Star Fund-raisers visit report

Visit to Jambiani by Linda and Robin Clarke – ZAP Star Fund-raisers

We have recently returned from our holiday to Zanzibar, which was everything we hoped for and much more! During our stay we were collected by Mr.Pandu who drove us to Jambiani for a 24 hour visit. This turned out to be a most incredible experience for us both and an amazing insight to all the hard work done by Zap to help the Jambiani community.

We stayed at "Blue Lagoon" and were looked after very well indeed by Mr.Pai and Mr.Choma who cooked and waited on us, two charming men who were ZAP’s first ever students and are now very good at their jobs!

At the Zap Library/Internet Cafe, we met Nabawia (librarian) and Liz Rose (V.S.O teacher) – then off to the local school where we met Mr.Topu (deputy head, who is also in charge of the new ZAP Fish shop project run by the local disabled people.  Next, a visit to the Jambiani Sewing Ladies who were very busy indeed training a new intake of ladies. The importance of this Sewing Project is in giving the ladies an alternative way of earning an income other than back-breaking seaweed farming! It is incredibly popular, with a long waiting list.

Mr Pandu then took us to the Jambiani clinic, where ZAP has supplied a huge generator that is very important due to the frequent power cuts, not to mention the recent total blackout Zanzibar endured earlier this year!  We met Dr.Hamza, a most charming man and the only doctor caring for 8000 patients. He instigated a successful local cleanup programme which has promoted health education to prevent diseases. He did comment that Jambiani could do with a dentist! (Anybody out there who can help?)

Waiting for us on our return to Blue Lagoon was the North Village chief, Ali, who repeatedly conveyed his sincere thanks to Zap and all their supporters. Mr. Pandu informed us that Jambiani has two well respected chiefs.

That evening we shared another tasty meal (thank you Choma and Pai!) with Mr.Pandu and Liz.  Again it became obvious to us that much successful progress is being achieved through ZAP. Liz, who has only been in Jambiani for a short while, had already trained enthusiastic volunteers to computerise the previously laborious exam marking system for 6000 school pupils – not only in Jambiani but in a much wider area too. Phew!

The next morning, after another visit to the local school to meet Mr Maabad, Headmaster, we were proudly shown the computer room which is sponsored by ZAP. We had the opportunity of meeting Basira (Mr.Pandu's wife) before being allowed to take photos of the village ladies farming seaweed.

On the way to Stone town, we stopped to see the great new water pump, due to be installed very soon, and to meet Hon Dr.Haji Mwita Haji, local member of parliament who thanked Zap supporters for their generosity in purchasing it.  He gave us his assurance that the pump would be fitted by the end of September, but stated that it was a complicated matter due to its size and new siting. We thanked him for his time and assistance on behalf of Zap.

Mr.Pandu then kindly dropped us off at our Hotel. When Robin and I reflected on our Jambiani experience we felt that we had been treated like V.I.P's with all persons concerned wanting to report to us. We were only holidaymakers who have supported a very worthwhile charity, but we felt privileged to have such a close encounter with the people of Jambiani, and to see firsthand how Zap has made and is making a substantial difference to people’s lives!

Well done Janie, Pat and ZAP Directors and especially all you Zap supporters! I would like to thank personally EVERY person who has helped in any way at all to raise the money we were able to send from Bexhill-on-sea. We are so grateful for all your kindness and can assure you that the money is very well spent.

Linda and Robin Clarke September 2008