10.11.21 Kusafiri Newsletter 5

The journey around Lake Victoria began in May and continued
through until the end of October. We set ourselves some goals
To walk the full length of the lakeshore – 4368 miles
To receive sponsorship averaging £1 per mile
Make it an inclusive event with as many folks as possible joining in
How did we get on? The newsletter will reveal all!
But first a little bit about Mayega.
Mayega Village
This was start and end point of our virtual journey.
What is Mayega like? It is unremarkable and worthy of note at the
same time. The village is in a very rural location in northern Tanzania
on the road to the Kenyan border. It is like many other linear villages
along the tarmac and doesn’t even have a road sign announcing your
arrival!
But it was founded in 1974 as part of Julius Nyerere’s villagisation
programme. This was 10 years after independence and the first
president wanted to bring economic prosperity and welfare services
to rural areas. He believed that this could not be achieved with
thousands of small, scattered settlements and began a programme
of consolidating villages and moving families into larger settlements.
This was the birth of Mayega as we know it today.

The national programme failed but Mayega grew into 7 sub villages
with a population of about 2,500 people in around 500 households.
The village has a primary school, dispensary, and the office of the
village executive officer, representing local government. There is a
village council made up of a chairperson from each of the sub
villages.
The village had a piped water supply in later part of last century, but
this had fallen into disrepair. The work of Busega Scotland and
partners, notably Busega District Council and Rotary, re-established
and developed a piped water system from 2018 and earlier this year
the government rural electrification programme brought mains
electricity.
The Mayega area is very dry despite being on the shore of Lake
Victoria and fishing and subsistence farming are the mainstays of the
local economy. Both are hazardous pursuits, hippo and crocodile
attacks and storms on the lake and unreliable rains, sometimes too
little and then too much. Cop 26 may not know it, but climate change
is and will surely impact further on the fragile life of Mayega.

Did we complete the journey Kusafiri Nyanza?
First, a roll of honour and tribute to the 17 people who took part.
Surely, we met our participation goal!
Most was by walking, but one person did cycle also. Some folks made
a phenomenal effort with incredible distances covered, and we thank
everyone for doing all that they could.
Over 1000 miles – Judy and Peter
Over 500 miles – Jenny, Margaret, and Chris
Over 200 miles – Friedhelm, Cenzo, and John
1 to 3 days on John Muir Way – Jordyn, Anne, Marion, Andy, Mark,
Luca, Ronaldo, Maura, and Mike. The total distance covered was an
incredible 5364 miles or about 1.25 times around the lake.
We did it – hongera sana – many congratulations.

Our travellers have been ‘aw ways’ and we asked Chris Petrie and
Jenny Wallen a little bit about their walking. Yes, they did both walk
500 miles.
My name is Chris and I retired from my job in health and social care
almost 2 years ago to spend more time with my family. Currently I
look after my youngest grandchildren to enable my daughter to
return to work.
Family is so important to me, and children are the future, and I feel so
lucky to be able to contribute in some way to their lives. I am
conscious that not all children are as fortunate as mine to have
access to much of what we take for granted such as safe housing and
access to education. I feel in some small way supporting Busega
Scotland to raise much needed funds through this walk is both
rewarding and good for my personal wellbeing.
Most of my walks have been done with family and friends and I am so
lucky that I live in a diverse area in which to enjoy the scenery and
wildlife around me. Walks of interest have been on the beach at
Lossiemouth where I was lucky to see the P8 Poseidon coming into
land. Torrieston woods and the wetlands are other favourites, we
often see deer and birds while walking round the area
I am Jenny Wallen, long term friend of John and Christine and fellow

Garmouth resident. I became a trustee of Busega Scotland a few
years ago. I have visited Mayega Children’s Centre twice.
I took part in Kusafiri Nyanza mainly to help raise some funds. I
walked around my local area of Garmouth, including a few longer
walks along the Moray Coastal Trail (Cullen, Sunnyside Beach,
Covesea, Lossiemouth and Hopeman being my favourite routes).
I went up to the north-west coast and walked around the Smoo Bay
area. Spectacular area and amazing geology, the rocky history of the
planet all around. I went to North Berwick and Dunbar and walked
along the coast with two old travelling friends, so lots of reminiscing
of youthful adventures. I walked around Edinburgh, and up Arthur’s
Seat, again. It was mobbed at the top, for good reason. It’s such a
fantastic view.
All four of my main walking areas relate the earth’s geology
graphically. I hope our species can avoid a climate catastrophe, but if
we can’t I think our planet is robust enough to mend itself.
Did we make our sponsorship goal?
To travel 4368 miles seemed a tall order back in May but raising£4368 for Mayega Children’s Centre was an even more daunting
challenge. But we needn’t have worried as our travellers and their
supporters came up trumps. We have raised not £1 per mile but an
incredible £1.28 per mile and a grand total of £5609.
A heartfelt thanks to all who have contributed.
Let us return to the lake and plot our journey in detail through the
following link https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1Cpzzzpxf-D-sS3OazW_v01F7jrHCotVs&ll=- 1.086505134587416%2C32.62274726562502&z=8

