Remembrances

Although he thinks he knows a bit about history, and about the battles in the Great War in France, Russia, Turkey etc, Malcolm doesn’t remember that fighting in the 1914-18 war took place in Tanzania. One of the war cemeteries is near Neema Crafts in Iringa. This week the UK’s High Commissioner for Tanzania came as part of a nationwide visit to meet UK citizens living in Tanzania and she held a brief remembrance ceremony to honour those killed in war.

 Later she took the opportunity to visit the workshop with her Vice Consul, to speak with the staff and to find out how their lives have been transformed by having employment. She also went away with a car full of goods bought from our shop!!!! The next best place for retail therapy to Oxford Street.

The week always begins with a service in the chapel led by our chaplain. This is an opportunity for staff to pray for the coming week and for the work of Neema Crafts. It will also be one of Malcolm’s duties to make announcements of what will happen in the coming week – he had better start remembering some Swahili!!!!

Some of the techniques used here are a reminder of the traditional ways of working. There are several weavers using hand machines. Agustino is one of the older disabled workers and he turns cones of natural wall into hanks ready for dying, using a traditional wooden machine turned by hand. These hanks are then used by the weavers to make cloth, or to make table runners on the smaller table top looms.

Miriam (Mim) is a physiotherapist working at Neema Crafts. Because many of the severe physical disabilities in adults are a result of child-hood difficulties not being treated properly she provides care to children in the community. Paulia suffers from cerebral palsy due to a difficult birth which has resulted in weakness in her ankles and left arm. Today she received her new, reused, boots to help her to walk.

There have been opportunities for relaxation. This week was the 2^nd birthday for Alessia (daughter of Ben and Katy Ray, the Directors of Neema Crafts). Fortunately Irene remembered to bring a roll of pre-made icing to decorate the cake.

A regular feature of life here is to visit a local farm on Saturdays to play Volley ball. This farm has been in the same family for generations – and for a moment the farmhouse reminded us of Merrie England.

 Until we saw the scaffolding which certainly doesn’t meet UK Health and Safety standards.