BTS NEWSLETTER www.btsociety.org www.tanzdevtrust.org January 2015 Volume 13 Issue Volume 13 Issue No 1 Hongera! We ve passed the 70,000 and can hope that by Christmas we can end the Appeal with more than 75,000. Thanks to all who have helped. THE SAFE HOUSE AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE ARE BUILT- Well, almost! By the end of November, when the FGM Cutting season begins in Mara, Mama Rhobi the Project leader tells us that 80 girls fleeing FGM will come for sanctuary to the Safe House. They will find that the buildings of the Safe House and Vocational Training Centre (VTC) are complete, although the VTC will not open until January. Donations have come from France, Germany (where two girls gave their pocket money), the USA (especially the Friends of Tanzania), and England. Here people have dug deep into their pockets, held special evenings, run fell races, sold their art work and ceramics, bought cards and artefacts and taken Mama Rhobi and this project into their hearts. Several Trusts have donated most generously; more than 280 individuals have given through Global Giving and Just Giving. In all we have now been able to transfer around 70,000 to Mara Diocese. But we haven t finished and especially Rhobi s friends in Bamford Chapel in Rochdale are going on fund-raising right through December see page 11 Mama Rhobi was here in late September and for three weeks in October- but, she nearly wasn t! Her Visa was refused by our Government even though she was due to speak in the House of Commons! A massive campaign was mounted over a week with more than 30 MPs and ministers being contacted and the Government gave in. Rhobi s tour was a huge success. She covered 700 miles, spoke to 17 different groups in London and the Home Counties, Yorkshire, Lancashire and Worcestershire and to schools, churches, Soroptimists, a university and in Portcullis House of the House of Commons and raised over 9,000 to date, with some more contributions to come. So that s it then? Done and Dusted? Well, not quite See page 13
Page 2 Bridge2Aid BTS Newsletter January 2o15 BTS member Mark Topley writes: What drives the Bridge2Aid vision forward is the welfare of children like Dayness and that of the literally millions of people in Tanzania and across East Africa who woke up in dental pain Hidden Suffering It s early morning in Karagwe, Kagera Region in March 2014. Dayness, an eight year old girl, arrives at a rural dispensary in agony. Her father has spent more than a day s wage on the transport to get there, such is his desperation to help his young daughter. She has been in pain for many months constant, excruciating pain - unable to sleep at night, unable to eat properly, unable to attend school. And she isn t alone - there are more than 300 other people who have arrived hoping to get relief from their pain. This is a community racked by the untreated effects of the world s most common disease dental caries. Dental pain is among the most debilitating, constant, and excruciating conditions known to man. Anyone who has ever suffered knows the pain, and how it is quite unlike any other. What we aren t always aware of is just how much of a significant financial, social and academic impact it has if not dealt with promptly. Whilst in the UK there is ready access to affordable emergency dental services, in rural communities of Tanzania there is no such access, and people live with acute dental pain for months and years. And in an increasing number of severe cases, where the infection is not adequately treated in time, toothache can kill. An American NGO working in Sengerema District reports an average of one death a month simply because the patient could not find access in the rural area where they live, to a simple tooth extraction. And whilst it may be a dream to place a dentist in every health centre, that solution remains unaffordable at the level of technical expertise and equipment that modern dentistry requires. And so what Dayness, her family, and millions of her fellow Tanzanians living in rural areas need, is simple access to safe emergency treatment within reach of their homes. 10 years ago, Bridge2Aid, a small British NGO, in partnership with the Tanzanian Government, developed a means to provide sustainable access to essential emergency dental pain relief in the rural areas. The model tackles the issue sustainably, through the training of existing rural community health workers (Clinical Officers COs), enabling them to provide simple dental pain relief and oral health education. We also provide the equipment and resources to treat patients after training. Each CO serves a rural population of around 10,000 people, and training is provided by volunteer dentists from the UK, who fund their own trips. Since 2004, the training programme has had fantastic results, training over 310 COs through 61 training programmes. COs respond well to training, with 92% passing the course on first attempt, working 1:1 with their qualified dentist trainer. To operate training courses, we offer a free clinic in a rural dispensary, and these clinics have now treated more than 27,000 people. But this can be more than doubled every year by the COs treating patients in their Health Centres and Dispensaries when they return to work where protocols are followed and good leadership exists, Bridge2Aid-trained COs can treat 300-500 patients each per year. The result for the community is huge - patients no longer have to travel long distances for simple treatments around 92% of dental problems can be treated immediately.
