The Rotary Club of Guildford District : Arusha Achievements Twining With The Rotary Club of Arusha Through the investigative work of the International committee, under the direction of Peter Ricketts and Presidency of Geoff Rouse, our Club forged in 2001, what was to become a long and successful partnership, with The Rotary Club of Arusha in Tanzania. Tanzania took its present form in 1964 with merger of mainland Tanganyika and the island of Zanzibar, which had become independent the previous year. The United Republic of Tanzania is on the East African coast bordered by Kenya and Uganda on the north, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the west, and Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique on the south. Arusha city is in north Tanzania situated below Mount Meru on the eastern edge of the Great Rift Valley. Arusha has a temperate climate and is close to Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as having its own Arusha National Park on Mount Meru. The Clock Tower roundabout marks the centre of Arusha town and was initally thought to be the centre point between Cairo and the Cape of Good Hope. Capital of the Region, Arusha has a population of approximately 300,000, of which over half are under 17 years of age. Although Tanzania is rich in mineral wealth (tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas and nickel) the vast population live in abject poverty neglected by pubic services. Regulated within Rotary District 9200, The Rotary Club of Arusha was chartered in 1958, it meets on a Wednesday at 12.30pm in the Kibe Pallace Hotel Arusha. Of the 26 members, Faye Cran has been a driving force in assisting us in identification of the communities needs and ensuring our projects come to successful fruition. Sponsorship of Children Through Their Secondary Education Secondary schooling is not free in Tanzania which means the children to the poorest of society do not attend. Our first project was sponsoring 30 of such children throughout their secondary education. The success of this initiative has borne fruit with two of our very first group of students Neema and Naomi, gaining entry to University. Construction Of The Totos Kindergarten Our first construction project was the Totos kindergarten in the small village of Maji ya Chai. Previously the 300 local children were taught in the open air beneath trees sheltering from the sun, receiving no education through the extended rainy season. The school, called the Tanzanian Totos was officially opened on our behalf, by the then RIBI President whilst on a volunteering mission with English students. Considered with such high regard the school was to receive a second official opening but this time by the Prime Minister of Tanzania. Nazaretti Classroom Our second construction project was additional classrooms for Nazaretti Primary School in the Arumena District, north of Arusha. This is traditional Maasai country with the students and teachers still living in mud huts. The school comprised of only two classrooms and was struggling to cope with the growing influx of students. Our extension eased the pressure but the children are still packed in, as the photos shows, wall to wall. Tengeru Market Our third construction project was a covered market and adult education centre. Located in Tengeru village, on the slopes of Mount Meru, it is approximately 15kms east from Arusha, within the Arumeru District. Apart from tourism the largest income for Tanzania (40% of GDP) is from farming, much at subsistence level. Prior to our construction, locals brought their produce to Tengeru to sell by the roadside in the muck and in danger of accident. The school offers ladies instruction on how to improve their crop yield together with health and hygiene issues. Sixth Form College A recent initiative was the construction of classes for an Arusha sixth form college, where previously no facilities existed. Our classrooms offer more youngsters opportunity to progress to University studying local to home. Further Developments A sum has been set aside from the 2008 fundraising boxing night for a further development. It's nature has yet to be established but what can be assured is that it will be much needed and much appreciated by the future generations of Arusha and its surrounding areas. The United Nations identifies illiteracy as the major obstacle to economic, political, and social development of underdeveloped Nations.'Education is the road out of poverty' Arusha Overview The Arusha National Park is rich in panoramic views and wildlife but the population in the outer regions are extremely poor comprising mainly women and children as the men must leave to seek better prospects. There is a high incidence of Aids and Leprosy. Their diet comprises a little meat, blood, milk and small asa cakes. The Maasai Traditions The traditional Maasai way of life is fast changing but a few still carry on the old ways living in huts built with sticks, cow dung and dirt. One room is for the parents to sleep, one for the children and one for the calves. Traditional villages are surrounded by a large fence keeping in the cows and goats at night to protect them from the carnivores. Huts only last a couple of years because the termites eat them. Giant termite mounds abound. The men would dress in red plaid wool blankets, and the women in beautiful brightly coloured cloth tied every-which-way. The red was supposed to scare the lions. The men would watch the livestock all day, and the women do all of the other work including building the homes. Direct link to: Home Page