Dates: Potentially August 2 – 20, 2023 Team Leader: Terry Janzen

Partner: Shirati Kisare la Mennonite Diocese

We are tentatively looking at August 2 – 20, 2023 as the dates for our next Shirati Infrastructure Project field visit.

The photo above shows the results of our last visit with the roof installed for the Workshop classroom and the roof/workspace addition on the end for the proposed concrete brick factory at the Bishop Kisare Vocational Open School. This school is owned and managed by Kanisa la Mennonite Diocese in Shirati, Tanzania. The School is fully accredited and we have been assisting with their multi-year build plan over the last nine years. Projects have included construction of an administration building, classrooms, washrooms, and outdoor workstations. This most recent construction included the use of concrete bricks made on site and it is hoped that the proposed brick factory can become a reality very soon. The Vocational Open School Faculties include Welding/Manufacturing, Auto Mechanics, Tailoring, Electrical, Carpentry/Joinery, and Driver Education programs. Part of the funds we are trying to raise will be used to pay for electrical work on this building that will be installed by professional electricians employed by a local Shirati company.

Another aspect of our project is in support of the construction of small health centre buildings in remote villages. We started one in 2019 and due to Covid, could not return to finish. But the locals completed the work on their own, using bricks from the KMT Diocese concrete brick crew (molds funded by our team). Since there are many villages looking for help with this type of structure, we anticipate this will be an objective for our August 2023 visit.

In addition to small heath centres, there continues to be a need for mud hut construction for disadvantaged parishioners in the KMT catchment area and we expect to be involved in at least one, perhaps two hut builds again in 2023.

The female members of our teams will continue their involvement in female hygiene education and the distribution of Days for Girls reusable female hygiene kits to high school girls and young women through the assistance of a local NGO called Mama Maisha. We will be working with Mama Maisha to source Days for Girls kits locally and to ensure that this aspect of our project is conducted in a culturally appropriate manner. Procuring the goods locally contributes to improving the local economy and promotes sustainability.

Finally, and maybe, most importantly, we hope to continue to build relationships with our Shirati friends. Over the years, we have made connections with many people who have taught us a lot. These relationships are important. We will continue to learn from, and build friendships with, our connections in Tanzania.

One of our key local personal connections that assists us on the ground with logistics, planning, and liaison with the Diocese Staff and other indigenous partners has been our relationship with Fred and Leisha Otieno. Fred is the former Community Services Director with the Diocese and our current liaison for this Project. Leisha is one of the Founders of Mama Maisha. While living in Mwanza, a 5 hour drive away, they continue to be involved in Shirati with the Vocational School and Mama Maisha and they provide the project lead and CACHA with valued information for decision making. Very recently and with extremely short notice, they were informed by their landlord that they would have to find and relocate to a different home. Through this project we are supporting them with some initial funds for relocation thereby allowing them to continue their dedicated work on this project. Your donations toward this are most welcome.

Spending of funds is confined to CACHA programs and projects approved by CACHA’s Board of Directors. Each contribution directed toward an approved program or project will be used as restricted with the understanding that when the need for such a program or project has been met, or cannot be completed for any reason, the Board will determine the reallocation of remaining restricted contributions.

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