BTS Newsletter May 2o14 Bridge2Aid Achievements of Bridge2Aid (contd.) Only 8% require referral to dentally qualified personnel in the District Hospital. And the treatment they receive is of good quality - of patients that visited a Bridge2Aidtrained CO, 94% were satisfied or very satisfied with the service. There is good news for the qualified dentists that do exist in the District Hospitals as well. By having a Bridge2Aid-trained CO in post, the numbers of dental referrals from rural clinics to district dental facilities is typically reduced by 80%. To support Bridge2Aid go to www.bridge2aid.org Miscellanoeus Page 3 Kew and Tanzania Links Kew is on the cusp of renewing its agreement with the Ministry of Natural Resources & Tourism in Tanzania which formally ended in 2010, to allow for an extension of The Millennium Seed Project, a seed collecting and plant conservation effort. It also has other collaborative projects underway including the Afromontane Plant Conservation Project (the East African Mountains are a globally recognized biodiversity hotspot with many unique and threatened species) and the Flora of the Serengeti Ecosystem. Timothy Pearce, Kew International Programme Co-ordinator. Future of Tanzania s Maasai The president of Tanzania has pledged never to evict the Maasai people after an international outcry against plans to turn their ancestral land into a commercial hunting ground for Arab royalty. The promise tweeted by President Jakaya Kikwete "There has never been, nor will there ever be, any plan by the government of Tanzania to evict the Maasai people from their ancestral land" was hailed by the Avaaz global activist group after a two-year fight during which 2.3 million people signed a petition against the proposal. https://secure.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_the_maasai_2014_uk/?bxyfkab&v=48738 Maasai representatives also welcomed the announcement but struck a note of caution, we will only feel safe when we have permanent rights to our land in writing. Miscellaneous: Requests for information Did you live in Dar es Salaam in the 1960s or 1970s? As part of my PhD research, I am looking to interview anyone, whether Tanzanian, British, or otherwise, with experience of life in the city during the period, especially people who had some contact with politicians, diplomats, the media, or other public figures. If you would be happy to speak to me, please get in touch at george.roberts@warwick.ac.uk Many thanks. George Roberts PhD candidate in History, University of Warwick Did you know of Mary Hancock? I am an historian of Tanzania on the faculty at the University of Wisconsin in the USA. I am currently conducting research on Christian women in Dar es Salaam during the Ujamaa years. I have conducted numerous interviews with Tanzanian women over the past several years about their work, their activism and their advocacy. One of the names that keep coming up is Mary Hancock, who I believe taught at the prestigious Tabora Girls School and was an important figure in what some call the Christian Women's Movement. The women I have spoken with speak very fondly of her, and cite her as an important influence in their lives. I know that, sadly, Mary Hancock passed away many years ago. But I am wondering whether it is possible for me to learn more about her life's work. I would love to chat with family members, for example, if any are interested in telling me about her career in Tanzania. I am also very curious to know whether she has any papers that have been deposited in any library or archive. Any guidance on this matter would be very much appreciated. ejcallaci@wisc.edu Emily Callaci, Assistant Professor, Department of History, University of Wisconsin-Madison Were you involved with the Groundnut Scheme? http://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/britain-abandons-groundnuts-scheme "I am working with a tv production company, Gig House Films, on a documentary about the Groundnut Scheme, which was the subject of my post-graduate dissertation at Oxford. We are interested in interviewing anyone who might have been involved in the Scheme (and, realistically given the time elapsed, anyone whose parents might have been involved), with a view to using their recollections in the documentary. I was wondering whether the Society might be able to help track down some relevant people for interviewing" If this could be you, please get in touch with Charles Scott at charlesscott575@btinternet.com
Page 4 Swahili and Health Matters BTS Newsletter January 2105 HESPERIAN is a well-known publisher of community-level health materials (e.g "Where there is no doctor") and has now created a central place where you can find their community health guides and other materials in Kiswahili. You can also share your own flyers, posters, and other adaptations of their health materials. If you would like to get involved or learn more about this initiative at http://hesperian.org/booksand-resources/resources-in-swahili or contact Hesperian at hesperian@hesperian.org Below is an extract from their website in Kiswahili and English Nyenzo katika Kiswahili Karibuni wote kwenye Tovuti ya Nyenzo na Machapisho ya Kiafya Katika Lugha ya Kiswahili. Shirika la Hesperian kwa kushirikiana na COBIHESA na wadau wengine wa kujitolea linaanzisha Tovuti Moja mahali ambapo unaweza kupata miongozo yetu kwa jamii juu ya afya na nyenzo zingine za afya katika Kiswahili. Unaweza pia kuweka katika Tovuti hii machapisho na nyenzo zako mbalimbali za kuendeleza afya ya jamii kama vile vipeperushi, mabango, na vingine ambavyo umetengeneza kutokana na miongozo yetu ili kuwashirikisha na kuwanufaisha wengine. Iwapo unataka kushiriki au kujifunza zaidi juu ya juhudi hii, tafadhali wasiliana nasi kupitia hesperian@hesperian.org Resources in Swahili Welcome to the Swahili language hub. Hesperian is working with COBIHESA and other volunteers to create a central place where you can find our community health guides and other materials in Swahili. You can also share your own flyers, posters, and other adaptations of our health materials if you would like to get involved or learn more about this initiative, please contact us at hesperian@hesperian.org World AIDS Day 1 December, 2014 As of 2013, AIDS has killed more than 36 million people worldwide (1981-2012), and an estimated 35.3 million people are living with HIV, making it one of the most important global public health issues in recorded history. Despite recent improved access to antiretroviral treatment in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claims an estimated 2 million lives each year, of which about 270,000 are children. In 2011 an estimated 1.6 million Tanzanians