After nearly 3 years without being able to visit we finally arrived in Tanzania in November for a 4-week visit. Fundraising activities during and after lockdowns enabled us to send over money for our projects. A big thank you to all our supporters, whether one off donors or those who make a regular monthly donation. Tanzania has not been spared economic problems over the past few years and this inevitably impacts more on the poorest in the country. We saw this during our visit and the small Friends of Lindi community is having a hard time.
Our aim remains to promote education, health and enterprise for young people and to help in emergencies where and when we can. We welcome Venance Matei and Ali Farrall as new trustees. Ali is also continuing her sponsorship of Debora at Aquinas, which she started with her partner Matt Green in 2016. Matt sadly died in August and friends made generous donations in his memory. After discussions with Ali we used the money to re-surface the community basketball court. Matt was a kind, intelligent and funny friend as well as being a great and much loved teacher.
Project updates:
5 of the sponsored children have now reached secondary school and are attending Aquinas Secondary School in Mtwara. They have been achieving an excellent standard and show how opportunity is the key to academic performance. We are currently adding two more girls to Form One thanks to a generous donor. Buyegi, the youngest girl is in the last year of Primary at Joy School, Lindi.
Uniforms and books have been provided to 3 students, one boy, Apendae and two girls Swalha to start Secondary School and Khairati to start High School.
The 6 street libraries are still functioning but were in need of replenishing. We took the plunge and ordered 360 books from Nairobi. These duly arrived in Dar by bus and we took great pleasure in delivering them to each library. We started the libraries to promote reading for pleasure among village children. To see the enthusiasm of the children when they saw new books was very gratifying.
Our two vocational students Shafi and Mariam have now started working. They had been failed by the state system and were headed for street hustling. Following training and the provision of basic tools and equipment they are able to earn some money for themselves and their families. We have other young people to help when funds permit.
Manzi is a student we have been helping since secondary school. He is now studying vet science in Morogoro and has two more years to complete his degree. He has helped to start up a chicken project in his village, Chikonji. He intends to return to his village to train and work with locals on raising livestock for income.
Fadhila has finished her studies at Njombe School for the deaf in Njombe. Her next step is under review by her mama and our partners Ramson and Venance in Lindi. Fadhila was one of our neighbours and became deaf over time during her primary education. We would love to be able to fund further investigations of her hearing to improve her life.
Mustafa is a young man who approached Ramson for help to fund his nursing course. He has now started in Dar es Salaam and will be very likely to be employed by the state once he has graduated in 2 years. This will provide for his family and siblings.
Zatina is a great illustration of how a small amount of money can help. She is 12 and had been suffering from headaches and under-performing at primary school. Her mama asked for £1.50 for a doctors visit. Following an eyesight test she now has a pair of glasses for £14 and is back to normal!
We continue to help in small ways and rely entirely on donations. As can be seen, any amount can make a difference. If you are able to donate either a single amount or make a small monthly payment this will be used directly to people we know with no intermediaries.
