After being lovingly packed into a suitcase by Christine, the Berkey water purifier has been safely installed at Mayega. It is miraculous the way the muddy lake water (it is particularly bad at this time of year due to the rains) is filtered into sparkling drinking water. The children still have to fill buckets from the lake, with risks of bilharzia, hippos and crocs, but progress is being made on a piped water supply.
John said the lake water looked like Mersey river water of his childhood – good he can still remember that far back! We were worried that the Berkey may change the taste of the water or the children might be suspicious of it.
No such problems and Christine drank the first glass for added reassurance. Thanks to all who contributed to ‘Walk Moray’ and made clean drinking water at Mayega possible.
One of the most positivedevelopments of the Igombe Family Support Project was negotiating a health insurance scheme for participating families. With a second FSP due to start at Chole, John visited the dispensary at the Bukumbi Leprosy Camp to chat with the ever so helpful Clinic Officer, Mary Chenia. Mary explained that a government health card, costing just less than £4 annually, would give up to seven family members cover for infectious diseases and accidents. This seemed like a good investment, that the Chole women would have a chance of continuing with, after the first year’s payment by Busega Scotland. The next step is to explore what can be offered at the government referral hospital or the local mission hospital, to provide a bolt-on and more comprehensive health care.
It was a tough meeting when Rev Deuli and Julieth Godwin, of Busega Scotland, met representatives of the Igombe Women’s Group – Stella Ndallo, Chair and Judith Majula, Accountant and supported by Alphonce Kagezi, of the Igombe Family Support Project. At stake was 350,000 shillings (£130) worth of investment in the group’s vicoba or credit union. There was a written agreement with Busega Scotland to be debated and Rev Deuli and Julieth scrutinised the group’s accounts. As the smiles in the photograph indicates, a positive outcome was achieved and the donation will be presented to the group in Igombe on 19th December. It will be used for business loans and to help cover family emergencies.
A visit was arranged, along with a couple of nights stay in Mwanza, a place Lukondya had never visited before. He was impressed by the multi-storey buildings and how busy it was. At college, the students said Kalwande was a good and safe environment and he would have to work hard as the subjects were tough. Typically, the ‘Mayega boys’ said they would help him and Lukonyda reflected on his life at the Children’s Centre – he was happy with his progress there and would be sad to leave his ‘close family’.
The dining/community room at the Children’s Centre was the venue for our look forward into the future of the service. The Mayega staff and children’s representatives met with Mwanza-based colleagues, in a very open and frank discussion. There was a review of positives and negatives and a plan was drawn up to guide the Centre’s development over the next few years. A full report will be in the next newsletter, but our priorities will be improved educational outcomes, piped water, visitor’s accommodation and separate male and female dormitory buildings. Busega Scotland feels that, with determination, hard work and the help of our supporters, these goals can be achieved. We are ambitious for the future of the Mayega children.
John and Christine arrived back in Tanzania at the end of November and it was heart warming to see old friends and colleagues again. Our house has been a busy place. We have received many visitors and have been making preparations for a pretty demanding work plan. Ester and Kabula were in a relaxed frame of mind when they called by, after their end of term exams. At this time of year, with Christmas in sight, the lot of students worldwide is a happy one. The girls chatted happily with one of our new Mwanza friend, Susana Carpenter. Susana works in the Shaloom Project, teaching the nursery class. She is a Maryknoll lay missionary from San Francisco.
raising another £56 for Busega Scotland by having a “Hairy Bottle draw at the Station Hotel, Burghead. Thanks to Mike for all his efforts.
All the children at Mayega village and the Children’s Centre have very short hair for going to school.
Firewood for cooking has also doubled in price in the last few months. At the centre bottled gas is also used but it cannot be bought locally and transport costs are high. Other local options include charcoal or kerosene. As the cooking facilities need improving , staff will be trying to find the best solution moving forward. This may mean purchasing some sort of stove that would be more efficient than an open fire. It would also make life easier for Victoria, the Mayega cook.
The Berkey will purify untreated water from lakes and where the local water supply may be compromised. The filtration elements have a very fine matrix creating millions of micro-fine pores. The pores are so small that pathogens are not able to pass through and other contaminants are adsorbed. Berkey filters are used worldwide in emergencies and natural disasters.