and then end with a quote from Tanzania’s first president, who is still
revered by his people today, and goes by title ‘Mwalimu’ or
‘Teacher’. He was a graduate of the University of Edinburgh in 1952.
A man is developing himself when he grows, or earns, enough to
provide decent conditions for himself and his family; he is not being
developed if someone gives him these things.
fAt Mayega Children’s Centre we aim to create that capacity for self-reliance in both the girls and the boys

 

 

 

28.5.21 Successful placements

Malesa and Jeremiah left Mayega Children’s Centre a year and a half ago to begin national certificate courses at Nyakato College in Mwanza. Quite a challenge for two young men who had just completed school and moved from a small rural village to the big city. They have done well in their studies; Malesa in welding and Jeremiah in electrical installation. They are now in their second year and have just completed field placements.
Malesa worked at the Songoro boatyard in Mwanza repairing fishing boats and other vessels from Lake Victoria. A tough job in hot conditions, wearing protective clothing. Jeremiah was working outside in Busega District attaching electrical wires to posts as part of a government programme to connect isolated communities to the national grid. He was placed with TANESCO, the Tanzania Electrical Supply Corporation.
Congratulations to both for their hard work and commitment to making a future for themselves.

5.5.21 Kiltwalk

25th April was a beautiful spring day when Cenzo Main, Pete Anderson, Dave Cameron and John Carney completed 13.7 miles for their half marathon Kiltwalk. The route was close to the lower reaches of the River Spey, near to the Carneys home village of Garmouth. A truly beautiful part of the world and a great day was had by all.
The photos show: Pete and Dave after receiving their shuka sashes. This is the highest walking accolade bestowed by Busega Scotland! The about halfway tea break. Drinks at the finish, followed by pizza and apricot cake prepared by Christine Carney (now you know what the motivation was!). And finally, John with his cherished Kiltwalk medal!
Many, many thanks go to all who contributed to the magnificent sponsorship of £3360. When the Hunter Foundation added their 50% contribution of £1679 (a unique feature of the Kiltwalk) the total reached £5039. Absolutely fantastic!
Overall, the Kiltwalk raised £6,105,000 for 1015 Scottish charities. The really beautiful characteristic of the Hunter Foundation’s support is that their support goes to charities ordinary people care about and is not philanthropy directed to the preferred good causes of the rich and influential. The Kiltwalk is grassroots.

4.5.21 Play in to Help Out

We would like to say a big thank you to all our friends who took part in Play in to Help Out and its various activities. The event was concluded at a Presentation Evening on 10th April. The quiz answers were revealed, a talk was given on the difference Busega Scotland is making in Tanzania and the raffle drawn.
The quiz was won by Jenny and Rob Wallen. They were later presented with a bottle of bubbly by Andy Lees, of Lees Wealth Management, who kindly donated the champagne. Many thanks to Andy and congratulations to Jenny and Rob.
A Mayega Shuka was the unique prize in the raffle. It was won by Stepnen Ambu, an old friend of John Carney from his university days in the mid seventies. Stephen lives in Kuala Lumpur. He said of the shuka, ‘very beautiful. I will treasure it always. Will now have to move to a cold climate!’. The shuka has arrived in Malaysia and Stephen is shown ‘modelling’ it!
A shuka is a traditional African garment. The Mayega Shuka pattern was developed by the children at Mayega Children’s Centre and the pure new wool cloth produced at the historic Knockando Woolmill in Speyside, Scotland. Only 40 were made and we have a small number left to sell at £95. All of the sale price goes towards the work of Busega Scotland. If you would like one or to read the backstory of the Mayega Shuka please email busegascotland@gmail.com .

5.5.21 Too much water

The northern part of Tanzania is a place of contrasts when it comes rain. For large parts of the year there is little or none and in the rainy seasons there can be too much – mvua nyingi. This has had two recent consequences for Busega Scotland.
A torrential downpour overwhelmed the drains outside the house which John and Christine use when they are in Mwanza. It was flooded with muddy water but luckily not the adjacent office. Busega Scotland staff, Julieth, Kabula and Gadlord cleaned up the mess. Many thanks to them for that. Work has also gone on outside to clear the blocked drains and we hope for no recurrence.
At Mayega, the garden at the Children’s Centre is coming on well with aubergines, tomatoes, spinach and okra. The excess rain is not helping some of the plants and they are looking a bit yellow. Let’s hope they recover well. In Tanzania water is more often the master than the servant.

