Sewing Project

In order to provide life skills and a better future for all, this sewing project was set up. Mission Morogoro were thrilled to provide young women and mothers in the Tunguli area with sewing machines and the opportunity to learn how to sew. It is hoped that this venture will enable women to provide clothes more cheaply for their families and also the opportunity to form small business groups to make clothes for others. Our hope is that this will allow them to build up some financial capital to help lift them out of poverty.

Water Project

From the very beginning of our relationship with Tunguli in 2012 the highest priority expressed by the villagers was improved access to clean, safe drinking water. This was a particular cry from the women, who are almost always responsible for collecting and transporting water for their families. At that time most water was lifted in buckets from a couple of unsafe, open and completely overloaded wells. We had even seen people scooping water from muddy pools. There were long queues, often overnight, and always the possibility of water contamination or injury by falling into the well. There was also concern about the safety of girls and women while queueing after dark.

Working through our local partner SAWA (Sanitation And Water Action), a Tanzanian NGO with long experience in this field, we have been able to provide extra wells which have concrete caps and are fitted with simple but effective rope pumps. They are also designed so that spilt water runs away from the well and does not create pools of stagnant, diseased water. This means that the water is not contaminated, e.g. by animals or people, and the danger of falling in is eliminated. The pumps are low-tech but effective and can be repaired by local fundis (technicians) if they fail. There are now six further wells and pumps distributed across the community of Tunguli, providing safe/clean water and practically eliminating queueing. The result is a safe and sustainable water supply which is helping to improve the health and quality of life of the people of Tunguli.

The power of football to change lives

Changing attitudes to health and hygiene takes time and is never easy. However, the SAWA team amazed us by suggesting that, because football is a universal ‘language’ which includes so many of the younger members of the community, the creation of a Football Cup Competition in Tunguli could be used to spread the message that personal hygiene is vital to the health and wellbeing of the whole community. Well, thousands of people attended the final of the competition where this vital message was broadcast to all those present during breaks in the exciting football. Now the younger people are helping to educate the older members of the community on the significance of good personal hygiene.