14.5.24 Running for Mayega

Darragh McTiernan and Eoghan O’Donnell will be running the marathon in Edinburgh on 26th May to benefit Mayega Children’s Centre. It is the second biggest marathon in the UK after London.

Darragh and Eoghan explained their motivation:

‘We are keen to support a small organisation where we know and trust that all the money raised will go straight to support vulnerable children and their families. We know we have been very fortunate with the opportunities we have had in our lives and hope the money we raise will make a little difference to the life chances of children in Mayega’.

If you would like to sponsor our runners they have set up a dedicated Total Giving page. Please click:

TotalGiving™ – Edinburgh Marathon fundraiser for Busega Scotland – Edinburgh Marathon – Busega Scotland – Fundraising Page

Many thanks.

21.4.24 Looks idyllic

Lugezini village is on the shore of Lake Victoria. It is a traditional fishing village. Fishing on the lake is tough, with lives lost, men working away, and some abandoning their families. Not so idyllic.
Busega Scotland’s fourteenth women’s group is being formed there, and thirty women have already been assessed for participation. Most of the women are small market traders selling such things as tomatoes, sweet potatoes, charcoal and fish.
The grants paid by Busega Scotland will allow the women to take loans and expand their businesses. Life will be a little less tough, provide the potential for a better future, and mutual support within the group is a real benefit. Our connections within communities like Lugezini allow us to target the families in greatest need.

25.3.24 Many congratulations, Jeremiah.

We recently received this message from Jeremiah, who left Mayega Children’s Centre several years ago. He went to college in Mwanza (as part of our Moving-on Project) and trained as an electrician.
Jeremiah wrote:
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my foster parents John and Christine (Carney) and guardians raising me and teaching me good manners. I have been awarded as the best worker of the year 2023 Napol Elution Mining.
John and Christine think, undoubtedly, that the credit should go to the staff at Mayega for raising such a fine young man.
After leaving college Jeremiah worked initially for the national power corporation (TANESCO). Napol Elution works in the gold mines at Geita.
It is good to see young people from Mayega getting on so well.

26.2.24 Another arrival at Mayega

Well not exactly. No new child has been admitted to the Children’s Centre.
One of our security guards, Bibiana, gave birth to Joyce last year and has just returned from maternity leave. Welcome back, Bibiana, and welcome, Joyce.

14.2.24 Kalwande Mshikamano Group

The name of the group definitely describes its purpose. The Kalwande Solidarity Group, and it’s our first group of the year.
32 women have come together to support each other, and Busega Scotland is standing with them. Julieth Godwin and Henry Zepherine have assessed each woman for group attendance, and the meeting on 13th February was its start.
If all goes well, Busega Scotland will make its first contribution to the group’s capital in three months’ time. That will allow the women to take loans and build up their small businesses. In the meantime, members will use their vicoba (similar to a credit union) for personal savings.
Busega Scotland has a history at Kalwande. Several years ago we had young people from Mayega Children’s Centre at the technical college there, studying motor mechanics.

30.1.24 Light and Dark

It is important that children get a good and safe night’s sleep, and if they have to get up they can see where they are going. No debate about that.
At Magega recently, the mains power has been a bit unreliable and the solar batteries (as our back up) died on us! What timing! But there is a fundi meme (electrician) who has done work for us before and he has the solar back up and running. Superb. Also, we decided to use the donation from Hersi Said (see previous news article 070124 New Year Celebrity) to cover the cost of the repair.
Back in March of last year, we prepared a talk for a Rainbow’s group and the adult leaders asked if mosquito nets act as ‘safety rails’ on the top bunks in our dormitories? In reality they do, but not as effectively as rails, although we have never had a child fall out! Busega District Council also noticed that we have no rails and our old bunks (known locally as double deckers) are getting rickety. Call Mr Deus, the man for all odd jobs. As a prototype, he combined the strengthening of a bunk, with adding a ladder, and safety rails. Genius, three birds with one stone! Now we’ll turn attention to the other eleven bunks! Repair and maintenance, it never ends, but safety comes first.

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28.1.24 Serengeti and a TV connection!

The Children’s Centre received tremendous Christmas generosity from the Kirawira Serena Camp, in the Serengeti’s western corridor. Mayega is just 10 miles from Ndabaka Gate, and our matron, Leya Lusana, is friends with Kirawira staff.

They have brought gifts previously, but 2023 was exceptional. A TV, dish, and decoder, so the children can watch TV at the Centre for the first time! Our Officer in Charge, Neema Stephen, said, ‘the TV is working well, and the children watch the news in the evening’.

It is great that the knowledge and experiences of the children are being widened, as growing up in rural Africa does not always provide a window on the outside world. However, we are pretty sure TV watching will extend beyond the news! Unfortunately, the African Cup of Nations tournament would have been a disappointment. Tanzania went out at the group stage. Bad luck Taifa Stars!

9.1.24 Very busy at Mayega!

The Christmas/New Year period is a time for celebration at the Centre. But it is busy in other ways.
Rain is expected, and the garden needs work. This is coordinated by our male carer, Isaac. with the children helping along.
This year, biringani (aubergine) is looking very healthy and, as ever, the passion fruit is going well on the Centre’s perimeter fence.
The school year in Tanzania starts in January, and the Mayega children go with staff to the nearest town, Lamadi, for shopping. Uniforms and school clothes are bought, along with casual attire. The children take pride in how smart they can look, particularly to church on Sundays.

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7.1.24 New Year Celebrity

Young Africans Sports Club, commonly referred to as Yanga, is arguably the most successful football club in Tanzania. It has its roots in the Tanganyikan struggle for independence. In 2023, it won the Tanzania Premier League for the 27th time, and the club was ranked number 3 in African football. Its stadium holds 60,000 spectators, and it has a fan base of around 35 million.
Given all of that, it was to everyone’s surprise that Mayega Children’s Centre had a visit from Yanga’s president, Hersi Said. Mr Said is a civil engineer, and major Tanzanian businessman. It was an honour to receive him at Mayega, and it caused great excitement amongst the children. Many of them are Yanga supporters.
In recognition of the fine work being undertaken at the Centre, Engineer Said made a donation of 1,000,000 Tanzanian shillings to Busega Scotland (about £350). Many thanks go to him for his visit and kindness.