ZAP Christmas News Letter

As ever, our stalwart ZAP supporters have been extremely generous during the past year, both with donations and with help and advice. Your money goes a long way in Zanzibar, and regular contributions ensure the sustainability of our projects – we are very grateful, and never take your generosity for granted.

In early summer, two major ZAP events took place: the very successful Houghton Hall garden tour and cocktail party in May, by kind permission of the Marquis of Cholmondeley, and the first visit to the UK of Mr Pandu, our mbeloved Zanzibar Director whose hard work in Jambiani is absolutely central to our charity. Andrew writes:

What a delight it was to have Mr Pandu with us in the UK during May. Farmer, fisherman, taxi-driver, father, grandfather, ZAP’s agent in Zanzibar, and of course village Imam and friend of all – but now on his first ever visit outside Africa – would he just count the days till he got back on the plane? Absolutely not!!

He loved the bustle of London, bicycled through the Norfolk countryside, and strode round UEA and the College courtyards of Cambridge. Dressed in his robes he enchanted the primary school children of Docking and discussed the sermon with the vicar. At meetings of our supporters in London and Norfolk his first-hand accounts painted a picture of what we and the Village Committee are achieving in Jambiani. His friendliness and enthusiasm, which made him such a favourite visitor was, we feel, a symbol of the ambitions of ZAP and our friends in Zanzibar.

At Mr Pandu’s receptions he spoke eloquently about the disastrous water supply crisis in Jambiani, and as a direct result of his appeal we were able to raise $12,000 to purchase a new pump which is to be maintained in a private/public partnership with the villagers themselves. This pump provides clean water to a large area and when it broke down in March great hardship ensued. Old wells were opened up and consequently there was a rapid increase in dysentery and similar diseases (fortunately no cholera this time). Dear Dr Hamza sent us a desperate letter asking for help – his workload had doubled! In 2008 one would think that a clean water supply was a basic human right, but the ZNZ Government said there was no money for a new pump and seemed prepared to abandon Jambiani. Unbelievable as it sounds, and to everyone’s immense frustration, the ZNZ Water Authority has taken 5 months to install it – this is being accomplished as I write!

Education: ZAP has expanded considerably in 2008, particularly in the area of Education. As a result of our importuning of VSO Tanzania, we were allocated a volunteer Teacher/Adviser, Liz Rose, specifically for the Jambiani area (it is unusual for VSO to do this) who arrived in July and has settled in very well. Her brief is to improve education across the board in the community, but for the immediate future we have asked her to focus narrowly on the English teaching (also Maths) at the Secondary School where ZAP’s help is needed more than ever. During the past year, one of the only two experienced English teachers (Mr Ameir, who also taught ZAP Ladies classes) sadly died. Unlike most other African countries, Zanzibar does not have a recent history of speaking English as a second language, since after Independence - over 40 years ago - the statutory teaching of English was totally abandoned. Quite recently, the Tanzanian government decreed that from Form I upwards (roughly aged 12) children are now expected to learn all their lessons and to take all their exams in English! The result is that there are now generations of Zanzibari children who are massively disadvantaged simply because their English is so poor. With absolutely NO relevant textbooks, very few dictionaries and only one teacher, the situation has been really desperate.

Fortunately, in addition to Liz, ZAP has two volunteer teachers (from Vancouver, Canada) now in Jambiani; Simon Oliver, who has just retired as Head of English in a large school and his wife Nan who is a brilliant Art/Design teacher and also teaches primary English. They are staying in Jambiani until March 2009, and we are enormously grateful for their generosity in devoting their time, not inconsiderable financial resources and their expertise to our community in this way. They have fitted into village life wonderfully well, and are always cheerful, optimistic and patient when confronted with the sort of problems that always pop up in Africa – particularly during the recent season of the short rains which bring extremely humid and energy-sapping conditions. They will all take a well-earned break over the Christmas period, but we hope that with the new school year starting in January, some real progress will be achievable in the school. (See Liz Rose’s excellent report on the website)

ZAP has now purchased 160 English language books for use in Form I next year, much to Simon’s relief. The school received a fantastic donation of 500 new Swahili/English dictionaries from Ashurst, the legal firm in London for whom Olivia Boyle works. Olivia and Emily Gerard-Leigh took 10 days leave to make their third visit to Jambiani in October – they presided at a grand ceremony when the dictionaries were distributed to the school children, helped the Olivers to settle in, and took charge of the Disabled Association’s new Fish Project on ZAP’s behalf. It was lovely to think that young people such as Livs and Ems are so supportive of ZAP and we value their contribution immensely, both in Africa and back in the UK.

Nursery Schools (180 children) – non Government funded: ZAP now provides a regular monthly rice allowance for the teachers, whose pay is abysmal and intermittent. We continue to fund provision of ‘porridge’ 3 times a week (organised by ladies from ZAP English classes), and the ZAP Sewing Ladies Co-operative has made uniforms with material supplied by us for those many kids whose parents cannot afford them.

Medical Clinic: ZAP continues to assist Dr Hamza with equipment and medicines when necessary. The large generator is now functioning well, and is invaluable during the frequent powercuts; we also pay for the maintenance and fuel for Hamza’s motor bike.

Ladies Sewing Classes: continue in ZAP’s room at the skuli and is a real success story, with a long waiting list. The ZAP trained teachers are headed by the inimitable Khadija – who has proved herself to be a good business woman as well as mentor to the group. Nan Oliver has been very much involved with the ladies, and her brilliant designs incorporating the local Swahili sayings have been an inspiration. We now have 7 sewing machines, and with Nan’s support the ladies are set to market their products widely in the coming high season.

University bursaries: Our two academic students, Nassra and Makame have done extremely well in their first year, with Makame gaining all straight A’s in his exams. Both of them spent some time doing practical teaching work in the school during the summer.

Bursaries for Tradesmen (Fundis): Another success story! Pat and Janie visited the colleges in August and met with the Principals and the 7 young men involved – all of whom have done very well. It was agreed that they should continue for a 3^rd and final year of training. We were thrilled that the 2 electricians now work part-time in the community, and are already gaining an excellent reputation – having completely re-wired two large beach houses plus Liz’s little house. Their work was excellent and we have had good reports on all sides.

Fundi Co-operative Workshop: Plans for this innovative new venture, which has complete support from the village committee, and for which ZAP has received excellent sponsorship from a UK charitable trust, are progressing well. Lock-up premises in a central location have been rented, two ladies are currently being trained in office management in Stone Town (to be shared with the Disabled Association Fish Project), and the village has offered the mechanics a large site just off the main road. More updates on the project will be posted on the website in 2009.

Disabled Association Fish Project: centrally located premises next door to the Fundi Workshop have been rented for the marketing of frozen fish. ZAP is providing the necessary capital to purchase equipment and to train two ladies in office management.

In the present financial climate it is all the more important to husband our resources carefully and to prioritise those areas where we feel we make the most difference. We are determined to sustain on-going projects, and therefore do not intend to start anything fresh in 2009.

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HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!