were living with HIV/AIDS, with 1.3 million being age 15 or older. Based on 2011 data, AIDS has resulted in an estimated 1.3 million orphaned children This short piece is an introduction to an article published in Femina magazine (May-July 2004). The English translation is provided courtesy of Donovan McGrath about a child orphaned from AIDS in Tanzania. AIDS is known as UKIMWI in Kiswahili (Ukosefu wa kinga mwilini) Kuwatunza watoto wetu Kama walivyo watoto wengine, watoto walioathiriwa au kuathirika na VVU/UKIMWI wana haki zote kama watoto. Wanahitaji kupendwa na kutunzwa ili waweze kuishi kwa raha. Irene Andrew, mtoto mwenye miaka 11 ambaye kwa mapenzi yake mwenyewe ameamua kutangaza kuwa anaishi na virusi vya UKIMWI, anasema kuwa alikuwa akijisikia vibaya sana wakati wenzake shuleni walipokuwa wakimtenga na kumnyooshea vidole kwamba ana virusi vya UKIMWI. Free Swahili lessons As advertised in previous newsletters, several BTS members have all generously offered to assist members with some informal lessons and conversations. These could be one-to-one via Skype or in person, or in small groups, perhaps at a local coffee shop. If you are interested in learning or practising Swahili, contact Rachel Lindley rachel.lindley@gmail.com Caring for our children Like other children, children who have been effected or affected with the AIDS virus have all the rights as children. They need to be loved and cared for so they can live happily. Irene Andrew, an 11 year-old child who, by her own love and affection, has decided to announce that she is living with the AIDS virus, saying that she was feeling bad about herself when her peers had singled her out, pointing fingers at her because she has the AIDS virus. GROLY2GOD by Willie Fulton This is the motto displayed proudly on the back of a fleet of daladalas in Mbeya. It has puzzled me for a long time. Is 'groly' some strange Nyakyusa word? It does not look as though it has Bantu roots. Then the riddle was solved. The penny dropped. How many of us have seen in schools a room designated as ' riblaly' or Liblary' or even ' Ribraly' - all being improvisations by the sign writer for the Maktaba - the Library. So, yes, the fleet of daladalas are putting their faith in the 'Glory to God
BTS Newsletter January 2015 TDT news Page 5 Asante Mama A special report from TDT Committee member Dan Cook I have just returned from a trip to Tanzania, the highlight of which was undoubtedly my two day stay in the rural village of Ughandi B about 45km north east of Singida Town. TDT has recently agreed to fund two staff houses for a health dispensary that is being constructed in the village, so the primary purpose of my visit was to meet the project manager, Abraham N geni, and find out how the project is progressing. However my experience proved much broader than this and has given me a better appreciation of the challenges of daily life in a poor rural village in Tanzania. My hosts were Abraham s parents, Mzee N geni and Mama Rosemary and they quickly proved to me that there is nothing like the hospitality given by those who have very little. Mzee N geni is in his late seventies and retired at the age of 55 from his civil service role in the weights and measures department. He was one of those drafted in to fill bureaucratic roles left vacant by the British following independence in the 1960s. This role had provided him, and later his wife and growing family, a respectable middle class life, being posted to various cities across the country as documented in his family photograph album. Retirement however proved cruel as the financial crisis in Tanzania in the 1980s and early 1990s meant that all pension provision was scrapped, leaving the family to fend for itself. As a bachelor in his early thirties, Mzee N geni had prayed that he might meet a suitable wife and his prayers were answered when he met beautiful sixteen year old Rosemary, who had come to live nearby to help relatives with domestic duties. They were soon married and Abel, the first of their twelve children was born soon afterwards. They consider themselves blessed to still have ten children, but speak emotionally of one stillborn child and their beloved son who died aged fourteen from a heart condition. Mama Rosemary proved to me how hard the rural women work, getting up at 4am to start her daily duties. This involved provision of water for drinks and washing, chopping the firewood to fuel her tiny kitchen, preparing and cooking the food, cleaning the modest house, yard and chickens and doing the laundry. But somehow, Mama Rosemary still had time to make me welcome, host the various house callers who visited and looking after various young children from the village. I quickly came to regard her as my African mother. As we chatted late into the evening, poor Mama found it difficult to keep her eyes open, but still loved this communal time as many of her chores involved her working on her own. The family wealth consisted of four cows and a single sheep, which slept in a small byre on the other side of the yard from the house. These had formed part of the bride price Mzee N geni had received for the recent marriage of one of his daughters. Some of them had already been slaughtered to feed the guests at the going away celebration following the wedding. These larger animals were clearly the responsibility of the Mzee, while caring for the collection of free range chickens formed part of Mama Rosemary s many duties. It seemed incredible that the livestock found enough fodder to sustain themselves in this semi-arid landscape, especially towards the end of the dry season which was just drawing to a close during my visit. Mzee N geni also kept three beehives, two local log hives hanging in a tree on his 2 acre garden plot and a third which had taken up residence in an old chest of drawers in the larder! Local beekeeping in Tanzania is not for the faint hearted and the previous larder colony had to be exterminated having killed the family dog and terrorized the village. When harvesting the honey, no protective clothing is used, but Mzee told me that getting two hundred stings is just the price you have to pay for the delicious honey. The N geni family provided me with a truly humbling experience and, as I departed, the lump in my throat was testament to the fact that they had captured my heart. Asante sana. 5
