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September 2022 Visit

 

Mark Tilley shares updates from his recent visit to Tanzania, with fellow trustee Matt:

 

Matt and I had the great privilege of heading out to Africa once again in September 2022. It’s a place very dear to our hearts, and this is the first time since COVID-19 that we’ve been able to go out and see everyone. 

 

Meeting of students in Iringa, the local town

 

We met some students in Iringa, interviewing some 30 students. These kids had taken it upon themselves to come and find us, as they were on holiday from school. They were very good indeed. Very well spoken, this does not come out well on video.

 

We met a student called Lukelo Mbanzi in year 1. He’s sponsored by 3 individuals at Storrington Rotary Club (and his sister in year 6, Shangwe, is also sponsored). This kid is unreal. A peasant pastors’ son, at 15 he speaks more eloquently than most people in Tanzania. He’s excellent, and only in year 1!

 

This was a really positive time. Really relaxed. Quite often students can be a bit awkward in an interview, like they’re in the headmaster’s office. All of the students from Mvumi 6th form college that we sponsor at a level also attended the meeting, which was great . 

 

First visit to St. Michael School

 

Slightly quicker to get there than when we’ve visited before, as more of the middle of the journey is now tarmac. We went down to Kilolo district where the school is based, just to get a feel for a couple of hours and take a look around. First thing to notice is the grounds look a little bit untidy. We met 3 teachers and the headmaster- Gideon - he is 70. In total, the school has some 25 members of staff, all well educated.

 

The visit was encouraging - there are kids studying hard and doing well. The dormitory block we built last looks good, as does the teachers semidetached house that Tony and Sue Vaughan (2 of our trustees) helped build looks very tidy. The girls’ toilets that we had renovated are still mint and the incinerator looks to be working well.

 

 

Second visit to St. Michael - sponsored student interviews

 

We planned to see 5 students at time, form 2 and 4. We held interviews in a separate room 5 at a time, with a teacher called Noël assisting. We tried to make them laugh and smile which went well, but they still freeze up behind a camera.

 

Form 2 were very nervous and did some very standard interviews much the same as you’ve seen before. Like the letters. They all say very similar things. Thank you for sponsor me etc. the odd one absolutely lights it up which is nice.

 

Then we came to form 4 which I imagined would be much better, much more lively and responsive. It wasn’t. If anything they were quieter and more monosyllabic. This was a great shame. We got through it, but it was painful.

 

We then had lunch with a whole host of teachers and bishop, and we had some really good conversations. I felt a bit sad that they had just killed one of the staff chickens especially for us, because this meant we would have to attempt to eat it and look like it was enjoyable. Luckily Matthew stepped up to this challenge. 

 

Third visit to St. Michael -

 

Arrived in time for ugi porridge. Just sat down outside and chatted with the students. It was wonderful. They were relaxed and happy. They sang to us. They went through the pictures on our phones. They asked if they could marry my children. They asked when we would come again. I sang a song to them a Capella with no help from Matthew. We then went in the classrooms where they were revising and went through some of their books. Chemistry, maths, and someone’s drawings. I didn’t take pictures of these but

 

would have liked to. Very neat. They are just so much better in a group when they are relaxed. 

We then gathered all the sponsored students (years 2 and 4) and chatted with them with an interpreter. We asked about good and bad things about St. Michael:

 

Good- a nice environment to study in. Nice and quiet. Good friendship groups. 

Bad- shortage of textbooks per student. Not enough equipment for science experiments. School bus? Transport for sick people. Lack of sports equipment. Tired buildings. Lack of chairs. School sweaters to keep warm. Boys’ toilets at the dorms not very nice. Everyone said the food was better at home. Hobbies are not really considered. Computers, oh my gosh.

Field trips would be cool. No music instruments in church. School tuck shop. Medical provision.

 

These children know what they want. 

 

Meeting parents -

 

We had the privilege of meeting 2 children’s parents whilst in Iringa. The first: a lady left widowed after her husband was killed. This is Matthew’s sponsored student. It was really special to do this. She was very grateful and happy. We talked about what it is like to send your kid off to school and not see them for 4 months. The first time is the hardest.

 

We met pastor Mbanzi in his house. He has 2 kids with us. Shangwe in year 6 and Lukelo, the boy genius in year 1. Pastor Mbanzi takes home £50 a month. He grows his own food. Full disclosure that he’s a friend of the bishop, which explains how 2 of his kids have ended up being sponsored by us.

 

The pastor and his wife were lovely. Basic home. A motorcycle. They were simply blown away by the generosity of the charity and explained that not only could they never afford to send their kids to St. Michael, but it also helps them and their ministry. They have planted 3 churches. 

 

 

 

On the whole, we had an amazing time away. There is always the frustration of more needing to be done and more people in need of help, but we do what we can. The sponsorship of education has always been very successful, which is very pleasing to see. Stewarding money to another country takes a bit of management, so we have to be extremely careful. It’s lovely to see my dad’s legacy continuing and flourishing. 

 

Much love and thanks for reading, 

Mark Tilley