Classrooms and farming help Tanzanian school kids

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the world.

We are all just beginning to adjust to a new way of life and adapt our aspirations to a new reality. I am committed to helping the children of Ukerewe (an island in Lake Victoria, population 350,000). But the Pandemic has forced me to make some changes in my plans.

You responded to our appeal to help the children of Ukerewe  Our aim was to help the children to learn sustainable farming and grow crops such as maize in an around their schools first of all to feed themselves and if possible to generate some income to buy school essentials. When we launched the appeal, nobody had heard of Covid!

We have had to reschedule our project plan and reprioritise our objectives. Ukerewe people remain our friends and we will support them through this crisis and beyond.

Our support to the farming project in schools are temporarily deferred. Here are some emails from our friends there.

• Greetings from Nansio Rotarian! I am glad to say we are still safe here in island. This COVID-10 still alarming! Schools and colleges were closed but all businesses are open. The government paying salaries and country struggling to control Corona. Now Rotarian we trying to support a government by providing heathy education for COVID-19 prevention. Thank you Dr John.
• Life now is extremely hard! No Orange fruits costumers, now fish industries are closed for a week. Workers don't know what is going to happen! Things are changing the price of sugar was 2400/ but now is 3000tsh. Soap for ant Corona Virus 19 is very expressive for the people to afford, electricity and water bills are extremely high! The means of transportation are still very unorganized no chemical applications before and after the journey. Water table have arose, house alone the lake, river banks and in lower lands are flooded. Schools were closed for one month and now it has been announced that they stay closed till further notice! Children do not have books with them at their house.so sad moments!

However, we have been able to help one school to refurbish a building during the crisis.

• Dear Dr. John philip, on behalf of the school committee, staff members and pupils of Hamukoko Primary School, I would like to take this opportunity to inform you that we have received 30 bags of cement that you promised to support the school for the purpose of renovation of the floor especially to the class that is used by the Pre-primary children. We all say thank you to you and all Rotarian Club members who have contributed to get this support in one way or another. We expect to start the work soon next week and you will get information in each stage of development. Godless you and all Rotarian Club members for using part of your time, knowledge, skills, and assets to help others in development.

We continue to be in regular contact with our friends in Ukerewe. As soon as the schools reopen, we will re-work our proposals to help the children of this island.

In the meantime thank you from the children of Ukerwe.