An Aberlour Child Care Trust project in Elgin has become a valued partner of Busega Scotland. Moray Options provides services for children affected by disabilities. The project, its staff, and the families they support, have helped us in many different ways; participating in sponsored walks, filling Smartie tubes with 20p’s, having a Busega Scotland news corner and by providing office space and facilities.

The support is not just one way, as John chairs the Moray Options fostering panel and service manager Sheena Main says, ‘it is part of Aberlour’s philosophy and values to reach out and participate in the community, be that local or further afield. We are delighted to support Busega Scotland in the excellent work that it does. The services are so similar that Busega could be called ‘Aberlour in Africa!’.

The Aberlour Trust has its roots in Moray. An orphanage was opened in the village of Aberlour in 1875 to look after four ‘mitherless bairns’. It closed its doors in 1967 and since then the trust has become the leading Scottish children’s charity, with services in residential care and fostering, dependency, early years, disability and early intervention youth work.

Arriving at Mayega must be a daunting thing for any young child. Edina arrived with her grandmother and the bond between them is very strong. Sadly Bibi’s health is deteriorating and she is no longer able to care for her.

The two of them have lived together for the last four years after Edina’s family situation broke down.  With concerns growing for both of them help was sought by village officials from Busega District Council and Mayega Children’s Centre was asked to provide a place for the little girl.  The other children and staff are doing all they can to help Edina feel at home .

Bibi will visit when she is able and we will try to ensure that contact is maintained between them. We hope that Edina will join Standard 1 at Mayega Primary School soon.

John and Christine were delighted to be guests of the Rotary Club of Aberlour at their summer garden party. The weather was good and the venue superb – the rose garden of Ballindalloch Castle. The President of Aberlour Rotary, Louise Gordon, and her husband, Giles, made us most welcome. John had given a talk to the Club earlier in the year and it was good to meet members again.  A Busega Scotland stall attracted attention, and we had good conversations and made some sales. One of the Mayega Shukas was auctioned, and the afternoon realised £215 for our work in Tanzania.

It was fitting that the highest bidder for the shuka was the Macpherson-Grant family, who live in Ballindalloch Castle. The castle has been the ancestral home of the family since 1546.

Aberlour Rotary Club has become a good friend and supporter of Busega Scotland and we thank club members for their interest and encouragement.

The smile says it all.

After a very difficult time and two operations , Shida is  on her way back to Mayega with sight restored to her right eye! Things are still a bit blurred following the retinal attachment but doctors have told her that will improve as her eye heals.  She is facing life with renewed independence. She is able to move around alone now rather than being led and can see herself in a mirror.

This transformation has brought her great joy and she likes to sing and make jokes. She will make the long journey back to Kilimanjaro in mid August for a check up and surgery to remove the cataract in her  left eye. She is very attached  to Matron who has been her guide and comforter since she was admitted to the Mayega Children’s Centre only 4 long weeks ago.

Shida still faces many hurdles but she is a brave little girl.  In time we will look at her educational and other needs. Meanwhile, doctors have advised that she rest before the next surgery.

Thank you to all the Busega Scotland  supporters who have made this possible through their continued support.

It’s not often that sport and Scottish history get a mention on the Busega Scotland website. But something truly sensational happened in Edinburgh on Sunday 10th June. John, his brother, Paul, and son, Graeme, were there to witness it.
For the very first time ever Scotland beat England in a game of cricket. This is a bit like Tanzania beating Brazil at football. What is even more remarkable is that England are the top ranked team in the world at one day cricket.

No wonder Paul and Graeme look happy.
So, what better place to celebrate the victory than at the Jolly – the first pizzeria to join in Pizza Aid. Vito’s reaction when we told him the news was understandable, ‘What, Scotland have beaten England at cricket!?!’. Yes Vito, they have.
After all the excitement had settled down, Vito made a further donation, on behalf of the Jolly, to support Mayega Children’s Centre. What a perfect end to a memorable weekend.
Footnote: The Battle of Bannockburn on 24th June 1314 was a significant Scottish victory in the First War of Scottish Independence and a landmark in Scottish history.

Shida is recovering from her latest eye operation and as usual Matron is at her side providing comfort and support. A detached retina in her right eye has been repaired. This follows her previous operation to remove a cataract and fit a replacement lens. We are hopeful that all of this will  improve Shida’s vision .

Shida is doing well and remains with Matron at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre where she awaits more surgery on her  eye.  There is a slim chance that this could happen on Friday but it will more likely be next week. Her second operation will be more complex than the first one and we hope this will go well.  Children come from all over Tanzania to have eye surgery here and the hospital is very busy.

Meanwhile Shida is already happy with her  improved vision and that she is being well cared for by the hospital and Leah, Matron of Mayega Children’s Centre.

Leah  travelled to Moshi expecting that they would remain there for 3 or 4 days but we now expect the trip to last up to three weeks!

She is busy with the practicalities of looking after a hospital patient . In Tanzania food is not provided by the hospitals and usually relatives or friends  bring food , clean clothes and provide care.

Leah provides Shida with much more than that though. She could not ask for a more loving individual to care for her .

Treats for the children at Mayega Children’s Centre are exactly that. Not goodies to be enjoyed every day or two but just every so often. The bulk food shop is a case in point. Food is transported the 85 miles from Mwanza to Mayega every four months. These are staples – rice, maize meal, cooking oil, sugar and wheat flour plus non-food items. However, one of our suppliers, Mama Lucy, always adds in sweets for the children and this time it was lollypops. A kind gesture, much enjoyed and appreciated by all at Mayega – young and old!

When the lorry arrives it is all hands on deck. Large or small there is something for everyone to offload and get safely into the storeroom. Having four months supply of food is a  great reassurance to the children, who have experienced hunger in their early lives. With the garden in production, eggs from our hens and other fresh food bought locally, the children are thriving.

Special mention must be made of volunteers Arnold and Valerie Barrow, their family, friends and supporters,  whose generosity has once again paid for the bulk food shop. How wonderful is that!

The doctors are happy with Shida’s first cataract removal operation and more importantly Shida is very happy herself.

She is already reporting improved vision. A decision will be made tomorrow whether to operate on her other eye or give her more time to recuperate. Either way Shida feels that she is in safe hands and has been joking with Rev Deuli and Matron.

Mount Kilimanjaro has been shrouded in clouds but Shida is hoping that she will be able to see it. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

Matron is complaining that it is much colder in Moshi. Night time temperatures have been between 19 and 21 degrees and daytime up to 27.  Mayega is much warmer.