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.

Lukondya has been in the care of the Children’s Centre for over 12 years. So, the thought of leaving must be a bit daunting, but having completed his final school exams, he wants nothing else but to join ‘his band of brothers’ doing motor mechanics at Kalwande College.

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.

 All the children at Mayega village and the Children’s Centre have very short hair for going to school.

This month new hair clippers were needed to keep the orphanage children neat and tidy. Rev Deuli purchased the clippers in the city of Mwanza and delivered them to Mayega. Goods are available in Lamadi, the local town but prices there are very high.  Matron cuts the girls hair and Patron does the same job for the boys. Buying hair clippers is much more economical than getting everyone to the hairdresser shop.

Prices are rising all over Tanzania. Fish form a big part of the Mayega children’s diet and despite being beside the lake prices have doubled.

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.

John and Christine accepted a lunch invitation from the Elgin Rotary Club and delivered a presentation on the work of Busega Scotland. The mission of Rotary International is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.

The talk concentrated on the Mayega Children’s Centre and the need for a piped water supply. The Rotary Club of Elgin has been involved with many projects in Nepal, where there is poor provision of sanitation and water and has changed the lives of local communities in some of the most remote areas of this country.

Busega Scotland is hopeful that Elgin Rotary will partner with us in the provision of piped water at Mayega.The talk was well received and we await with interest the outcome of the Club’s deliberations.

Many thanks to Elgin Rotary for their interest in Busega Scotland. The photograph shows President-elect for 2017, Andy Jamieson, with Christine and John.