News January 2008
IDODI ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
Our main focus for 2007 was to get the Idodi Environmental Center up and running. It was an uphill struggle with costs rising rapidly due to the increase in the fuel prices we were constantly short of the necessary funds, but one way or another we managed!
We had a couple of fabulous donations one from Mr. Roy Disney, plus Mr. Harry Vlek. We were extremely grateful for these. We also received numerous small donations from many individuals over the course of the past 2 years. We are extremely grateful to you all. Rob and I footed the bill for the rest which was tricky !!
We are deeply indebted to Dr Dulle, who was the project coordinator, without him nothing would have been accomplished. He saw to all the buying of the materials, paying of wages, transporting the goods, etc, and sorting out many of the problems that were encountered along the way.
Installing the books and equipment was another time consuming task, we are deeply grateful to Liz and Jobst De Leyser for helping us organize the curtains, electrical wiring, and advising us on which ‘fundis” to use for these important jobs.
The books for the library so far have all come from a new UK based NGO called ‘Books 4 Tanzania” www.books4etanzania.org.uk We are therefore deeply grateful to ‘Mamma Angela” as she is fondly referred to by the students of Idodi Secondary School. However we are in desperate need of more BOOKS! Donations are welcome.
The opening ceremony was a joyous occasion, (please see the separate update for this). However we were very sorry that Fiona Oates, was unable to be with us for the big day. Fiona was the architect for the Center she was in Australia at the time.
The center is now up and running and being used on a daily basis by the school and by the community when needed.
JONGOMERO CAMP
We are delighted by the energetic, fund raising activities from Jongomero Camp. Last year they initiated a scheme for sponsoring 25 orphaned children to the primary schools and 5 students for 4 years at the Idodi Secondary School. In addition to this on-going sponsorship we have received from them $1,400. This money has been ear-marked 
for the purchase of tricycles, for 5 disabled persons in the villages. Ruaha Conservation Fund is initiating a new program aimed at improving the livelihood for people with disabilities within the Idodi ward. We are extremely grateful to Greg and Claire Du Toit, the managers of Jongomero Camp, for their valuable efforts in raising awareness and funds for our Village programs. We have received a total amount of approx $4,700.00 from them this year so far. They said:-
“We hope that the above funding will help the community and we are continuing to try and raise funds. In an effort to further collect funds form our international guests, we have added pictures of the community and school into our guest room folders”
Thank you Greg and Claire!
DONATION
We have received yet another generous donation of $10,000 from Mr. Harry Vlek. We have earmarked these funds to go towards several important areas. A large portion will go towards building a dinning facility for the school and a smaller portion to go towards equipping the science Laboratory, the school have managed to raise some money from parents to build the labs which are in progress now. We hope also to use some of these funds for school trips to the Ruaha National Park. These outings are the absolute highlight for the children. There is never enough funding to do justice to the excitement and enthusiasm that surrounds these trips. I was told by a teacher that the kids never sleep the night before their departure as they are so excited about the adventure the next day!
EMI
We hope to concentrate on helping EMI with their programs this year as we were unable to assist them last year, due to the pressure for funds from the Environmental Center.
Finally, Rob, Dr Dulle and myself would like to thank all of you for your time and efforts in helping us with our programs. I would like to make a special mention of the members of my Mothers’ ‘Garden Club,’ in Schull, Co. Cork Ireland, for their donation of 300Euros, every little bit helps us achieve our goals.
RUAHA RIVER
I was enormously disappointed to see the depressing state of the Ruaha
River. These pictures were taken on 12th January 2008 at the same
location in Ruaha National Park as all my previous records spanning the
past 14 years.
The water you see in the river is all from local flooding of the
Jongomero River and the Itiku. There has been NO water coming in from
Usangu at all.
On the 14th of January I travelled to Usangu and Mbeya to see that the
rice paddies are all fully flooded, all rivers flowing into the
catchment area were full and flowing very well, some of them were very
high. Mbeya has apparently received its highest rainfall on record for
the past 8 years. So my question is :-WHY IS THERE NO WATER REACHING
RUAHA PARK? The answer is quite simple the wet-season off take is far
too great.
There is no need for irrigation to stop but there is a need for the
irrigation system over the whole area to be properly planned.
When will we see this action taking place? It is not an impossible
task but it will require hands on expertise and law enforcement. If we
all pull together we will succeed.
If we are not careful the Great Ruaha River will stop flowing
altogether.
Kind regards Sue