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.

5.11.23 Call for Mr Deus

Mayega Children’s Centre needs a lot of TLC! The buildings, that is. The edge of Lake Victoria is a harsh environment. It can be desert-like for much of the year, with relentless sun, and then in the wet seasons, violent storms. This takes its toll on our infrastructure, alongside the normal maintenance jobs you may expect at any children’s home.
We have had a very positive relationship with Mr Deus for many years. We call upon him when work needs doing. He seems to be able to turn his hand to almost anything and, when necessary, brings in other fundis (trades people) to help out. The photos show Mr Deus precariously repairing a roof, and his colleagues doing some tiling and mending a mosquito screen.

 

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5.11.23 They have walked 500 miles!

By the end of October Cenzo and John had walked over 500 miles in their quest to complete 1350 miles for Busega Scotland. The figure is their combined ages x the age of Busega Scotland in 2024 – our tenth anniversary. Most of their walking is done in Moray through the forests, along rivers and the sea coast. A constant reminder of what a gem their home area is.
Keeping going will become a little more tricky in the winter but our walkers are determined. Completing Kutembea Kubwa (the Great Trek) will mark our centenary along with other events that are in the planning,
May the wind be always at their backs.

28.10.23 Furaha katika umoja!

Happiness in unity! 27th October 2023 was a very happy day for the Umoja (Unity) Women’s Group in Mayega village. The group had gained registration with Busega District Council. This entitled them to receive a third grant from Busega Scotland, and completed our contribution to their VICOBA (group bank).
The Umoja group was formed in February 2022 and consists of 32 women. The first two grants paid by Busega Scotland totalled £645 (the third was £175). By the end of August the women had themselves generated an £880 in capital, through interest on business loans taken from the VICOBA and from their general savings. The crucial impact of Busega Scotland is the ‘seed corn’ capital we are able to provide, and that is then combined with the work of the women to grow their capital.
The VICOBA money is theirs and, as usual in our groups, after paying the third instalment Busega Scotland steps back. We promote independence not dependence.
The photos show the Umoja group with our supervisor Julieth Godwin (pink dress) and project leader Gadlord Deuli joining in the celebrations. Well done, Umoja!

3.10.23 Sixty-nine miles and Four Abbeys

A Busega Scotland team has successfully completed the 4 Abbeys Way in the Scottish Borders. 69 miles over 6 days, passing abbeys in Kelso, Jedburgh, Melrose, and Dryburgh. Magnificent countryside, hills and river valleys. Tough but very rewarding.
If you would like to sponsor the team’s efforts please use the Donate Now button above.
For more photos and information about the walk please email busegascotland@gmail.com .


11.9.23 Back to school

Our new A level students Elizabeth, Yohana and Pascali reported to their schools in August. They were allocated places by the Ministry of Education on the strength of their O level results. This is a major achievement in itself. Credit goes to the young people and to Busega Scotland’s teacher at Mayega, Mr Reni, who provides invaluable tutoring. He is second from the left in the photograph.
Elizabeth is studying English, Geography and History at Dutwa Secondary School.
The boys are at Minaki Secondary School. Yohana is studying Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics and Paschali is doing Chemistry, Biology and Geography.
They are government schools that have good reputations. Dutwa was opened in 1998. Manaki is much older, being the third oldest secondary school in Tanzania. Originally an Anglican mission school, it was taken over by the Tanzanian government in 1970.
Good luck to our students in their studies.

6.9.23 Kisundi to fly

Women’s groups in our Family Support Project receive grants from Busega Scotland in three instalments. These occur on the recommendation of our supervisor, Julieth Godwin, who works closely with the groups for a year. If all goes well the women then ‘fly’ themselves. They become independent and we withdraw. The final stage is to obtain Community-based Organisation status from their local authority. As registered groups, they become eligible for support such as training and government loans.
Kisundi became a CBO in July and will receive their final payment of £185 in September. The growth in their vicoba (group bank) is typical of what our groups achieve (we have facilitated twelve). Up to now Busega Scotland has donated £678 to Kisundi and the thirty-three women have added £736 through business loan interest payments and savings. The vicoba is a simple concept. The seed corn capital gives the women a chance to help themselves.

6.9.23 Familiar faces

Christine and John visited Tanzania in June, and amongst many delights met up with three young men who had lived at Mayega Children’s Centre, and then went to college through our Moving-on programme. They have taken very different career paths.
Lukondia has had two recent contracts in construction, and in the last job he was a health and safety officer.
His catchphrase was always, ‘I’m very serious’! Not a bad characteristic in health and safety. He has submitted numerous applications for new opportunities and is confident with his work record, and references, that he will be successful.
Then we met Hassan at his work. He and his team were putting in a ceiling in a house in the final stages of construction. His leadership qualities were evident at Mayega, in college, where he was student president, and now as the team leader. The quality of their work is widely known and they have been employed as far a field as Dar es Salaam.
Finally there was Joffrey. A very familiar face as he video calls John for football chats! Unfortunately, he doesn’t support the right team. His work is in sales for a large Tanzania telecoms provider. He sells sim cards and phone credit, a business for which there is much competition. Joffrey says Busega Scotland taught him to be hard working and self-reliant.
In the Tanzanian working environment all three of our young men have to be both of these.