| In 1995 St. Joseph’s established links with Moshi in Tanzania. The aim was
to build a Social Centre for the Federation of Small Christian Communities
of Saave, Kkoshau, Knomilo, Kinangolo, Onyambi, Ntoolo & Knyaareni.
In Summer 2004, the project was finally
completed. The kindergarten is full of happy smiling children. The
dispensary and hall are being used by the community.
In total, the parish of St. Joseph's sent £17,000.
With our help the inhabitants of the Moshi region
of Tanzania, East Africa have built a multi-purpose Centre at Onyambi.
The Moshi area is made up of a Federation of Small Christian Communities of
Saave, Kkoshau, Knomilo, Kinangolo, Onyambi, Ntoolo & Knyaareni. They are
situated on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro between the river Fite Matire to
the West and the river Fite Maro to the East.
A feasibility study was
carried out in 1995 by Fr. Thadde Malekia. This outlined the problems of the
parish as, lack of education, poverty and disease. These were caused by the
following factors:
Housing is of very poor quality. Made up of Wood and Mud
with a roof thatched with Banana leaves.
There was no possibility of primary
education, therefore very few people are trained for any skilled jobs. Children
are forced from an early age to walk long distances to work on farms.
Despite
a great deal of disease there is no available First Aid Centre. People rely on
relatives to carry them to the nearest mission hospital.
Poor Diet. Incomes
from the land are low. Many men move away to find work in nearby towns as
porters, butchers, shoe-shiners, hotel maids and street groundnut vendors . Many
never return as they marry women from the towns. This places an even greater
strain on women and the elderly left behind to provide food and firewood for the
themselves and their children.
St. Joseph’s parish agreed to give financial help to build a Multi-purpose
centre at the estimated cost of £31,232. (TShs. 24,516,385) That is 24.5 million
Tanzanian shillings.
The Centre is to provide Healthcare and
Rehabilitation facilities, a classroom for 50 children and a meeting centre
with a shop for social purposes.
The Land on which this project is to being
built was given FREE by 2 elders of the local Clan, Paul Leon and Mzee Fulana
Man’gato. A tree was planted in 1995 to mark this occasion.
Money was raised by saving copper coins, having special coffee mornings and a
mini Christmas Fayre, as well as the sales of plants & homemade/grown produce
through-out the year from the piety stall.
Fr. Thadde Malekia's address
is as follows:
ONYAMBI SMALL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES
PO BOX 187
MOSHI
TANZANIA
EAST AFRICA.
|
The new building project starts to take shape.
This Multi-purpose centre was estimated to cost £31,232 in 1995. (TShs. 24,516,385) That is 24.5 million Tanzanian shillings. Father Malekia wrote at Christmas 2003 after a long delay due to illness. His
Blood pressure was dangerously high causing him him eye problems which prevented
him to read or write.
It is thought that the stress and no holiday for 20 years is the cause of his
blood pressure and eye problems.
He has been prescribed rest, a change of diet and some prescription drugs and
has undergone laser treatment to stem the bleeding in one of his eyes. He hopes
to have treatment on the other eye soon.
|
n FREE by 2 elders of the local Clan, Paul Leon and Mzee Fulana Man'gato. A tree was planted in 1995 to mark this occasion.
