Tanzanear News: March has been very hectic. And worms had nowhere to hide.

· A team of students from Haven of Peace Academy, Dar es Salaam came to volunteer at Buguruni for 3 days as part of their Service Emphasis Week. Our pupils had great fun playing sport and doing arts and crafts with the students.

· “Clothes distribution” – thanks to some very generous donors back in the UK and particularly Laura White who donated so many clothes for the pupils, Judith and Simon were able to start giving out the clothes; with the help of some of the older girls, the children were bought in one by one and each child was fitted out with the essentials and then they were able to choose an item. You won’t be surprised to read that the football and sports kit was most popular with the boys and pretty skirts and dresses for the girls.

· Medical programme begins – after months of finding the right people to help, the Lions Club, Amani Branch, Dar es Salaam stepped in. Dr Hussain Hassan introduced Judith Roberts to Dr Willy Sangu, Curative and Programme Co-ordinator, Ilala (local authority), Sister Mary Kyando, School Health Co-ordinator, Ilala and Mr Ghazi Naeemullah, Welfare Association of Pakistan. This group of people put together a programme. Every child began with a de-worming tablet; their reactions were very different – some were elated whereas others prayed before taking the tablet. In a couple of weeks, doctors and nurses from the local hospital will visit the school and each child will have their height, weight and haemoglobin level checked. Those children who are in need of further medical help will go to the nearest local hospital for additional checks. Not only is Tanzanear thrilled to be working with the Lions Club, Amani Branch and the local the local hospital, but more importantly, we are hoping that improved health will mean improved academic results!

Thanks also to Rhea Bhadresha and Leonie Gasson, 2 volunteers who were with us in 2011 and who raised money for such a medical programme – asante sana!

· March also saw the children all receiving eye and dental checks, again thanks to the Lions Club, Amani Branch, Dar es Salaam.

· New cupboards for the Classrooms – each classroom now has a new lockable metal cupboard where the children can keep their school books, batteries etc. overnight. Big thanks to the Caledonian Society of Tanganyika for making this happen.

· A highlight of the term for the children was the arrival of Jan Poulsen, Tanzania’s National football coach (a former Danish footballer) who came to give some coaching to the school football team. One might assume that the boys were only interested in this, but rest assured, all the girls were out there to watch and cheer their team on.

· Another teacher got married – Janet Mwakyusa to Moses Makalanga. Judith Roberts was invited to the wedding and found her first Tanzanian wedding an interesting and uplifting one!