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TANZANIA 2003 Maji Ya Chai, Arusha In August 2003 a team of Rotaractors returned to Maji ya Chai in Tanzania at the specific request of the local people. Landing at Kilimanjaro airport Maji ya Chai is located half way between Arusha and Moshi – just over an hours drive from the airport. The team of 16 was be selected on skills and enthusiasm and included the Head Boy of Kamuzu Academy who volunteered whilst observing this years project near his school in Malawi. The project this time was to construct a Community Centre – the land already having been given by the Elders of the Community - this centre is being used as an Educational and Recreational Facility – and cost approximately £15,000 which was raised by the team members. The unit comprises of a large meeting hall, separate library, two smaller meeting rooms, an administrative office and toilet washrooms. As it is anticipated that electricity will be arriving in the area quite soon this was built into the fabric of the structure. The Assembly Hall is being used for visiting Health and Education workers to give talks and advice on Family Planning, Aids, Hygiene etc. and as a meeting place for social gatherings, concerts, school speech day. The Centre will service an area of approximately 25 square miles in the heart of a rural scattered community. The local Rotary Club of Arusha, under the watchful eye of Rotarian Faye Cran, the District Education Administrator, Ephraim and the Headmaster of the local secondary school all provided ongoing support. As usual on R.O.P’s the team used local people for the workforce and expertise – carpenters, bricklayers, cooks etc. All materials were purchased locally hence aiding the local economy and ensuring interest and pride in a self help situation which leads to long term responsibility of the project. It was a very labour intensive the project and the team had to raise the project cost through sponsorships, Rotaract & Rotary contacts / donations and personal fund raising events etc. The individual cost of the experience from UK back to UK was around £900 and included air ticket / insurance / food / accommodation /Team shirt. Food, when available!! was cooked by the locals and as is customary we took all personal tools, equipment, snacks and a few items, toys, clothing for the local children. Drinking water was at a premium and so the team took a Rotary Aquabox which was left at the health centre. If you couldn't come on this one then how about the next. although Brian is no longer actively involved in hte projects they are still being run and details of the next one can be found on the Rotaract website - www.rotaract.org.uk.
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