Page 6 TDT News BTS Newsletter September 2015 Reports from TDT on some recently completed projects Fish ponds in Kagera region. Project Officer: Aseri Katanga Kasheshe village in Kagera region was allocated 3397.00 in 2012 for the construction of three fish ponds and purchase of 5,000 fingerlings (young fish) to start the project. Now after two years, the results are remarkable. Not only do these people have enough fish to eat, but they are able to sell some surplus and use that money to take their children to school and pay for health insurance for their families. This is for the first time in history, Karagwe have been able to get fresh fish from their own locality. Thanks to TDT. Kasulu Youth Development: Makere Vocational Training Centre Kigoma region Project Officer: Philippa Grant KAYD have had a very successful year and to a large extent their progress has been due to the money given by TDT and the David Anderson Trust (DAAT). The funding provided by DAAT for trainer salaries has enabled KAYD to invest in several other activities to provide better facilities for the students. As was said in a recent report this 'will attract more students to enrol for courses in the future'. KAYD completed building the boys dormitory with money from TDT, and then used money that would have been spent on salaries to build a dining hall, 3 new toilets, a well and wash room. They have also managed to buy new equipment and tools, particularly for the woodwork section of the vocational training centre. They are now in the process of procuring reconditioned second hand tools through Crossroads, Hong Kong. By the end of year 40 students will have had training at Makere Vocational Training Centre, some of them having their fees subsidised by money saved from the DAAT salary payment. Without this, they would not have been able to afford to attend. As it is, those students graduating now have the opportunity to seek work or set up their own small businesses knowing they have the competent skills required. To cope with anticipated increase in students next year, KAYD are seeking to employ another trainer before the end of the year. This is very much in line with KAYD's mission to provide youth with a training and possibility of future employment, and would have been impossible without DAAT/TDT support. Regular monitoring and follow up has ensured that this appropriate allocation of funds by KAYD has produced the very successful outcomes for the students and staff. Riders for Health, Mtwara region. Project Officer: Ron Fennell In 2004 TDT made a grant of 5000 for the purchase and maintenance of a motor cycle supporting a rural health project in Masasi Diocese. Six nurses use motor cycles to provide outreach health care in remote villages. Thanks to the maintenance system developed by Riders for Health (a UK NGO) all the bikes are still in good condition. The project has proven to be successful in bringing health care and health education to many remote villages in Lindi and Mtwara regions. Earlier this year TDT made a grant of 2200 to purchase replacement clothing for the nurses as the protective clothing originally provided essential for the rough terrain in which the nurses travel - is wearing out. After prolonged delays in clearing the goods through Dar es Salaam port, the uniforms arrived in Masasi on 17th November and are being used by Edmund, Magdalene, Dismas, Stephen and Judith - the team of nurses that implement the programme. Liz and Ron Fennell plan to visit the project early in 2015. Further reports and photos are expected soon. 6
BTS Newsletter January 2015 TDT News Page 7 Solar power lighting Miswaki Secondary School. Simiyu region. Project Officer: Tony Janes. Report from Mr.Shingisha Hela, Head teacher The Miswaki secondary school community is very happy in getting solar aid from TDT. The 6 solar sets were purchased and the installation is complete. Miswaki Secondary School is now having light source and students are attending night preparation, please see the photos of the students now able to study in the evening. On behalf of Miswaki Secondary School I say thank for your support and don't get tired of helping us for other projects as our school have shortage of several facilities. Convey my greetings to TDT. GOD BLESS YOU, KARIBUNI KUTEMBELEA SHULE YETU For details of how you can buy a solar lamp for only 6 so students from other schools can study at home, see page 13. Miungo village pipeline, Mtwara region. Project officer: Jonathan Pace This project has been generously funded by Africa Palms Trust. It is expected that the connection to the village will be completed and the water flowing from the river, 6 kms away, by the time a visit is made by Julian Marcus in February. The following interim report is from the village chair, Bw Godfrey Makenzie The required rolls of pipes have been purchased and were already in site. 23 rolls of 1½ rolls were requested but the funds received only enabled the purchase of 22 rolls. That was a challenge to the project, producing a deficit of about Tsh 298,000/= Fortunately, this amount was contributed by the community so as to cover the gap to get the remaining roll. The community is in final stage of completing digging the trench see photo opposite TDT: TANZANIA DEVELOPMENT TRUST EVERY POUND GIVEN TO TDT GOES DIRECTLY TO PROJECTS IN TANZANIA OTHER SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS reported to the recent TDT committee meeting included: Masekelo Secondary School desks in Shinyanga urban region and the following highlighted reports among many from Julian Marcus as Project officer: Maganzo Vocational Centre in Shinyanga region; KIVIDEA computer training in Kigoma; In Their Shoes documentary film on Disability and Prejudice in Mara region at Lake Victoria Disability Centre, for which TDT has contributed support funding; A projector for the Mara region diocese work against Gender Based Violence, run by our recently visiting local representative Mama Rhobi Samwelly. Other completed projects will be reported more fully in the annual report in July and in future newsletters. Jonathan Pace, TDT Great news that takings amounted to 516 on the TDT stall at the Fair Christmas Fayre, Salvation Army, Oxford Street on Saturday November 29 th 7
Page 8 Dar es Salaam BTS Newsletter January 2o15 Future Visions and Urban Development in Dar es Salaam There is a building boom in Dar es Salaam. Some of the new skyscrapers include hotels and offices. But most of the space is flats, for example in these 40-storey blocks near the railway station (photo to right) which look out over the harbour. An extreme example of what may happen can be found in the plans for Kigamboni City. This is a proposed new satellite city which could house as many as 500,000 people. It is planned for the area over the ferry from the mouth of Dar es Salaam harbour, extending about 12 km along the coast and almost as far South. A new road bridge that will link it with the Chang ombe industrial area will open soon. The map below shows where it is. The map to the left shows how two urban geographers expect Dar es Saalaam including Kigamboni, to develop and absorb future growth even without the new city. But below is the vision of the planners of Kigamboni City: 8
