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


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