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Every pound given to TDT goes
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Feedback from three TDT VSO small grant recipients

From Mike Goodman: "Many thanks for the grant of £451 last year to assist me with my VSO project at Kagondo Hospital. My objective was to improve the standards of nursing here but my findings were that a shortage of essential resources like scissors, fob watches, torches and tourniquets were actually more critical needs. Diabetes is on the increase now in TZ and there was a shortage of blood glucose monitors. Some visitors from UK in November brought out some good quality nursing supplies purchased with your grant. With some money remaining we were able to concentrate on improving the environment of the childrens ward at the hospital. We now have a cheerful play area for the children who are recovering with some toys, puzzles, blackboards and colouring materials. Fortunately we had some very artistic and willing Dutch Medical students on placement here at just the right time.....I hope you like their art work!" (Click on the images to expand) 

WENDY PAINTING applied for a grant for textbooks and subject-related resources for the SMILE project in Zanzibar. With the local government unable to provide schools with even the most basic science equipment, her project to improve the quality of teaching and learning to around 6,500 students in Science, Maths and English was in danger of failure.

Wendy now reports: "Thanks to the grant provided by TDT, I was able to provide 5 schools with all of the materials needed to conduct each experiment/demonstration in the syllabus up to Standard 7. In addition, I was able to create “kits” containing more specialized equipment (such as galvanometers, voltammeters, resistance boxes, circuit components, dissection tools, magnets, compasses, mirrors, lenses, prisms etc.), to be shared amongst the schools for use in Forms 1 and 2.

In all, this means that every student has a chance to discover scientific concepts in a hands-on, participatory way. As research will tell you, this vastly improves student comprehension and retention, not to mention that it makes learning science a whole lot more fun!

The gratitude on the faces of teachers and students when the equipment was delivered speaks to the impact that even modest donations can make. Thank you to all the donors on behalf of all of us teaching here in Zanzibar!"

Fredrik Knoeff has followed up the image he sent in late-November of desks purchased for NGO Sharing Worlds, with news that he and Anthony Kanyamu had used TDT's grant to encourage donors in the Netherlands to fund chairs and a projector, making the conference centre an even more attractive proposition for renting. We are delighted that they were able to make TDT's grant work all the harder - well done Fredrik and Anthony! (Full details on VSO Projects page.)

If you would like to support our VSO Small Grants Scheme, we now have a dedicated JustGiving account for this very cost-effective scheme.  It can be found at http://www.justgiving.com/TDTVSOsmallgrants

Speech by British High Commissioner, Diane Corner, at BTS Tanzania Chapter AGM

In a speech reflecting on the close ties between Britain and Tanzania, the High Commissioner made generous reference to the roles of BTS and TDT:

"The thing I like about the Britain Tanzania Society is that you’re all volunteers. None of you has to be here – you do it out of a sense of commitment, affection and often a sense of dedication to a good cause – you just have to look at the work of the Tanzania Development Trust to understand that.

But I think that there is another essential ingredient which keeps the BTS not just alive, but a thriving organisation... And that is that we are genuinely interested in each other and in what is happening in each other’s countries, in the UK and in Tanzania...

As Tanzania approaches its 50th birthday, I think you would agree with me that the relationship with between our two countries is in very good health. And I see the Britain Tanzania Society as at the heart of that relationship. I see a Society which is going from strength to strength. I would like to congratulate the members of the committee here in Tanzania and all the members who are with us tonight for the tremendous contribution you make to building up ties of friendship and prosperity between our two nations."

And in return, we would like to thank the High Commissioner for her support. To read the full speech, please visit the British High Commission web site

TDT awards 9 more grants, and announces changes to Funding Guidelines

The TDT Committee met in November and made 9 further grants, totalling £15,645. Two of these projects were funded by third party donors - a family trust, Seaford Rotary and a couple of generous individuals. We are very grateful to such donors, who give an invaluable extra dimension to our ability to fund projects, particularly in uncertain economic times.

Brief details of the grants are in the right-hand column. Four grants were to help primary schools with a chronic problem of lack of desks (the picture shows a typical class in Bigabiro Primary School, with many children on the floor). TDT Chairman Julian Marcus will be writing on all the grants in the forthcoming BTS newsletter, and more details can also be found on our Projects page.