10.4.21 Repairs and more repairs

Sod’s law says that when something can go wrong it will go wrong. Well, Mayega has had a run of bad luck and it has been in a three.
Firstly, dear Susi broke the frame of her glasses. In double quick time they were sent to Mwanza for repair. We know the optician well and he knows Susi. His name is Mr Huruma, which is the Swahili word for ‘compassion’. Living up to his name, and with great generosity, he made a spare pair of glasses for Susi free of charge. Thank you, Mr Huruma.
Shortly afterwards, a very violent storm hit the Children’s Centre and damaged the supports for the solar panel on the school room roof along with the iron sheeting. There could be no delay in sorting this out as we feared water damage to the plasterboard ceiling panels. In the same storm the roof or the woodstore was all but ripped off.
We have a good system for responding to the unexpected. We receive a payment request, along with an estimate, from Tanzania colleagues and this is then authorised before funds are removed from our Mwanza bank. As the city is 80 miles from the Children’s Centre cash is sent through mobile phones in a system generally called Mpesa. It is cheap and efficient and equivalent to our bank to bank transfer and ideal for rural locations. We have a very good fundi (tradesman), Mr Deus, who we can call upon to do much of our maintenance work. Through this system emergencies call be dealt with very quickly despite the distances involved.

4.4.21 Closer to nature

Folk in rural Tanzania have a close relationship with the forces of nature. Fishermen on Lake Victoria contend with violent storms, farmers fear drought and flood, and the possibilities of hunger and destitution are there for many people. Families have to be resilient.
The children at Mayega Children’s Centre connect with the natural world – in our vegetable garden, by growing many young trees and bushes to improve the environment, and through keeping chickens. These are not just chores or interests but life skills that may be needed in the future.
One of the boys, Paschali, has particular interests. He keeps pigeons (‘for looking, not eating’, as he once memorably said), looks after Floppy, the Centre’s puppy, and has now started growing seedlings in his tree garden. This remarkable youngster would like to be a wildlife ranger. There is strong competition for places on the national course but the wonderful thing is that Paschali has that aspiration.
Years ago the children at Mayega had no belief in their future. Adults were letting them down and they had no trust. How that has changed under Busega Scotland and it is one of the things we are most grateful for. The congratulations go to the staff and children at the Centre because it is they who have made it become a place of hope.

04.04.21 Play in to help out

Play in to Help Out is up and running!

Busega Scotland’s African-themed activities week is underway.

We have a number of Goody Bags available that you can receive by emailing busegascotland@gmail.com

The activities include:

Goody Bag 1 – Children’s Writing and Drawing Competitions with prizes

Goody Bag 2 – Leisure Activities – African Music, Film, and Street Food Recipes.

Goody Bag 3 – Storybooks 1 & 2 from our People and Places Project

Goody Bag 4 – Champagne Quiz

Please note that there are return dates of Friday 9th April for the Quiz and Children’s Competitions.

It would be great if as many folks as possible could join us by Zoom on Saturday 10th April at 7pm for our one-hour Presentation Evening. We will be providing the quiz answers, announcing winners of the competitions, giving a short talk on ‘Busega Scotland – making a difference’ and launching ‘Kusafiri Nyanza’, our activity and well being event running throughout the summer. Here is the link:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87319250091?pwd=WjB0dFhZOE9wdXRLTGswRFlDYlp3QT09

Everyone joining in Play in to Help Out will be entered into our Mayega Shuka Raffle.

7.3.21First meetings

Julieth Godwin has been working with women in Mayega and Mikuyuni villages to establish two new groups, following our Sharing Christmas appeal last year. Julieth’s role is to assess women recommended to her by local leaders to see if their circumstances lend themselves to participating. The aim is to support women with dependent children who are burdened by low incomes. The loans provided through vicobas (village community banks) set up in partnership with the groups provides a modest opportunity for women to grow their small businesses.
As Julieth said about her assessments, ‘I am always looking at the whole family situation, such as what kind of house they have, do they have valuables in their home, are they residents of the area and what is their economic status? Is it a family having a woman with a big responsibility for caring?  Is she doing all the work of earning at least a family income?  This can be proof enough that this woman should be included in our project’. The assessment is a skilled job that is aided by a family circumstances questionnaire but a lot depends on Julieth’s experience and judgement.
Both groups have had their first meetings and Julieth will monitor attendance, group functioning and members’ savings into the vicoba before making the first Busega Scotland capital payment. If all goes well three payments will be made over a period of a year. The capital donation is equivalent to £25 per woman and groups have about 30 members.