Wanted: Tools for Tanzania
We've just had a flying visit from Joseph Sekiku, who runs Fadeco, a grassroots development project in NW Tanzania. This remote area of Tanzania is informally twinned with the Dyfi Valley where i live.
I'm chair of Friends of Fadeco, which i and some friends started eight years ago after I visited the region and met Joseph.
Joseph is a beautiful man after my own heart, a total inspiration, modest and visionary, and supremely resourceful as Africans have to be.
He is one of three people in an area the size of Wales with a population of 500,000 that have a degree. Most are illiterate and subsistence growers.
I am fully aware of the dangers and ambiguities of much so-called 'development', but we support Joseph's work because it is appropriate, sensitive, and necessary.
In particular we are now supporting the building and fitting out of a training centre - The Eden Centre for Sustainability. They need equipment to train people so they can become self-reliant, and gain an income.
Tools for Self-Reliance is making a delivery to the area in January 2007. We want to get as many tools as possible on this trip. The tools they need are:
Sewing machines: treadles, hand or even electric; carpentry sets: saws, planes, etc; mechanics tools: spanners, car jacks, ladders, wielding tools, soldering tools; masonry tools: brick making machines, trowels, squares, tape measures. etc. A 4X4 motor cycle which can pull a small trailer.
Please donate anything you can.
If you're local perhaps you can leave them at in Machynlleth: Peter Harper/Andy Rowland's houses (21 Heol Pentrahedyn, Machynlleth) or Taliesin: Flic and Richard's /Temperance House or Corris: mine (Glanydon, by the bridge). Or we can pick them up. Someone can then take them all down to TFSR Crickhowell (Is anyone going that way in January?).
If you're not local, TFSR has many local branches. Or go to the FoF web site - link above - and join/make a donation.
We're also supporting a radio station - Joseph has just got a licence from the govt. If anyone has a transmitter, or can donate £1000 to buy one. This would allow the broadcasting of vital health and ecological information to an illiterate and rural population otherwise unreachable.
Thanks!
6 comments:
Thanks to everyone who gave this time round - 5 crates are going off this month!!!
I just want to comment on your post. It is nice that you visited karagwe and have some experience on some issues However you are completely wrong in your statement that Joseph is one of the three people with degree, that is ridiculous. There are more that 500 people with that education level. Try to make research and then write something correct. This is typically a western mentality when it comes to writing something about Africa. I am sorry for being critical but this is a reality. I personally come from Karagwe so try to be positive not always negative to africa as whites used to be.
Dear Peter
I don't mean to offend. I am only talking about Joseph's part of Tanzania, and repeating what he himself has told me. I am pleased if it is not so, but if that is true, why does he have such difficulty finding qualified people to do the much-needed work? Do you know Fadeco?
Joseph Sekiku here. Thank you for your comment on the posting made by my friend. I am from Kyanyamisa village, Nyakasimbi. May be this is an opportunity to get to you...and as starting point, may be to create an inventory of the educated brains.. and for one reason or another have "escaped" to the diaspora or to greener pastures leaving their people in untold poverty.
I am very greatful about the comments and posting by my friend David. Also happy about the one by Mr.Byarugaba. As a start, call me on 0754 605682.
Of course Karagwe may have thousands of educated people BUT my village hasn't. I think my friend referred to the situation in my village and not the entire district. I am sorry that you were offended.
Definitely I know many people educated people from Karagwe and holding very high positions internationally and locally. This is an indisputable fact.
May what to look at is How many of those people have returned to their places of domicile to bring about development changes? This could be the main gist of the discussion and not the numbers of educated people. Definitely the development of Karagwe as a whole is solely dependent on the number of people who are educated and RETURN to karagwe to render meaningful development contribution.
Joseph sekiku
Dear Joseph,
The idea you have about serving the people of Karagwe through Eden Centre for Sustainability is brilliant and noble which no one should dispute, but claiming that you are among the only three degree holders in your place is completly untrue and unaccepted. You need to be open, objective, sincere and realiable on the information you give about yourself, your district and Tanzania as a country. One time one philosopher said' you can full all people for some time but you cannot full them for ever'
Mr. David it is not a bad advice to check the information you get from Joseph before ashaming your name.
Muta Tony.
I have already apologised for causing offence. You've made your point. Why not get together with Joseph and work together for the benefit of the area?
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