23.12.16 Christmas Shopping

Kids like shopping and the children and young people from Mayega are no exception. It was a Christmas treat to travel to the shops and market in Lamadi (5 miles from the Children’s Centre) and buy clothes and sandals. Busega Scotland believes that it is important to offer these experiences as part of growing-up; children like to have some money to spend, choose what they wear and to look nice. These opportunities are not open to all families in Tanzania.
The wear and tear on sandals is particularly hard, as the children walk over rough and sandy ground. We have to replace footwear regularly and as with ‘parents’ everywhere there is a struggle between what are ‘sensible shoes’ and what are stylish. As with most such encounters worldwide there is usually only one winner! Sensible shoes are reserved for school! We are thankful for small mercies.

 

 

 

19.12.16 Boost for Igombe Vicoba

Busega Scotland was happy to add capital to the Igombe Women’s Group vicoba scheme. The closest Scottish equivalent to a vicoba is a credit union. The women in the Igombe group have received business grants from Busega Scotland, as part of our Family Support Project. They pay modest amounts from their profits into the vicoba and then lend money to each other, to develop their enterprises or to meet unexpected family costs. Interest is charged on the loans and this is eventually shared out by members as a boost to incomes.
Busega Scotland had examined the operation of the group and found it to be working well (see news item on 051216 ‘Capital investment at Igombe’). As a result, John attended the women’s meeting at Igombe to present £130 to chairwoman, Stella Ndallo. This was added to the £43 already saved into the vicoba. Julieth Godwin, Assistant Project Leader, explained in detail the agreement reached between Busega Scotland and the group’s leaders.
The women are interested in establishing a co-operative business but are at in the early stages of thinking this through. It would be good if Busega Scotland could provide support, if a satisfactory business plan can be developed.

19.12.16 Education matters

Education is a priority for Busega Scotland and for the children and young people at Mayega Children’s Centre. It could be described as ‘the’ priority but admitting new children and establishing a piped water supply are also critical.
The education issue has two parts.
Firstly, we need to improve the attainment of the younger children, concentrating on basics such as use of English and proficiency in Mathematics. There will be interviews, and appointment of a ‘Saturday teacher’ early in January. A job description has been written by trustee Jenny Wallen, emphasising an individualised learning plan for each child. Assessments in English and Swahili have already been undertaken by education consultant Sebahene Amon and student teacher Ester Stephano  (one of our Mayega graduates).
Secondly, for our oldest young people their school careers are over and Busega Scotland supports vocational education through the Moving-on Project. There are currently seven students in college and 2017 will see three more placed. One is confirmed for motor mechanics at Kalwande Training College, and interviews will occur on 3rd January for two other places, in motor mechanics and domestic electrical at Nyakato Vocational Training Centre , Mwanza. We hope the interviews go well. It is essential for young people to get practical training when they do poorly in their school leaving exams. Without marketable skills future prospects can be bleak.

18.12.16 A real honour.

It was with great joy and pride that John and Christine were invited to a baptismal service at Rev Deuli’s church on Sunday 18th December. Three children were being baptised, including Jenabel, the daughter of Emiliana (Gadlord and Jane Deuli’s firstborn). Emmy had asked us if we would be willing to be Jenabel’s godparents and we were delighted to accept.
The previous week we had all been worried about Jena, as she had suffered an asthma attack and a bout of malaria. As you can see she is now fit and well, and happy to be carried around Tanzanian style by Christine! The baptism was followed by a celebratory meal, attended by all the congregation. A great time was had by all!
 Rev Deuli is the Busega Scotland Project Leader and a pastor in the Charismatic Episcopal Church of Tanzania.


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15.12.16 Chole Family Support Project – we finally made it!

Our second Family Support Project is underway in Chole. It is a partnership with the Chole Women’s Group and a Tanzanian NGO, called CODEHAF. The planning has taken a while, with CODEHAF supporting the women in a communal garden, growing cash crops. Busega Scotland is financing a vicoba (credit union), that will provide loans for
the women to develop their family businesses. There are 35 families in the Chole project, and an initial capital sum of £130 has been donated. This will rise to £370 if the project progresses well. The funding is from the ‘Walk Moray for Busega’ sponsored walk, that occurred in September.
 Chole is quite remote and getting there is not easy. Digging the vehicle out of the sand is part of the experience!
The women meet in a small project building, that they have constructed, and group chairwoman, Marianna James, received the Busega Scotland contribution from Julieth Godwin, our Assistant Project Leader, who has responsibility for the Chole project. We wish the women well in their endeavours.

