6.10.15 Health Education Training at Igombe

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Igombe Women’s Group

The women, who form our Family Support Project in Igombe, have teamed up with medical students from St Augustine University in Mwanza to receive much needed health education training. The students gave up their time, as volunteers, during the university vacation in September to deliver the course. They used DVDs in Swahili, produced by the UK based charity Thare Machi, as the basis for wide-ranging discussions on keeping families safe from a variety of health risks.
The leader of the training, Felix Manyogote, said ‘ The trainings went on well and we were glad as we received great cooperation from the women group at Igombe. We firstly played the DVDs for them  to watch and we later make some facilitation and more elaborations on the topic. At the end of the topic we then asked women some related questions to measure if they understood the topics. Good enough the women answered well the question. We also provided a chance for them to ask some questions related to the topics discussed and in relation to their health. We really received a lot of questions and tried to answer them professional in relation to health practices’.
The women are enthusiastic about continuing the course and have asked if Busega Scotland can source
material on urinary tract infections, cervical and breast cancer. We will do our best to meet this request.

6.10.15 Quilt Raffle

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Raffle to be drawn on  27th November 2015.  All proceeds to Busega Scotland.

The idea of the Quilt was born after speaking to Christine about the plight of the children of Mayega.

We as a country have so much and they have so little in material goods. My first thought was to acquire clothing etc. to send out to Tanzania which for me would be quite an easy thing to do, but abandoned this idea after finding out that the goods sent in bulk would be costly to get there.

A new train of thought led me to ask myself what can I do to raise money? What talents do I have? What is achievable? About 2-30 am one morning it came to me, I could make a Quilt. Being a member of Speyside Quilters I have been sewing and doing Patchwork for a number of years, and like most other crafts people I had a large stash of fabric just waiting to be used.

I had everything to start fundraising

It took a few months to make, to no set pattern it just evolved and got bigger and bigger as I went along. Now finished I am going to sell tickets at 50p each, all proceeds going to Busegas.

If you don’t fancy it for yourself think how cosy the dog/cat would be if you won this for his Xmas!!

Ruth McIntosh

The Quilt is currently on display at the charity shop on Queen Street Lossiemouth.

5.10.15 Busega Scotland Shop

 
Getting ready to open the shop.

Getting ready to open the shop.

Our first go at retail has finished its first week and what a great experience it has been. We have had many helpers, many customers, great fun in keeping it all going and been amazed at the generosity of the people of Moray in donating so much stock. We have had more stock at the end of each day than at the beginning. Our biggest problem has been having enough space to display our wares and we have had to expand onto the street!

It seems to us that the shop is a great way to recycle goods to the benefit of our customers and Busega Scotland projects. Many people have asked us what we do in Tanzania and our local paper, the Northern Scot, has taken a great interest in our activities. On Wednesday they sent a reporter and photographer to the shop and on Friday published an article about us.
The shop is generating much needed funds and two supporters have covered the shop rent, meaning that all the money we raise will go to Busega Scotland projects!
Lets hope the second week is equally successful.

Moray Swing Band and Brother Suleiman

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The Eight Acres Hotel rocked for Busega on 25th September with a superb concert hosted by the Moray Swing Band and friends. It really was a tremendous night with two sets by the band and a drumming session led by Brother Suleiman, who had travelled to Elgin from Glasgow for the occasion. The Swing Band maintains the tradition of big band music, with a healthy mix of experienced and younger musicians.
They play benefit concerts regularly and Busega Scotland is thankful that they included us in their schedule.
The Mayega Children’s Centre benefitted by £563 through ticket sales, raffle and generous donations by supporters. Many thanks to all who contributed to this magnificent total.
Back to Brother Suleiman. He is a Ghanaian drumming teacher who arrived in with van full of drums. After warming us up with a demonstration of his skills he ‘persuaded’ members of the audience to form an impromptu ‘African band’. Such fun and what a great noise. Well done to Brother Suleiman and his Moray drummers!
We really hope that the Swing Band will be able to do it all again for us sometime in the future.
Moray Swing Band 2

27.9.15 Fantastic Effort Andy

A very big thank you to Andy Lees who completed the Etape Royale today in an impressive  time of 7 hours 43 minutes and 40 seconds! An average speed of 12.94 mph  over the 102 mile course. Andy said,”  I can tell you that when climbing those hills I gave everything I had physically and now I am asking for you to support this charity financially”.

See previous post for sponsorship details.

21.9.15 Good Luck Andy!

Andy Lees

Super supporter Andy Lees tackles the Etape Royale on Sunday 27th September in aid of Busega Scotland .

 “My training has gone fairly well, aside from a couple of close encounters with over eager tractor drivers!! I began cycling around a year ago and completed the Loch Ness Etape in May, a 67 mile route around Loch Ness. I got a bit lazy after that and it wasn’t until a “friend” suggested I might fancy a bigger challenge that I considered the 102 mile Etape Royal. I really wished I had begun training earlier and for longer as in the last month I have only managed to train twice a week. However, last weekend I did a solo 71 mile cycle around Moray and it felt ok, single minded determination is the key. Having said all that I have some huge reservations about the route of the Etape Royale. We reach the bottom of “The Lecht” after cycling for 80 miles so I am very apprehensive about that climb, it’s bad enough driving up it!!
Still, I do like a challenge and knowing that I am raising money for such an amazing cause will be what keeps me going when it starts to get uncomfortable, very uncomfortable.
I have had great words of encouragement from my friends and most of my family although my wife says this has to be the last time I sign up for this type of thing. My various cycling companions have been a constant motivation as are my “strava” friends who offer unconditional cyber support”.
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From The Northern Scot Newspaper 18.9.15

Swing band tunes up for charity concert
Moray musicians are raising a tune for a charity supporting vulnerable children in Africa.
The Moray Swing Band are staging a concert at Elgin’s Eight Acres Hotel on Friday, 25th September in aid of Busega Scotland.
The charity was set up last year by Moray couple John and Christine Carney, from Garmouth, who began voluntary projects in Tanzania having worked as teachers in Nigeria and Zambia in the past.
Mrs Carney is manager of a residential centre for orphaned and otherwise abandoned children close to the western end of the Serengeti National Park, while her husband leads a family support project in the East African country.
They approached Moray Swing Band secretary Peter Thatcher about the possibility of doing a gig to raise money for the orphanage their charity backs.
The 15-strong band agreed to perform, with their chairman and saxophone player Roy Hunte recruiting some extra musical support for the occasion.
“They just asked us if we would do a concert and we said yes. We like to help people”, said Roy.
“I have managed to get my brother Suleman to come along to perform and host a drumming session as well”
The concert is being held in the Sherwood Suite beginning at 7.30pm, with tickets available at the door .
Web Site admin: Busega Scotland is progressing an application for Charitable Status but this is not in place yet!

24.8.15 £700 Birthday Gift

StuartA huge thank you to Stuart Copland, his family and friends. Instead of receiving gifts to mark his 60th Birthday, Stuart requested donations to Busega Scotland .

Stuart said “Being able to do this gave us a great deal of pleasure and we hope it will help to make the lives of some others better”.

The money will be used to support  orphaned or destitute children at the  Mayega Children’s Centre .

Happy Birthday Stuart!