Christmas News Round-Up

... not so much a round-up of Christmas news, but a round-up of old news posted at Christmas.

First things first: I've done a quick edit on some more of the video footage I shot in Tanzania this summer, and put it on the front page of our website.  In the meantime we're working hard to make a special documentary out of the rest of the footage.

Julia and her mum Virginia Brownlow raised a whopping £1345.60 in July with their annual Beach Party Fundraiser in Ballyquinn beach in Ireland.  Julia said, "Much singing, guitar and accordian-playing and eating of cream cakes was had by all until 3.30am. There were even Tanzanian acrobats who came along and performed with their fire-spinning friends.  Congratulations to my mum, Virginia and local people in Ardmore and Ballyquinn for making it all happen."

The money is going towards Hoja's Income Generation Project (IGP) programme, providing loans to people from Tanga Ward so that they can start small business such growing crops, keeping animals, or managing small stalls or shops.  The money is enough to give new loans to 54 people.

Here are some people already benefitting from the IGP programme.  These pictures were taken by COCO's Lucy Philipson when she came to visit in July:

Hoja have also started working with the local Government and Albino organisations to help prevent many of the problems experienced in other parts of the country.  Sadly it's not uncommon for Albinos to be killed in Tanzania and body parts to be used in witch doctor "remedies".

Oswin said after the meeting in October, "It is a fact that Albino are still killed in Tanzania.  Most of us are very unhappy with what is done to our fellow Albino.  Hoja Project,Mainly funded by COCO, through its perfomance groups is educating the community and government leaders through perfomances, that Albino are not killed any more.

"Till now no one has been killed in Ruvuma but many have been killed in other regions.  We plan to campain that we remain in this state of peace in Ruvuma.  I have attached some Photos of the members of the Meeting organised by Hoja-COCO which was about how to protect Albino from being killed in Ruvuma Region.  The meeting was attended by government leaders and many Albino.  This meeting was conducted at Muungano Vocational training centre."

VTC Principal Mr Nguruwe, Hoja Manager Oswin Mahundi
and IGP Manager Merrakione

Some of our sponsored pupils at Lupunga Secondary School have now finished Form Four exams and the national O Level exams.  Here are some pictures of their graduation ceremony.

Hoja Education Manager Agaton with sponsored students Fideluck Liviga,
Hildelta Mngoni and Samwel Mhagama, and Hoja Accountant Limi.

I'm also pleased to report that thanks to the hard work of Hoja Tanzania, a female Lupunga student who became pregnant and kicked out of school, will be able to continue her education when she is ready, at a different Government school.  Normally once a pupil has become pregnant, they would not be allowed to continue to receive state education.  In the meantime she has given birth to a healthy baby boy.

Merry Christmas everyone.  Hope your year has been as kind as 2009 has been to Hoja.  We've seen the start of our Vocational Training Centre and Informal Secondary School, and our first cohort of sponsored students have completed their national exams.  This has given us the opportunity to take a really good look at how our students are performing and consider how we can help improve teaching quality to help them do even better.

For two and a half weeks in November/December, Oswin Mahundi came to the UK, visiting COCO in Newcastle and Hoja volunteers in London.  He attended COCO's AGM and Red Ribbon Ball, and spoke at numerous schools and universities.  It was a great opportunities to give a little back to the many people who've supported but never visited Oswin and the Hoja Project over the years, and introduce a few new people to their work.  He was unfortunate enough to just miss the snow by a matter of days, however.

Personally, I've been lucky enough to be involved in some of this first hand.

We received the following email at our Hoja UK address not long ago from Thomas Mkanula, a resident of Sanangula, the sub-village where the Vocational Training Centre is located:

I would like to give my thanks to you hojaproject stakeholders for your efforts in our ward particulary to our street (Sanangula) by establishing an education institution and vocation training college. Through what you are doing, most of of poor people who were unable to send their children benefit your services. Not only that but also employment opportunities is among of benefits obtained by my village mates.  I've been playing to almighty God, he can bless you and if possible you do more than those you have do.  I wish all the best in your activities.

Best wishes for 2010.