BTS Newsletter January 2015 Dar es Salaam Page 9 And below left is their concept of the international business zone just across from the ferry (with the golf course and beach in the background): Whilst the picture below right shows their vision of one of the residential zones, designed in a European style in a superior living environment : The suburb will have its own water supply, from boreholes, some parks and water features, a tourism and recreation area along the coast, and remotely controlled traffic signals designed so that traffic never has to stop. A small area is earmarked for the resettlement (in flats) of those who already live in the area. But thousands already commute on the ferries to work in Dar es Salaam, and there does not appear to be any extra provision for domestic workers or those who will work in lower paid roles in the new offices or hotels. They will have to commute, on long daladala rides from informal suburbs farther out. Proposals like this are springing up in a number of cities in Africa in Lagos, Nairobi, Luanda, Johannesburg and many other places. Some appear to be modelled on Dubai and other prospering cities. They are aimed primarily at the emerging African elites. They are a product of rapidly increasing inequality which can be found in Europe, America, the Middle East and many parts of Asia rich business and professional classes, alongside poorly paid workers and an underclass which barely survives. In May 2014 the Tanzanian Government put Kigamboni City on hold perhaps wisely as it was becoming increasingly unpopular with those directly affected. But this development, and others with a similar approach, are not going to go away. The Kigamboni Development Authority still exists. There is money to be made from this kind of development. Investment in urban infrastructure is urgently needed roads, bridges, liquid and solid waste disposal, surface water drainage, flood protection, water and electricity supply, etc. But investment in a self-contained suburb will not bring many benefits to the mass of the people of Dar es Salaam. This article by Andrew Coulson is based on a presentation by Sarah Brennan at a Britain Tanzania Society/SOAS seminar in London on 10 November 2014. Sarah is an urban planner who has recently completed a master s degree at University College London. She would like to acknowledge the help of the Centre for Community Initiatives, Tanzanian Federation of the Urban Poor, Ardhi University, Dar es Salaam, and the Development Planning Unit, University College London, and may be contacted at brennan.sarah1@gmail.com BRITAIN TANZANIA SOCIETY AGM 2014 On Saturday 15th November 50 members assembled in Central Hall, Westminster for the 39th Annual General Meeting of the Society. The meeting extended their greetings to Dianne Corner, former High Commissioner to Tanzania, who now holds a posting with the United Nations in the Central African Republic. The formal meeting was followed by a presentation from Alan Roe to which he gave the title Tanzania and Extractives structural change..another twist? Members found this talk informative and interesting. Andrew Coulson gave the vote of thanks in which he said that we should invite Alan to return in a few years time for an update on these developments. Next year will be the 40 th AGM see back page! 9
Page 10 TD news contd. BTS Newsletter September 2014 Six weeks on the road in tanzania. A report from TDT Communications Manager Janet Chapman In August and September I visited 15 TDT projects plus another 10 from other organisations. It was an exhilerating, inspiring and sometimes exhausting trip. Anti FGM work in the villages. I had the privilege of spending 2 days on the road with Rhobi in Serengeti at her anti FGM road show. Seven of us crammed into a small car with an enormous sound system bumping along dusty roads to Minori and Magatini villages. Although we were 3 hours late arriving due to an emergency domestic violence case back in Mugumu there was a big crowd of villagers waiting eagerly for us, alongside a row of chairs carefully set out for us under a tree. For the next hour or so villagers were informed and entertained by singing, dancing, traditional music and a drama performance, all carefully choreographed by Rhobi and the peer educators from the village she has trained to ensure the womens rights message came through. There was then a community debate on Is it true that early child marriage has health effects on girls? It was very encouraging to see all sectors of the village participating, even some quite young girls, after some prompting from the peer educators. Rhobi spoke very movingly of her personal experience of FGM and how she nearly died after being cut as a 12 year old. She had wanted to refuse to be cut then, but had no one to turn to. This is one reason she can identify so strongly with girls in the villages still in the same position. Visiting the Safe House. After hearing so much about the Safe House as an idea it was a thrill to finally see it in person - it was a building site then, in early September, but going up amazingly quickly, and by mid November it was already accomodating girls. BINGO Tanzanian style. From the Safe House I went on to Tabora to visit a vocational training centre for disadvantaged girls, run by another of our wonderful local reps, Philemon Boyo. I have never met a more cheerful man, despite all the challenges and hardships he faces. We visited some of the girls he works with in their homes, and despite the often harrowing stories they told, he never lost his positivity. The highlight of my visit was to be a party for the girls and Philemon kept telling me excitedly that this would include BINGO. To be honest I wasn t particularly looking forward to this and thought sitting around crossing off numbers sounded rather dull. BINGO Tanzanian style is a game about running madly around bumping into people and grabbing them to join your group, and was played with great hilarity and luckily no major injuries. Tablets. My final project visit was to the Ikimba schools where I was to do some training on an e-learning project using tablet computers. Luckily I brought 6 of these in my luggage as the ones being shipped from Zambia were delayed for 3 months at customs in Dar. Renatus, the TDT link teacher at Rubale with whom I stayed for a week turned out to be an IT whizz. He soon got the hang of using the tablets and loved the enormous range of content, the audible dictionary and the thesaurus feature. Within a few minutes he was demonstrating the features to staff and students alike. I m looking forward to going back in January to see how they are getting on with the rest of the tablets and projectors. For more detail s of Janet s blog: http://hiaragirlpower.blogspot.co.uk/ 10