In the present economic climate, and with growing calls on funds, TDT's committee also announced changes to its Funding Guidelines (click to view). For the next two years, no applications will be considered for housing. Notwithstanding recent grants for desks in primary schools, funding will now only be considered for Secondary Schools and Vocational Education, as we feel that this is where there is currently the greatest need. Enhanced priority will be given to projects in Tanzania’s poorest regions.

TDT signs up to UK car donation scheme Giveacar

There's a new way you can help our work: you can turn your old car into cash for TDT! We are now signed up to Giveacar, the UK's first car donation scheme. Proceeds of scrapped or sold cars go to charities nominated by the car owner. You call them, they collect, the car is scrapped or sold, and 75% of the proceeds are sent to TDT. Also vans, lorries, motor cycles. So, if you have a vehicle ready for car heaven...

News of two further grants under TDT VSO small grants scheme

We reported below on three of the five recent grants under the VSO Small Grants Scheme. We now have details of the other two. These five initiatives cost a total of around £2,000, once again underlining the excellent value being delivered by ideas-driven proposals made by VSOs for their communities.

VSOs ANTHONY KANYAMU and FREDERICK KNOEFF were charged with developing income generating activities for Sharing Worlds Tanzania, an NGO in Dodoma, mainly supporting orphaned children and people living with HIV/AIDS, as well as raising awareness of HIV/AIDS. Anthony and Frederick identified a lack of affordable meeting space in Dodoma, but their plan to rent out Sharing Worlds' conference room to third parties was being held back by lack of suitable furniture and equipment.

Demonstrating the rapid way in which funds under this scheme can be deployed, within weeks of the grant, Frederik posted the image alongside, of the first use of the new desks, on our Facebook page. With the necessary investment in place, making the space more attractive and flexible, and therefore more lettable, fingers crossed that they can now generate the hoped-for income for the project!

WENDY PAINTING is a VSO, working for the SMILE project in Zanzibar, a scheme which aims to improve the quality of teaching and learning to around 6,500 students in Science, Maths and English.  Wendy reported that the project suffers from lack of basic teaching resources, preventing teachers from practising the participatory approaches espoused by the project. TDT's grant will provide textbooks and subject-related resources such as maths manipulatives and science equipment (note the 'microscope mural' in the picture).

Further grants under TDT VSO small grants scheme

In October, TDT made five further grants under the VSO Small Grants Scheme, of which three are featured below:

JAMES WERE, a VSO in Ibuga, Kagera region, is working to build skills and knowledge among rural maize farmers. Through improved techniques leading to higher yields, and collective marketing, food security and household incomes should improve. James identified means by which harvest quality could be significantly improved, and wastage reduced, by building crop drying cribs. A particularly significant input to this project was made by the local community.

JUANITO ESTRADA, working at Miti Ulaya Teachers Resource Centre at Wete, Pemba, applied for audio visual equipment to hasten and improve training to teachers, who in turn would be expected to pass on new skills to students. The centre may also be able to derive some income from leasing equipment to other members of the community.

SEMPERA SALIM is working in Karagwe, Kagera, helping farmers to find direct buyers and fair trade markets for their produce. His idea was to build a mural board (not the one pictured!), as a centre of information and data for the local farmers. Also to start a small library of agricultural text books in Kiswahili.

To learn more about TDT's links with VSO, and to see details of earlier grants, please visit our VSO Projects page. It also has links to VSO volunteer Claire Dalton's 'Karagwe Kapers', her remarkable account of her life as a Hospital Management Information Systems Advisor in a busy district hospital. The page will be updated as further grants are made under our VSO small grants scheme.

TDT Annual Report now available online

TDT's annual report, to June 30th 2011, is now available online. It charts a year of which BTS and TDT members can be justly proud: almost £107,000 was distributed to 25 projects, with a further £50,000 transmitted for private donors. Each project is described in the report, accompanied by photos. Click the image to open (PDF, 3MB).

TDT would like to thank all its donors; as ever, donations by BTS members formed a solid core, with additional funding from a number of partner trusts. But massive extra impetus was given to the year's activity by a substantial legacy. Information on legacy giving, and other forms of donation, can be found on our Donate page.

The AGM of the Britain-Tanzania Society and TDT will be held at the Central Hall Westminster on Saturday 12th November, at 2.00pm

Read VSO Claire Dalton's 'Karagwe Kapers'!

In conjunction with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), TDT has established a link with volunteer Claire Dalton, who started her assignment in July, as a Hospital Management Systems Advisor at Nyakahanga District Hospital, Karagwe District.

