Checking up on the welfare of the students supported by the Moving On Project is an important aspect of our volunteers’ work plan. Arnold and Valerie treated the Kalwande College boys to a soda whilst checking how they were settling into life away from the orphanage.

Valerie also spent time with the girls. Jane and Ester were happy to see her. Kabula joined them later once she got home from her class.

Valerie and Arnold have been visiting the children’s Centre and catching up with everyone there.  They met with village and District leaders to discuss future developments at Mayega. There was also time to spend with the kids when they came home from school.The youngsters look smart in their new school uniforms.

They were accompanied by Busega Scotland’s Project leader, Rev Gadlord Deuli and Mr Mhingo , the new Managing Director of BCDSA ,Tanzania

We will be spending the month of February 2016 working as part of the Busega Team.  This will be our second visit, having spent a similar period based in Mwanza in February 2015.  In agreement with John and Christine Carney we have a busy work programme to complete, spending time at the orphanage in Mayega, supporting the young people who have now moved on to college and undertaking other development tasks.  We are of course self-funded regarding travel and accommodation – but the project in Tanzania depends heavily on funding from the UK.  Over the past few months, with donations from members of the Stowmarket Salvation Army Corps (in Suffolk), family, and neighbours, over £2,000 has been raised.  There has been considerable interest in and support for our work in Tanzania and the generosity of our friends, some of whom have little to spare, has been overwhelming.  Many have promised to pray for us daily and we therefore feel confident that with the Lord’s help we will be able to ‘make a difference’.

Valerie and Arnold Barrow

A new life beckons at Kalwande college. Leah, Matron of Mayega Orphanage and Rev Gadlord Deuli, Busega Scotland’s project Leader in Tanzania, accompanied the 5 students to register at the start of the term.  We wish them well as they settle down to study motor mechanics.

Back to School.

School clothes, shoes, exercise books, maths sets, pens, pencils and schoolbags: The Mayega children thank the Anglican Church in Basle for their continued support of the Mayega orphanage. The Village Executive Officer, Mr Mongu, presented the kids with their gifts for the new term.

Shopping for something new is a big event for the Mayega Orphanage children. Finding the right sandals is very important!  There is no frenzy of Christmas shopping but there are a few artificial Christmas trees on sale.

Christmas Day was celebrated with the whole community going to church and then the Mayega children ate their fill of  rice, goat meat and vegetables. The children drank sodas and all were very happy.

 There is a great shortage of text books in Tanzanian schools and this holds back the attainment of the children. At the Mayega Children’s Centre we want the children to develop a study habit.  We purchased the basic text books needed at primary and secondary level . Its a small start but we hope to gradually build up a stock of books .  They cost the equivalent of £3 to £5 each but that is beyond the reach of most families. Thank you to our fundraisers who made this happen.

Shopping for suitcases to carry everything needed for life at college. Every family in the UK with a new student knows how expensive it can be. In Tanzania kids don’t just take their clothes and  bedding; also needed is a mattress, a mosquito net, a bucket, a hoe, a large blade for cutting grass, their own crockery and cutlery. It’s an expensive time and with no family to help them Busega Scotland is providing our Mayega leavers with all their basic needs. The 5 boys will spend three years training as motor mechanics and learning core subjects including Maths, Technical Drawing and English at Kalwande College, in Misungwi District about 25 miles from Mwanza.  If you would like to help us invest in their future by making a monthly donation towards the Moving On project then please contact us .

Mr  Nethanel Levi  is the new security guard at Mayega Children’s Centre. He is from Mayega village and the secretary of the local African Inland Church. He was selected for the post with help from local village officials who know him well. It gets cold at night during the rainy season and Mr Levi needs a rain jacket to keep warm. Solar power provides security lighting in the immediate vicinity of the centre but a torch is essential work equipment. We welcome Mr Levi to the Mayega team.

Thanks to the Moray craft ladies for support in donating wool, the Mayega children  have learned basic crochet. They  were feeling the cold. The temperature drops during the rainy season and so everyone wanted to make a hat!