BTS Newsletter January 2015 Mama Rhobi s Tour Page 11 DIVIDED BY 7,000km - UNITED BY LOVE On the plot of land in Mugumu, Tanzania where the Safe House and Training Centre are nearing completion stands a sign 'NYUMBA SALAMA' - (HOUSE OF PEACE). 7,000km away in Rochdale, Lancashire, UK is the 200 year old Bamford Chapel. Its building may be ancient by Tanzanian standards, but its lively congregation includes many children. In front of the pulpit they have built a model, complete with bunk beds, and above the model 'WELCOME TO OUR SAFE HOUSE. The children have joined their parents in fund-raising and make cakes and biscuits to be sold after all the services. 7,000 kilometres apart, but united by love and concern. After Mama Rhobi went home at the end of her UK tour, she reflected: Our friends like Tanzanians very much, that is why are ready to support our projects. Different groups organised fundraising events; really you cannot believe that you can invite different people and provide tea at your house and collect some money for the project. Working in collaboration with other TDT members inspired me; all the time during visiting different places, TDT members were available in the events. During Rhobi Samwelly s tour of England, she spoke in 19 different venues and travelled about 1200km, meeting people of all ages from the very youngest to octogenarians and from schoolchildren to senior Members of Parliament. She was interviewed in English on Eagle Radio in Surrey and on the BBC s Swahili television World Service- indeed the power and speed of modern communications was shown by the fact that the moment she emerged from the TV studio, she was receiving calls of congratulation on her mobile phone from all over Tanzania. The article on the left appeared on Oct 15 th, the day Rhobi addressed the All Party Parliamentary Group on Tanzania in Portcullis House, in the Palace of Westminster. If this was a daunting experience, Rhobi didn t show it, and the warmth of the applause she received indicated the feelings of the audience. The biggest event was the fund-raising gala at Westminster Central Hall, and TDT owes the presiding Minister and the Trustees immense gratitude for their kindness in giving us the large Aldersgate Room for the evening as well as making contributions to the project- and then many donations also came from members of the congregation. One of the largest audiences was at the University of Worcester s Centre for the Study of Violence and Abuse, mostly composed of trainee social workers, nurses, midwives and youth workers, several of whom asked thoughtful and challenging questions, which Rhobi handled with calm and ease. Many will be working with diaspora communities in the UK where FGM continues to be a real threat to young girls. Overall, the tour was an outstanding success and as a result of it around 26,000 was raised, including 13,000 most generously contributed by one Trust that Rhobi visited. It is impossible to thank in this short article all those friends of Tanzania who entertained Rhobi, organised events, bought cards and artefacts and gave donations. We hope that your satisfaction is that all the money needed to build and equip the Safe House and Training Centre was raised and that already, thanks to all who have contributed over the past year, 80 girls now have shelter in the Nyumba Salama and are safe from the trauma and danger of FGM. Now they just need a kitchen. See page 13. Julian Marcus for the Safe House team 11 WELCOME TO OUR SAFE HOUSE
BTS Newsletter January 2015 Safe House Fundraisers Page 12 From Citizenship Project to Safe House Fund Raisers and Speakers at Portcullis House Below is an account of 2 West-Midlands school girls journey in their own words When we started a Citizenship project as part of our GCSE school work we were given the chance to launch a campaign about a chosen issue, but we had no idea how far it would go. We knew we wanted to do something about women s rights and were just about to start writing up our issue of inequality in the workplace when we saw a report on the TV about Female Genital Mutilation. This was the first time any of us had heard of FGM. It shocked and appalled us to find out that the procedure has no health benefits for girls and can cause severe bleeding, urine retention, cysts, infections, infertility and increased risk of new-born deaths, and that around three million girls are faced with this terrifying prospect every single year. FGM Petition and Girl Summit. After starting a Facebook and Twitter page promoting a petition to get the case of FGM raised in Parliament, we got around five hundred signatures with which we were incredibly pleased. We also wrote several letters to different charities and organisations. Jeremy Lefroy, the Stafford MP, immediately scheduled an appointment to come to our school and talk to us about what he could do to help. He told us that this was an issue that greatly touched his heart as he has relations in Africa, knows about FGM and is strongly against it. The Stafford Soroptomists also visited our school to see our presentations and share their knowledge with us. In early July, Jeremy emailed us to tell us that he had nominated Amy and me to represent him and Stafford in London at the Girl Summit event, where not only were we very proud to attend, but we also learned that girls younger than us had already been through more pain and injustice than Amy and I ever would. Safe House Appeal We had also received a letter in the post from the Tanzania Development Trust, telling us they d heard of the work we d done and if there was anything we could do for each other. We researched more into this charity and found out about the proposed building of a Safe House and Training Centre for girls fleeing FGM. After thinking hard about how we could show Mama Rhobi we were serious about making a difference we had the idea to surprise her and the team by organising a Love Actually Delivery service at our school where all the proceeds went straight to the Safe House! We started by finding suppliers for chocolates, roses and cards and ordering in as many as we thought we d need. Then we priced them up, printed posters and put them up around school. Then as Valentines week came, we started taking in money and orders. On Valentine s Day we had an army of helpers delivering the presents for people