24.12.20 : 2020 – a challenging but productive year

Here are the highlights:
None of our colleagues in Tanzania, or the children and young people we are responsible for, have been sick with Covid. We have an Action Plan in place to mitigate risks.
While the pandemic has prevented volunteers travelling to work in Tanzania, a positive consequence has been the increased responsibility taken by our Tanzanian staff.
Two new women’s groups have opened up with their own VICOBAs (village community banks) to help develop small businesses. We provide capital for the VICOBAs.
Much improvement and repair work has gone on at Mayega Children’s Centre. We are ready for mains electricity, have repaired windows, walls, plumbing system and the security fence – not glamorous but necessary.
Clear evidence of academic improvement for the Centre’s children (see the previous news item – Examination Success).
Two boys left Mayega and settled into life at college, training to be an electrician and welder.
The photograph shows Malesa in the welding shop at Nyakato College. Our Moving-on graduates are showing resilience and a great work ethic in finding jobs.
The Mayega Water Project has built toilets at Mayega Primary School, seven new water distribution points in the village (bringing the total number to 18) and is piloting a design for family toilets. The project benefited from Rotary Global Grant funding of $40,000 US.
The ownership of Mayega Children’s Centre passed to Busega District Council (BDC). We have a Memorandum of Understanding to run the Centre. This is a major step forward in assuring the Centre’s future.
Our work is well supported In Tanzania by the Council and other organisations. BDC provided capital to double the toilet capacity at the primary school, repaired the plumbing at the Children’s Centre and they are meeting two-thirds of the water bill.
There is much more to do in 2021 and we look forward to the many challenges that lie ahead.
Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year,
Keep safe and thank you for your support,

22.12.20 Examination success

The educational attainment of children at Mayega Children’s Centre has been improving steadily over the last couple of years. This is due to a combination of factors.
We employ Teacher Reni. His time is shared between the Centre and Mayega Primary School. Reni is supported by Patron (male care worker) Emma, who is also a trained early years teacher. They are backed-up by Trustee Jenny Wallen, a retired teacher from Moray. Jenny has travelled twice to Mayega, working directly with the children, Reni, Emma and the School. At other times, Jenny keeps in touch online.
The school room at the Centre is well resourced and houses a library and has many worksheets. The teachers are  able to provide targeted support. This has built a learning culture and a belief amongst the children that they can succeed.
Recent exam results bear this out. Elizabeth was 9th in her 3rd year exams at Kalemela Secondary School. Her year has in excess of a hundred pupils and girls traditionally don’t do well.
Our four S7 primary pupils all passed their secondary school entrance exams (x3 B grades and a C). Ibrahim was the best performing pupil at Mayega and first in all the schools in Kalemela ward. The photos show the celebrations at the Centre,
In the latest Mayega Primary School exams all our eleven children came in the top half of their classes, with some remarkable results. Two came first, three second, two seventh, one ninth, one fifteenth, one thirty-fifth and one seventy-seventh,
Congratulations to the pupils and their teachers.

11.12.20 Groups up and running

The covid pandemic slowed progress in setting up our 2020 women’s groups. But you can’t keep Busega Scotland down for long. We are delighted to report that the VICOBAs (village community banks) have received the first installments of capital in the villages of Isanzu and Mayega. This is the third group we have supported in or near the town of Igombe and the Mayega group is our debut in that village.
Busga Scotland’s commitment is £25 per woman paid in three installments. The first installment is paid after monitoring the progress of a group for 3 months. This includes checking payments by the women into their Afya (health) Fund and the General Fund, to get the VICOBA going. The Afya is to help cover medical costs for members’ families and the General Fund provides business development loans. The VICOBA grows through interest on the loans and by further payments for afya and into general savings. After twelve months, if all is going well, Busega Scotland withdraws and the groups become independent. All the capital in the VICOBA belongs to the women members.
The VICOBA balances for the two groups were as follows, when the first payments were made by Busega Scotland:
Isanzu – 32 women –  Afya Fund £40 & General Fund £120
Mayega – 31 women – Afya Fund £32 & General Fund £120
Our 2020 Christmas Appeal is open to raise funds for a group next year (please scroll down to the article on 21 11 20 Sharing Christmas). It is possible to donate online through the Donate Now button on the website.

25.11.20 Working together

Busega Scotland and Busega District Council (MDC) have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in place to describe their responsibilities towards Mayega Children’s Centre. In summary, MDC are the owners of the Centre (having taken over this year from a defunct local organisation) and Busega Scotland run the Centre on behalf of the Council. One very important aspect of life for the children is the availability of running water. As recently as 2018 it was carried in buckets from Lake Victoria, a hazardous pursuit to collect dirty water. MDC has worked with Busega Scotland and other partners to bring mains water to Mayega village and the Centre.
The Council shares the cost of the water used by the children. MDC pay two-thirds of the cost and Busega Scotland one-third. Having such help allows us to have a kitchen garden as well as reducing our overall costs.. The total bill is about £150 per month. The Council have also been making repairs to facilities in the Centre – toilet cisterns and sinks. An additional standpipe has been installed to allow water to be drawn easily from the large storage tank if the mains supply is interrupted. Such support is really encouraging and appreciated.

