Work on site, January 2013

During our stay in Zanzibar from Christmas 2012 until February 2013 we achieved the following for our NGO Maisha Zanzibar:

Project SKULI: Together with the villagers of Upenja we continued building the teacher’s staff house. This project was launched in April 2012. By the time we left Zanzibar the staff house was almost completed.

Project UHURU: Thanks to the generous donation of InnerWheel Club, Zurich, we were able to support the women’s group in Upenja again. This time the donation financed the start-up supplies for the production of handmade soap.

Project DAWA: The cottage hospital in Kivunge was very pleased to receive its first ultrasound machine as well as medical goods and pharmaceuticals. Fortunately, shortly after our departure, an English doctor spent some weeks at the hospital to instruct doctors and staff about the correct handling of the machine and the interpretation of the sonograms.

Shoe market: Unfortunately, our container which we shipped end of November 2012 did not arrive before the very last day of our stay. In a rush we distributed the charity goods at night to Kivunge Hospital and the schools of Upenja (chemistry laboratory) and Kigunda (computers, paper and books). Due to our promise to organize a shoe bazaar in Kigunda, we held the market just a few hours before our departure to Switzerland. The earned profit we handed over to the village committee. They used the money to finish a water tank for the community. Tired but very happy we rushed to the airport.

Project RIZIKI: This year, we decided not to enroll more children in preschool instead, also by means of sponsorship, six young ladies were able to start secondary school in February 2013.

Project CHOO: Even though we couldn't build further toilets this year, we went to Kigunda to survey the ones that were built last year. The villagers are using them regularly and they are clean and odorless. We have even been asked for more - complete success!