and it was great to know that we were delivering messages of kindness to bring kindness to others in a completely different country. At the end of the week we had raised just over 150 for the Safe House and we sent it off straight away. All-Parliamentary Group on Tanzania, Portcullis House, October 15th Julian Marcus and Jeremy Lefroy who have both been incredibly supportive of our campaign invited us to attend the All Parliamentary Group on Tanzania at Portcullis House on October 15 th which was discussing FGM with Mama Rhobi Samwelly, an FGM victim herself and now a spokeswoman for all girls saying no to the practice. We spoke with Julian and Rhobi before the meeting started, then as we entered the meeting room we were greeted by Jeremy Lefroy, our Stafford MP. We were about to find a seat at the back to watch the meeting, when Jeremy insisted we sit on the panel with Dr Comfort Momoh MBE, a midwife who specializes in the study and treatment of Female Genital Mutilation, Mama Rhobi of course, Julian Marcus TDT Chairman, Ann-Marie Wilson, founder of 28 Too Many, Lynne Featherstone, the Under Secretary of State for International Development, and our teacher. We sat, almost star-struck, as they spoke about their visits and experiences, but then it was our turn. We had a small speech prepared just in case we were asked to speak so we nervously told everyone what we d achieved. We could hear our voices being projected out of the speakers as we spoke into the microphone which was nothing like either of us had ever done before! Both of us are so proud of not only the girls saying no to FGM, but also everyone working to make even the tiniest difference to their lives. We want everyone to know that even if the goal looks impossible - stand up for what you want and what you believe and it will happen. We never imagined that a year on from starting our school campaign we d be sitting on a table talking alongside some of the most influential women in modern history - if that s possible then so is the eradication of FGM. Julian Marcus thanked us again for our donations and we promised to continue contributing to the TDT charity. 12
BTS Newsletter January 2015 TDT update Page 13 Update on Safe House and Vocational Training Centre And here is a message from one of the 80 girls already at the Safe House: My name is Angelina Nginge, I am 15 years old and I come from Magatini village at Kenyamonta Ward in Serengeti district. This year my father wanted to conduct FGM on me. Due to the trainings that I got at school on the effects of FGM through the Anglican Church Diocese of Mara, I decided to escape from home with the help of one of my teachers. I went to the safe house with the help of my teacher who provided a bedroom to sleep on the night I escaped home. Currently I am a form one student at ACT-BUNDA Girls secondary school. I sincerely thank the ACT MARA for the safe house if it was not for them I do not know where would I have gone. (Continued from front page) At the moment there is no kitchen, and all the cooking is going to have to be done in a garden shed, which doesn t sound too good. The Diocese has decided to put the kitchen at the back of a rather large multi-purpose dining hall, and the two buildings together with water and electricity are going to cost another 25,000. That s a bit steep, you might say, and we at TDT did too, until Rhobi revealed what friends of Blackadder would recognise as a cunning plan! The Dining Hall, which even includes a stage, has been designed so that it can be let as a wedding venue. Tanzanians adore large wedding parties, with plenty of loud music, dancing and doubtless many speeches. The income from the hall can then be used to help the running costs of the Safe House. Seen like that, it becomes a very good idea. We shan t be sending any appeals to members but if you would like to contribute, click on Just Giving or send a cheque to the new TDT Treasurer: Sam Macaulay, 317 Westmount Road, Eltham, LONDON SE9 1NR. To make it worth 25% more, just write on the back, please claim gift aid and put your address and signature. Give the gift of light to a Tanzanian schoolchild - Only 6 For only 6 you can provide a solar light to a school student and their family in one of the poorest areas of Tanzania. Students in the schools TDT support often Your student walk for up to three hours each way to school. will have When they get home they have to collect been specially selected to receive a light by water before they can study. Their villages do their school because of their dedication to not have electricity and solar lights are their studies. The person you are giving the beyond the reach of their families who are gift on behalf of will receive by email a photo subsistence farmers living on around 1 a day. of the selected student with their light, Yet students are determined to study as they together with a personalised message about know that education is their route out of their background and hopes for the future. poverty. So they learn by candle light or Not only will this gift transform the lives of kerosene lamp, which damages their lungs, the student and their family, it will also help when their families can afford it. the environment. Each solar lantern saves a tonne of carbon every 10 years. To purchase solar lights please email Janet on j.chapman@tanzdevtrust.org Thank you! 13
Page 14 News from BTS Chairman BTS Newsletter January 2015 Education Seminar: Raising attainment in Tanzanian Schools On Monday 20 th October, the Society held a seminar of the current problems in secondary education. This was initiated by Caro Walford, of the Changarawe Project, near Morogoro, who had three staff from the project in the UK at that time in order to take part in their fifteenth anniversary. The seminar was held at the Paddington Academy, thanks to Luke Edwards-Jones, a staff member of the Academy and the Chairman of Changarawe. The meeting started with a presentation by Felistas Kalomo, the director of Changarawe, who gave a very illuminating overview of the work of Chargarawe and of the problems faced by her students in achieving good results from their schools. This was followed by a presentation by the BTS Education Co-ordinator, Anne Samson, who works with Katy Allen of the Village Education Project Kilimanjaro.The final presentation was given by Professor Elaine Ulterhalter, who drew the threads together, drawing comparisons from her work in other countries. The seminar was well attended by many BTS members involved in the education sector, either in Tanzania or from schools in this country involved with exchange programmes with Tanzanian schools. The meeting overran so the Chairman