21.11.20 Sharing Christmas

Busega Scotland is launching its first ever Christmas appeal to help support a new women’s group in 2021.
Despite Covid restrictions, two groups have been established in 2020, bringing the total to six groups with about 180 women and families involved. At the heart of each group is a VICOBA (Village Community Bank). Busega Scotland provides capital and the women grow their assets by taking loans, paying interest, and using the VICOBA for savings. The loans are for developing small family businesses and emergencies, particularly medical problems. This helps to keep family finances stable.
Busega Scotland has a dedicated worker for Family Support, Julieth Godwin, who assesses the women and the functioning of the group before any capital is paid into a VICOBA. The amount paid is £25 per woman which, in a group of 30 women, totals £750, paid in three installments.Sharing Christmas is seeking donations of £25 to meet the cost of places in the group. All the money received will be paid into the VICOBA.
If you would like to donate, then this can be done through the Donate Now button on the website or for more information (we have prepared online leaflets) please email [email protected] . Please let us know if you do donate so we can send you a thank you note and keep you informed of the group’s progress.
Please tell your family, friends and colleagues about Sharing Christmas.

10.11.20 Major repairs

Everyone loves before and after pictures. Even better are before, during and after.
Busega Scotland has been doing a lot of repair and maintenance at Mayega Children’s Centre. This has included the stove and chimney in the kitchen, the security fence and the septic tank. It has to be said that the work (of which some would be expected) is a result of the harsh climate (extreme heat and torrential rain), poor materials and dubious workmanship.
However, we have found a fundi, Mr Deus, who is excellent in solving our various practical problems. He has been fixing the foundations and walls at the side and back of the dormitory. The repairs have been completed, re-painting finished and, most importantly, the work inspected by matron, Leya Lusana. Job done.

Back at it 10.11.20

It is not only the US that has been gripped with election fever. Tanzania went to the polls on 28th October, when the incumbent president, John Pombe Magafuli, was re-elected with a landslide victory, gaining 84% of the vote. There were claims of voting irregularities and international bodies critical of the election. Nevertheless, Dr Magafuli has been sworn-in for his second term. The Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Party of the Revolution has won the five previous elections and is the second-longest ruling party in Africa. They have effectively been in charge since independence in 1961.
The elections cause significant disruption as the country moves into election mode. There are interparty tensions and the population worries about political violence. People often stay at home until after the inauguration and tension reduces. Busega Scotland had its weekly staff meeting by WhatsApp, connecting up Mwanza with John and Christine. Pastor Deuli, Kabula and Julieth were in fine form, as plans were made for future work in what is a very busy agenda.

10.11.20 Making up for lost time

       All colleges and schools in Tanzania were closed for about 3 to 4 months from late February.

For our two first year students at Nyakato College, Malesa and Jeremiah, this meant that alternative accommodation had to be found. We decided it was safer to return them to Mayega village rather than seek rooms in the city, where exposure to Corona was more prevalent. We could not accommodate the boys at the Children’s Centre, as they were too old to be there. Places were found with local people known to Centre staff.

Having effectively missed a full term at college, we were concerned how Malesa and Jeremiah would settle down and make up the lost time. Their response, and that of the college has been excellent. On reopening, the college increased the teaching week to 6 days, altered the timetable to add another 2 hours to each day and shortened college holidays.  The students are following national vocational courses and preparing for set examination dates.

Malesa is studying welding and Jeremiah electrical installation and both are doing well. Malesa would like to find employment in the Mwanza boat yards, building and maintaining vessels. Jeremiah’s hope is to find suitable electrical work as the electricity supply is expanding into Tanzania’s rural areas.

22.10.20 Recognition

Julieth Godwin is Busega Scotland’s Assistant Project Leader. She has special responsibility for women’s groups and supporting young people who have left Mayega Children’s Centre and are living in the community. She has great energy and people skills.
This has been recognised outside of Busega Scotland. Julieth has three children, with two of them attending Pendo Primary School.The school is in a group of three (with 767 pupils) and there is a combined parents’ council. Julieth was elected chair of the council as parents know she will speak up on their behalf.
The Standard 7 pupils had a recent graduation celebration and Julieth was amongst the invited guests. The guest of honour was the District Commissioner, who is the local representative of the President. Julieth is pictured at the ceremony, first on the right in the front row. Congratulations to her.

22.10.20 Care and commitment

 

Susie arrived at Mayega Children’s Centre a couple of years ago with no real sight and had never been to school. She has travelled from Mayega to the Kilimanjaro Medical Centre (KCMC) in Moshi on five occasions and has had multiple eye operations. The round trip by bus each time is over 1,000 miles. She is a very positive girl.

Susie’s trust in the Children’s Centre and hospital staff is remarkable. Her rock through all the KCMC travails has been the Centre’s matron, Leya Lusana. Leya’s commitment to Susie is total. The photo shows them on the bus in Mwanza in the early morning, about to depart for Moshi.

On this last trip aids were provided to assist Susie at school. The telescope is to help see the blackboard and the magnifying glass for close-up work.

Susie’s story has generated a lot of support, including a concert to raise funds and individual donations. Her bravery and spirit inspires people. The annual review at KCMC is already in the diary. Leya and Susie will set off for Moshi again next October. The care she receives through Busega Scotland gives a vulnerable child hope for the future and we will be there every step of the way.