Claire's observations, starting with induction training, then establishing her new home surroundings, and now working on her assignment, are now available to read in a series of PDFs entitled 'Karagwe Kapers'. These are a fascinating insight into the life of a VSO in Tanzania, as well as into the life of a busy district hospital. The links below open the PDF's; there is also a link to Claire's Flickr photo sharing account.

Karagwe Kapers III: Working Life as a Hospital Management Information Systems Advisor
Karagwe Kapers II: Claire's 'Activities of Daily Living'
Karagwe Kapers I: VSO Induction and Training
Link to Claire's photos

September round of grants made by TDT Committee

In September, the TDT Committee and approved funding for 10 projects, amounting to almost £31,000. Listed in the right-hand column, these include investments in schools, essential repairs to an old people's home, the setting up of a new sustainable poultry project, provision of a diesel maize mill, and items of IT hardware to assist administration of existing projects and businesses. In line with our policy, they are also well dispersed across the country.

Thanks are due to people and organisations that have partnered us in some of these schemes, including Hilden Charitable Fund, St Edmund's Church, Riddlesdown, and two generous BTS members, one of whom has funded the entire repairs programme at Omurushenye Primary School, Kagera.

The Committee also approved an extension to the VSO Small Grants scheme.  Please see above for grants made subsequently.

"Visiting rural Tanzania dictated the career path I am embarking upon..."

Fourth-year Sheffield medical student AMY BAIGENT has recently returned from an elective placement at Nzega District Hospital, Tabora, following an earlier visit there when a pupil at Cranbook School in Kent. She has provided TDT with a remarkable account of her time there, including some wonderful images. Amy makes some very clear observations on the challenges of healthcare in Tanzania. She also explains how, with a small grant from TDT, she was able to provide supplies and equipment to make improvements, especially in ante- and post-natal care in the satellite clinic at Mwanhala (pictured). Read More...

Remember our promise:
EVERY POUND DONATED TO TDT IS SPENT ON PROJECTS.

CLICK HERE for our funding guidelines

Habari Njema! Good News!

The TDT Committee met in November, and made grants to fund the following:

• Four grants for desks at primary schools in Kigoma: Bigabiro, Kabingo, Kambarage and Luiche. Kabingo was kindly funded by a private family trust.
• An outdoor play centre at Kividea Vocational Training Centre in Kigoma. This was funded by Seaford Rotary Club, including £500 from an anonymous member. A BTS member also provided money for indoor play materials.
• Sewing machines at Namanditi Deaf School, Songea, to help give youngsters a vocational training.
• A top-up grant to complete a computer training centre, for which TDT had made an earlier grant, at Kahama vocational training project in Shinyanga.
• £2,500 to Christian Youth Network, to help set a group of more than 80 carers of orphans in goat-rearing and chicken-keeping.
• £1,000 to help establish rainwater capture in a school in the Usambaras Mountains of Tanga Region.

The following grants were made by TDT in September:

• Toilets and a water tank, using rain water harvesting, at Sambala Primary School, Kigoma
• Restoration of the dining hall, provision of a wood-burning stove and repair of drains at Duga Old People's Home, Tanga
• Teachers' housing at Ifwagi Secondary School, Iringa.
• A diesel maize and rice mill (no electricity available) at Hurumia Watoto Group, Mwanza
• Solar power installation at Langiro Secondary School, Ruvuma
• A project to set up a group of 30 people in chicken rearing, in Mkata Mashariki, Handeni district
• Repair of a 40-year-old building in a state of near-collapse at Omurushenye Primary School, Kagera (kindly funded by a BTS member).
• IT equipment for UWAWIMA Farmers, Zanzibar, working with VSO, and for Tumaini Women's Group, Tanga
• An extension of the VSO small grants scheme, with a further 5 grants approved

Habari Njema Tena! More Good News!

John Morshead writes from the Radiography School at Muhimbili:

"...all of the equipment which you provided for our Radiography School at Muhimbili has arrived safely and in good condition. I am writing on behalf of all of the teachers in the school, and in particular the Acting Head of school Mr Lalison Ndolele, to express our appreciation...

Normally we really struggle for a very long time to obtain even a single item of equipment, and there is never enough to meet the need. However, we have now been able to give a laptop to each of our full time teachers, most of whom have not had the privilege of possessing one before. Moreover, the school library is generously equipped with all of the desk top computers... Students will also have access to the computers for private study, research and projects.

I want to thank most sincerely, both the Britain-Tanzania Society, as well as Computers for Africa for the great work that you do."