had to run for his train home, but the Society is most grateful to the Paddington Academy for providing refreshments, which allowed the debate to continue long after the official end of the meeting. We very much hope that many of these issues will continue to be discussed in future meetings and/or on the Education Group s group on LinkedIn. Sadly, but inevitably, given the nature of the subject, time was far too short to consider any aspect of education in any detail, but the major concerns raised included: Lack of teachers and the teachers' lack of confidence Poor grasp of English amongst secondary school teachers High prevalence of corporal punishment (officially banned by the Min of Ed!) due to the lack of confidence of the teachers Inappropriate curricula Multiple choice answers in exams lead to students guessing the answers and not working them out (therefore they have a 33% chance of getting the right answer!) Lack of good facilities in schools - libraries and science labs Girl retention - lack of sanitary pads, high pregnancy rates, cultural pressures to marry Textbook scams - different publishers for different school years result in gaps in the curricula Poor textbook/ student ratios Poor English textbooks. There is a need to revert to the New Oxford English Course, which is still used in many African countries. Government changing the grading system to improve the results. Political pressures on schools. e.g. primary schools without electricity having to teach IT. Lack of funding. Government budgets to give Tshs 10,000 per pupil per year, but only pays Tshs 300 towards the end of the academic year, so teachers often resource the class from their meagre salaries. Problem areas in Maths are the same in Government and private schools particularly fractions, algebra, calculating areas. Problems of teaching by rote. Anyone wishing to join the Education Group should contact Anne Samson on thesamsonsed@gmail.com For interesting statistics on the World Inequality Database on Education - http://www.education-inequalities.org/ POSSIBLE USES OF ESCROW MONEY! Members will be aware of the political scandal which has kept Tanzanians on the edge of their chairs for the last few months. Briefly, the sum of $122 million (Tshs 321 billion) has been paid out to the shareholders of companies involved with the IPTL dispute with Tanesco many years ago. This money was being held in an escrow account at the Bank of Tanzania. The main beneficiaries of this payout appear to be 'close to the highest in the land'. See this edition of Tanzanian Affairs for more details. Some students have calculated what this money could have purchased, if it had been put to good use by the Government. These include: 2,550,000 primary school desks 47,076 wells for clean water 17,233 undergraduate students fees at universities for 3years 5,350 science laboratories at secondary schools 642 new secondary schools 5 national stadiums, as in Dar 5 72-seater aircraft for the ailing ATCL 2 new universities 14
BTS Newsletter September 2015 Page 15 Ujamaa - The hidden story of Tanzania's socialist villages". The book has been described as an astonishing story of grassroots power and creativity told by a man who lived it. Anyone with an interest in the history of Tanzania during the time of Julius Nyerere should read this book. It is now published, and is available from Crossroads Books at a pre-publication price of 14.99. To buy a copy online please visit: www.crossroadsbooksonline.net All royalties from the book will be used to help build a library/research centre at the Ntimbanjayo Memorial School, so by buying a copy you will be helping Ruvuma Development Aid (which Ralph founded) and further develop the school project, while preserving the history of this amazing grassroots movement. Tanzania: A New Constitution? A new constitution has been approved by the Tanzanian parliament. It will be used in the general election scheduled to take place in October 2015, but only if it first gets approval in a referendum, to be held in April, where it must get majorities both in Zanzibar and on the Mainland. Contrary to the recommendations of the Constitutional Commission, the draft does not propose three parliaments - one for Zanzibar, one for the Mainland, and a third for matters that just concern the Union - making it extremely controversial. There will be an opportunity for all concerned - especially Tanzanians in this country - to consider the issues it raises, which go much beyond the number of parliaments, and the best way forward at the BTS Seminar at SOAS, London WC1H 0XG, Feb 2015 2.00-5.00pm Karibuni We welcome the following new members: Hilary Brook, Croydon, Surrey Marissa Alvarez, Binton, Warwicks. After volunteering in Moshi I raised funds to refurbish a kindergarten in a government school, purchase materials and fund an extra teacher. I continue building on this start with new projects at the school. Anne Holderness, Seaford, E. Sussex. I lived in Tanzania from 1968 to 1990, when I travelled fairly extensively. Since then I have visited family there regularly, most recently in July this year. Friends may remember me as Anna Sefu. Thomas Kroon, Hedgerley Green, Bucks Nick Vynall, Cranbrook, Kent Allister Carey, St Martin, Guernsey Christabella Mhina Njawa, London Helen Paul. Leussow, Germany. I have been in almost continuous contact with the islands of Zanzibar since 1984. I have volunteered three times with VSO in the area of ELT, in particular as a teacher trainer. Diana Rosser, Northolt, Mddx Roy Willis Tributes from BTS Scottish Group Roy Willis, who died in October 2014 was an anthropologist and a long standing and very supportive member of the BTS Scottish Group. He and his wife, Mary who died last year, hosted several parties at their home in Linlithgow where we enjoyed many stories of his work in Tanzania and Zambia. We in the Britain Tanzania Society Scottish Group, and Tanzania Scotland Network, miss them both and send our condolences to the Willis family. Apollo Temu writes, I am terribly sorry to learn that Roy Willis is no longer with us. Roy was a strong supporter of the Tanzania group even when his health was not at its best. Roy will be missed. On behalf of myself, friends and community of Tanzanians and our supporters, we convey poles kwa familia. May his soul rest in peace. Lesley Lynch writes, When Roy's wife Mary became very involved with the charity SASHITA Roy loved nothing more than joining in on meetings and giving his expertise and help to proceedings. Roy missed Mary greatly when she sadly passed away last year. All members and friends of SASHITA miss both Roy and Mary's passion for Tanzania and their close friendship. 15