A Community Mourns

It was with great sadness this week that one of the staff had died. Eda, one of our home-workers, had successfully had a large goitre removed a year ago, had fully recovered and returned to work. However, this single parent, aged 44, died on Wednesday after a short illness. On Friday the workshop closed so that the staff could attend her funeral.

 

In Tanzania, funerals are a community event. Following a service at her home where several hundred friends and family attended Eda returned to her traditional family home, a remote small-holding about 35 miles from Iringa where she was buried in a small family plot.

 

 Despite the distance and the difficulties in getting there about 200 attended the committal service. For the journey about 100 Neema staff crammed onto 3 buses with a total of 90 seats.

One bus broke its suspension on the rough tracks. This meant we all returned on 2 buses – most of us stood!!

For most people there are no formal undertakers to arrange the burial. Other than the officiating priest the task of burying Eda is shared by family and friends. Her coffin was transported to the small-holding on the back of a pick-up truck borrowed from the Diocese.

Hospitality is important and food was provided to the mourners prior to a short service.

The coffin is opened and mourners show theire respect and say goodbye to a friend by viewing Eda for the last time.

 

 

Sadly, as a single parent Eda leaves an 11 year old daughter, Efracia, who will in future be cared for by other members of her family

Friends from work carry her coffin to the grave.

The priest performs the final rites

Mourners helped in filling the grave.

Wreaths were laid and condolences shared

 

Funerals are a time for reflection.

First week 'In Charge'

Last week Ben and Katy left Tanzania for the UK. This meant that Malcolm is left ‘in charge’. However, just to put that in perspective, he is ‘in charge’ of the office (3 staff) whilst Liz and Dom are  ‘in charge’ of the rest of Neema (100 staff).

Before they left Zac and Alessi were able to invite some friends to play on the Tree House that Ben had built in the garden.  (This is probably the best, and most picturesque, Adventure Playground in Iringa).

Malcolm’s final act for Katy was to take her and their 2 children to Iringa Airport on Sunday so they could join Ben in Dar es Salaam for the flight to England. The local flight is a new service by Air Tanzania, and there are still teething problems. The flight was delayed for 3 hours, which meant that Malcolm had to abandon them so that he could return to Neema to receive a delivery of items. Facilities at Iringa Airport are rather basic!!

(Interestingly today the same flight left 4 hours early. Clearly Air Tanzania has an elastic timetable).

Twice a week Malcolm has been joining the staff for lunch rather than use the main café. On these days there is either a meat and rice dish, or beans and rice. Other days there is the local delicacy, Ugali (ground maize) which sits heavy on a pampered western stomach!

After work Malcolm found one of the staff having her hair done by another member of staff on the front of the Neema shop.

Champions' Football

One of the popular activities for the deaf staff at Neema  is football. Every month or so several staff visit a village church to explain how disabled people contribute to their communities, and to play a local team. Last weekend it was a chance to travel just over an hour to a village called Image.

 

We arrived in plenty of time to enjoy the hospitality of the church for breakfast. This is a usual, simple affair with a precious cup of ‘chai’ (sweet black tea) and a slice of bread.

Every church has at least one choir which lead the service through song and dance. Rumour has it that at one point Malcolm joined in the dancing, but fortunately there is no photographic evidence.

After a lunch of chicken and rice the big match started on a pitch in a dramatic landscape..

The first half was closely fought and at half time, with no score, Neema’s coach  gave some good tactical advice.

Minute by minute the Neema team took control of the second half.

The final result, 3-0 to Neema, was hard fought. Fortunately there was sugar cane growing in the fields around the pitch to boost energy levels of the players (Tip: Don't eat sugar cane unless your teeth are strong!)

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'Mexitted' - Malcolm has gone

Malcolm has arrived in Tanzania.

Door to Door, St Neots to Iringa, the journey took just over 50 hours, which isn’t bad for over 5,000 miles and an overnight stop in Dar es Salaam.

The city centre hotel room (Econolodge) was clean and comfortable, fully equipped with a TV. Unfortunately there was no power point to plug it into, but it was a nice thought.

 

On arrival it was time for a meal so Malcolm chose “ ’A’ Tea Room” for his first Tanzanian meal consisting of a meat (probably beef) chop, a potato and meat burger and coke – cost about £2.80. 

As the temperature was 35 deg C it was a good time for a coffee and vanilla ice cream cone. The shop assistant apologised that it cost about 5,000 tanzanian shillings (about £1.65). No problem, the UK price would be twice that.

The 11 hour journey from Dar es Salaam to Iringa was by coach.

Even though his first day in Iringa was a bank holiday (Union Day) Malcolm was soon at work at Neema Crafts