Our Accommodation on Ukerewe

Hello again,

On both of the previous visits made by the 'team' to Ukerewe, we stayed in the same hotel which is quite near to the Ferry Port and Nansio Town.   The signboard below shows all of the facilities available at the hotel.

Every time we arrived back at the hotel, we received a very warm welcome from George, the Hotel Manager who would meet us here at the entrance. 



The bedrooms were basic but clean, complete with mosquito nets.  Pegs on the wall were provided to hang up any clothes.

Each bedroom had its own 'en suite'.  There was a plastic bucket and jug under the shower for those occasions when there was no electricity to pump the water, so you are advised to leave the bucket full, just in case you need to take a shower by pouring water over your head using the jug.

Breakfast in the Dining Room consisted of an omelette or boiled egg with bread and jam, all on one plate.  Tea or coffee was usually served black.  We  also met each evening for a meal and a discussion with regards to what we had achieved that day and catch up with all the news.  

The really magical part of the hotel is the view from the grounds at the front which stretch right down to the edge of the lake.  It was very pleasant in the evenings to sit with a nice cold beer watching the sun go down over the water.



The local population use the lake to swim and bathe in.  In the background you can see the Ferry Port which is the gateway to Ukerewe.

What could be more relaxing than to spend some time here after a busy day, just letting the world go by?

Until the next time,

Best Wishes,

Derek and Diane. 

Voices and Stories from Volunteers

Hello from Pat and Steve,

Although we had been out to South Africa in 2009 working as volunteers in the informal settlements (townships) of Port Elizabeth, 2011 was our first visit to Ukerewe.

Hearing that children did not get anything to drink during the school day, but knowing that oranges and other fruit are grown on the island, we packed a manual and an electric juicer plus a liquidizer, along with chopping boards and beakers.

Demonstrating this to the senior girls was a pleasure and on the official visit of Queen Mlozi, they presented her with a bright green smoothie!  They had also made a display in the classroom of other donated equipment.  I was so proud of them!

The teachers Sobi and Elizabeth had asked for sewing accessories such as cottons, buttons, zips etc. and when we found that box, together with all the cookery aprons (which had been sent beforehand in the container), they actually cried, which made me feel very humble.

Stephen spent many happy hours up ladders, or on his knees working in the hostel we were creating, but took time off to help me put a mural of an African scene on the wall of the new dining room.

Few adults or children on the island have the opportunity to draw or paint, so brushes and paints are travelling out with us again, perhaps this time to brighten up the buildings at the Lake Victoria Children's Centre.  Selestine, a local self taught sign writer did the sign board for the hostel saying in Swahili that it was for expectant mothers and "All were Welcome".  He was paid, and given several new brushes as well.

The mural below, which I painted in the entrance to the Maternity Waiting Hostel helped to create a happy atmosphere, and I had great fun doing it.  We are both very excited about going to Ukerewe again in July.

Our thanks go to Pat and Steve for their contribution.  We're sure that the lovely fat cat offers a warm welcome to all who enter!

Until the next time,

Best wishes

Diane and Derek

Living with Albinism on Ukerewe.

Hello again,

We would like to introduce you to Mr. Ramadhani, who is the Chairman of the Ukerewe Albino Society.

When John, Chris and Barry were on the island last month, they met Mr. Ramadhani, who is a car mechanic by trade, but cannot work because he has no tools - and no money to buy any.  Mr. Ramadhani said to our representatives "We are trying to stand on our own feet.  We want to be treated as normal humans and bring a sense of belonging, harmony, freedom and security to the Albino comminity, who are finding life so difficult with their complex medical problems, poor health care and prejudice from some of the local community".

Meet Neema and her family.  Neema is also a member of the Society.  She is 30 and makes a modest living by making pots from clay, at the family home.  She and her four albino brothers Ayubu, Ezekiel, Zachariah, Jeremiah all live with their grandmother, who is not an albino.  Neema is good at pottery.  She crushes the clay blocks, sieves it, mixes it with water and shapes it all by hand - sitting on the floor.   She said "When I have made four or five, I dry them in the sun.  Then I collect enough firewood and cure them in an open fire.  I can make clay bowls - probably five or six per day.  I could sell more if I could make more, but I cannot make more because it is a slow process and I have to do everything by hand".

Ayubu is the oldest brother and wants to be a musician, but cannot afford any instruments.  Ezekiel was born with bilateral club feet.  His father took him to the local hospital where the doctor told him to go to the nearest teaching hospital, which he did.  They wanted a large amount of money to surgically correct his feet, which he could not afford.  He hobbles around on club feet with just worn slippers to protect them.  Zachariah runs a small shop.  Jeremiah has been offered a place to study law, but cannot afford the fees.

Though trapped in a cycle of poverty, this family is doing their very best under difficult circumstances, to scrape a living from very little.

The team will do their best to help this family and others like them during our next visit in July.

Until the next time,

Best Wishes,

Diane and Derek

Update on the Maternity Waiting Hostel.

