Anglesey Group Mothers' Union
At our September meeting John Roebuck came to speak about the work of the diocese of Mara and his visit to Tanzania. In 2009 John was one of the six Angelsey parishioners who visited Mara following the link formed between our benefice and the parish of Karukekere in the diocese of Mara. Mara is situated in the north of Tanzania between Lake Victoria and the Serengeti National Park. John presented a number of slides taken during the visit showing where the group stayed in Musoma, on Lake Victoria, and the many places visited within the diocese during their stay. The diocese works to help local communities to improve their daily living conditions. This includes providing water bore holes. Many women and children walk long distances to fetch and carry water anything up to a16 km. round trip. The bore hole that John visited had now cut down the longest trip to 4 kms. The Mother's Union Nisana provides an education pyramid in relation to nutrition, birth control, AIDs and vegetable growing.
Karukekere has 4,500 inhabitants with very few facilities in the village. There is no electricity or running water. There is a primary school the buildings of which are shared by two separate schools, which take turns and swap between morning and afternoon classes each week. In total there are 1,200 pupils. At the time of John's visit the nearest secondary school was in Bauda several walking hours away. Although the Tanzanian government wants to improve secondary schooling and will provide school teachers it is up to the local communities to build the schools. The community of Karukekere had started to build a secondary school, but due to lack of rain and not being able to earn more money to buy materials the Anglesey benefice decided to support them in the project. A number of fundraising events have taken place and the proceeds donated towards the building of the school.
You are most welcome to join us at our meetings held on the third Thursday of the month at 2.30pm in Lode Chapel. In November our speaker will be Hilary Sage who will entertain us with A Christmas Anthology.