14.12.16 All spick and span!

 

When we first encountered the ‘second building’ at Mayega we thought it was derelict, rather than​ being partly constructed! Undeterred, and through various fundraising efforts, we were able to complete the building and install solar power. The community room (that doubles as a dining room) has become a focal point of Mayega life, with many activities taking place there.
In the near future it will also become a classroom, when we appoint our ‘Saturday teacher’ to help improve the educational attainment of the children. In order to ensure that classes take place in a bright and cheerful environment the building has been painted inside and out.
The final step is to install a whiteboard and this should be completed when Arnold and Valerie Barrow visit Mayega early in the New Year.

12.12.16 Repair and improvements

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The recent heavy rain has caused some damage to the small wall underpinning the newly erected security fence at the Children’s Centre. The contract had written into it a clause whereby the contractor has to make good any problems. Like young men anywhere, Lukondya and Malesa were keen to join in the remedial work. Their energy and enjoyment is there for all to see, with continuous joking and banter.
While this work was going on, Busega Scotland reached agreement with a painting fundi to decorate the second building and paint the outside walls.
paint A long overdue job. In the late afternoon the paint arrived and all the children helped with the offloading. Matron has chosen the colours, keeping Christine and John out of the ‘firing line’ if the colour scheme doesn’t meet with everyone’s approval! Latest reports say that the fundi is getting on well and we should be able to inspect the finished work on our next visit.

10.12.16 Celebrating Christmas

You lift me up

John and Christine were happy to accept an invitation from Shaloom Youth Project to attend their Christmas celebration.

The project is our ‘next door neighbour’ and we have heard the children practicing for many weeks.

Performing is second nature to Tanzanian children; little Jennifer sang solo ‘You Raise Me Up’ to the tune of Londonderry Air.

Young dancers

Two little ones had the crowd on its feet with a dance duet and finally a fire eater scared the pants of us! Fire DanceChristine was on health and safety red alert. After the entertainment came the food. Rice, beans, goat and vegetable. How the children can at. They all come from families affected by HIV and food is not plentiful in their lives. The Shaloom project does a great job in educational and social support. There were two staff and about 250 children attended the event. Amazing!    Equally impressive was the cooking done on a wood fire.

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9.12.16 Growing The Mayega Library

dsc01395Earlier this year Busega Scotland provided curriculum text books for all the primary and secondary pupils at Mayega. How delighted we were, on this visit, to find slightly grubby and dog-eared copies in the library cupboard, as evidence of books well read. Inspired by this, Christine, and our educational consultant Sebahene, raided the many book shops in Mwanza, searching for story books in English and Kiswahili. ‘Raid’ is the correct word, as they bought up the entire stock of reading books in the town’s main book store! Children everywhere love reading but book costs, and a lack of libraries, limits opportunities in Tanzania. We are trying to change that in a small way at Mayega. On a positive note, there is a thriving newspaper sector with sellers everywhere. John and Christine enjoy dsc01374Sunday morning with their copy of the Tanzanian Guardian!

A wee note about Seba. He is an experienced primary teacher who has volunteered to help us raise educational standards at Mayega. A fluent English speaker, he has just completed his masters degree in education at St Augustine’s University in Mwanza.

9.12.16 Carefully does it!

dsc01306The sight of children using paints in Scotland is a common one from a very early age. Even if that means more paint on the child than on the paper and coloured water all over the carpet! These creative opportunities are not the experience of most children in Tanzania and certainly not, up until now, at the Mayega Children’s Centre. After the minimum of tuition by Christine off the children went, creating colourful patterns and trying their best to stay within the lines! dsc01301The thirst for such activities is very striking – be that painting, crochet or drawing. The talent and creativity is there and it is one of the great sadness’s of Africa that such potential is not fully realised. We are determined to do something about that at Mayega and the children are certainly up for it!