Hello again,

In January 2012, John and Christine Philip, and Barry Doyle went to Ukerewe to see what the next projects were likely to be, and also to 'look in' at the projects which had been done previously.

They visited the Maternity Waiting Hostel at the Hospital in Nansio, and met the seven ladies currently in residence.  The premises were clean and bright, and goods which had previously been donated to the hostel were all accounted for by an inventory list which was checked and signed daily.

Since the hostel was established, there had been no maternal deaths.  This project has definitely saved lives and enabled the ladies to feel secure, knowing that whatever difficulties they have when giving birth in the labour ward, the operating theatre is only a short walk away.

The twenty beds in the hostel were purchased from money raised and given by friends and members of the Rotary Club of Filey.  All the beds were equipped with mosquito nets to give protection to the occupants against being bitten by mosquitoes, which can cause malaria.

Amongst other fund raising projects, Derek took part in  a sponsored tandem sky drive. 

The jump was from a height of 10,000 feet and was very exhilarating, which in turn generated a huge adrenaline rush!  The view of the coast line and the surrounding countryside was stunning!  I really enjoyed the experience - and would gladly do it again.

Until next time,  keep well,

Best wishes,

Derek and Diane

Transportation on the Island.

Hello to you all,

Hailing a taxi on the Island would not result in a black cab arriving!  Instead, the locals pop onto the back of these motor cycles.  They are nippy and inexpensive.  For a very small amount, you can go to any local destination in and around Nansio town.  These riders are very accommodating and when we needed supplies delivering, for example, bags of cement and other small items, they were quite happy to deliver to the various projects.

Often we were very lucky and were given a vehicle  to get our volunteers to the various sites. 

On the last visit, one of the locals called Richard was the driver, and he  invited Derek to meet his wife and family, so took Derek to see his home. It was very interesting to see that he had a small plot of ground at the back of his house which he had cultivated and was growing maize and some vegetables.  They were very welcoming and obviously he was very proud of his family.

One of the local students who did carpentry at the  Vocational school,  had been affected by polio.  Parts of  a bicycle had been adapted to create a mechanised wheel chair, to enable him to get around.  The  pedals had been adapted to make a hand crank  which drove a chain attached to the front wheel, helping to propel the wheel chair along.  Necessity surely is the Mother of Invention.

There were a few local buses that obviously travelled to the far parts of the island. These buses always appeared to be bursting at the seams with people and their belongings.   Unfortunately, Derek didnt get a chance to take a photo.  Maybe next time!

Until then, 

Best wishes

Derek and Diane.





Voices and Stories from Ukerewe

Hello,

These two stories were given to us by Mr. Alex Magaga, Chairman of Lake Victoria Children's organization.

Pendo is living with HIV/AIDS.  She lives in Bulamba village.  On learning of her status, her husbands family rejected her when her husband died of HIV/AIDS.  She slept in a dark corner at the far end of her father-in-laws house with her three children, Octavian, Elizabeth and Antony.  She felt ill all of the time because she wasn't getting treatment.

The LVC ambassador in the area learnt of her state, and offered support in the form of counseling, sharing experiences and meeting costs for her to get to hospital for treatment.  "My life has completely turned around, previously I felt ill all of the time, but now I am fine".   Pendo has now moved out of her husbands family house with her children, she rents a small house in the same village where she is happy and her children now go to school.   She sells fish in a daily evening local market to support her children.   "I really appreciate LVC's help", says Pendo.

LVC is still working with the family and supplies exercise books and pencils etc. to the children.

(Pendo still needs more support to continue providing for her children)

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Mgole Maingu is a mother of five children and lives in Bulamba village on Ukerewe island.  In  one corner of her tiny hut which is about to collapse, are pieces of what was once a mattress wrapped in a piece of cloth.  In the other corner is a fireplace where she cooks.  She shares bedding with her children as her alcoholic husband abandoned the family to live in a fishing site doing net pulling type of fishing.  "He spends all of his money on alcohol" says Mgole.

All of Mgole's children are malnourished, they all have swollen bellies.  Her belly too is very large, but she is not pregnant.  "I am ill, feel weak and cannot work hard", she says.   She is only 32 but she looks 50.  The LVC ambassador in the area discovered this family, and the organization are now working hard to try and change their lives.  The two younger children are now going to school.  The older ones have never stepped into school premises in their lives, they are probably now too old for primary school in Tanzania.  However, they are desperate to get into school and learn how to write.  (Mgole needs to go to hospital for further medical checks and the children need to see a doctor and go to school. )

Mgole's family house is in the background.  The children are Kakulu, Toto, Bahitwa, Balongo and Scolastica.  The  LVC ambassador Helped Bahitwa and Balongo get into school.

We will make sure that families like this receive some of the items being shipped, to try to improve their lives and to bring some happiness to the children.

Would it be possible for you to help too?

Until the next time,

Best Wishes,

Derek and Diane.