graduates, in the Moving-on Project, are entering their last period of support from Busega Scotland. Our aim is to promote independence and in a way that maximises the chances of a successful future. It is self-evident, mechanics with driving licences are eminently more employable.
Last month the lads began a residential driving course at Nyakato College. As in Scotland, the instruction mixes theory and practice but the final examination is conducted by the police. The video shows that good progress is being made, as Mazebuka makes a very smooth start. Let’s hope they all pass their tests.

Busega Scotland’s links with schools in Moray are going from strength to strength.
The connection between Lhanbryde Primary School and Mayega Primary School is well established. Fundraising at Lhanbryde has purchased sports equipment for Mayega and the children have exchanged drawings to build friendships. The Moray school has an enthusiastic Tanzania Committee and a recent bake sale raised £53. Mayega Primary School expressed its appreciation for the support it has received by sending Gillian Ross, Lhanbryde’s head teacher, a certificate of appreciation and length of African cloth. A great show of kindness.
John was invited to give a talk on the work of Busega Scotland to P5 to P7 pupils at Mosstowie Primary School.

The children were so engaged and asked many questions. Their knowledge was impressive. Incredibly, one girl was able to identify the tree in the photograph of Mayega’s head teacher, Ernest Damiano! Can you?

The highlight was Gary Forgie, Mosstowie’s head teacher, dressing up in a Mayega shuka. It is likely that Mosstowie children will adopt Busega Scotland as their overseas project to support. We would be delighted if that were to happen.

It is important to Busega Scotland that we share our knowledge and experiences of Tanzania. This is part of our commitment to give back to the community of Moray.

How bonny she looks in her new specs! Shida recently returned to Mayega from another trip to the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre. Doctors were sufficiently happy with the way her right eye has healed, following her fifth surgery, to arrange for glasses to be made in Nairobi. Shida is now getting used to them.
She remains under the care of the eye hospital and will return for a check up in April. Her range of vision is limited but she is happy that she has some sight. Sadly, it looks unlikely that sight can be restored to her left eye.
Shida has been supported by many people, who have made her medical treatment possible. Special mention must be made of Leya Lusana, the matron of the Children’s Centre. Matron and Leya have travelled together for over 5,000 miles! An amazing commitment from Leya to help a very brave little girl.

The hard work of many people in Scotland and Busega District is bringing piped water to the various communities of Mayega. It is heartening to see the way that the simple act of people working together can bring transformative change. No more hazardous, laborious and time consuming walks to Lake Victoria, to bring back unclean water in buckets and plastic containers. Remember how it was:

‘The oldest four hundred children in the primary school had to bring a bottle of water for the toilets. If children wished to drink during the day, they needed to carry their own supply. Children walk up to 7 km to get to school.
Sometimes the supply for the toilets ran out and children were sent to the lake, interrupting their learning (a round trip of about an hour).
The risks of collecting water from Lake Victoria; Bilharzia is endemic, and attacks from hippos and crocodiles are possible.’

No wonder there was excitement when Busega Scotland volunteers, Arnold and Valerie Barrow, visited one of the newly constructed standpipes. The couple have an important role in providing an accountability link between the Mayega Water Project and the Rotary Club of Elgin, who have raised funds for the work. Hats off to all concerned.

The latest six women have joined the Bujingwa Women’s Group in the small town of Igombe. Busega Scotland’s Supervisor, Alphonce Kagezi, and Assistant Project leader, Julieth Godwin, had the pleasure of introducing the new women to the group. The ladies received a grant of about £45 each to develop or open new businesses and another £45 is paid into the group’s vicoba (credit union) on their behalf. This acts as a low interest lending bank for group members, to grow their businesses and meet family emergencies. Since January 2018, the existing group of 17 women have increased their Busega Scotland funding of £150 to £550, through their hard work and saving.
The Bujingwa Group is Busega Scotland’s fourth women’s group, supporting over one hundred women in total. The Family Support Project’s funds are targeted at women in particular difficulties, as single parents or widows, with low income (perhaps only £25 per month) and generally large families. Sometimes, it is grandparents who care for the children, due to the loss of parents from AIDS and other illnesses. The modest help from our project can help prevent family breakdown and destitution.
Regular readers of our news posts will recognise Mr Kagezi, or as we affectionately know him – the King of Igombe. Last year, he was knocked off his motor bike and seriously injured. A marvellous recovery has got him back on his feet, even though his mobility is still a bit limited. All power to the King!