Day1-Arrival
SiteVisit-2017
Minchinhampton – Nkokoto Link
NKOKOTO 2017
Report of Rod’s visit to Nkokoto and Vumilia in September 2017
The aim of Rod’s third visit to Nkokoto and Urambo was to evaluate the recent projects established during the last two or three years and to research which projects the Link can support during the next two years. The itinerary also included visits to Vumilia on behalf of the Nailsworth – Vumilia Link. Rod spent 8 days in Nkokoto and Vumilia, together with visits to the Folk Development College (FDC) in Urambo, Urambo Mosque, and being welcomed in Stima’s and Augustine’s homes (our local representatives in Nkokoto and Vumilia.) Rod was based in Urambo, in the Kwezi Royal Inn, an upmarket (by Urambo standards!) hotel in the centre of the town. Although it was basic, it provided all I needed for the time there. Meals were supplied and it supplied toilet paper too!
Journey time was 26/28 hours, out on Egypt Air via Cairo and back with Emirates via Dubai, with the Dar es Salaam to Tabora leg with Precision Air.( Flying from Dar to Tabora saves a long 15 hour bus journey between the two cities.) Stima met me at Tabora Airport and the final 60 miles of the journey (now on tarmac roads by courtesy of a Chinese workforce!) was by taxi to Urambo.
This was the dry season, the last rains having fallen in mid May, four months earlier, and the whole region was bone dry with an atmosphere full of dust kicked up by passing vehicles. The short, intermittent rains will have begun by the time you read this report. Nkokoto gets two rainy seasons in a year, October-December (short rains) and the heavier long rains from March to May. Daytime temperatures during my visit ranged from 35 degrees Celsius plus at its hottest to 30 degrees at its coolest (and I forgot to take my hat!)
On the afternoon of my arrival, Stima’s quest was to take me to visit all those people who have helped him achieve our projects during the last year or so. This included the man who put the bicycles together, the man who printed “Minch - Nkokoto Link” on each bike, the Bank Manager and staff who hold the Link account in Urambo, the man who supplied the mosquito nets and solar powered lights for the families in Nkokoto, the stationer who supplied the books and writing materials for the sponsored students, the tailor who made the school uniforms…. and so it went on, from shop to shop in Urambo centre!!! But it was worthwhile, being able to show our appreciation of everything they do for the Link, and of course they loved meeting Stima’s Musungo. (Musungo is Swahili for “white man” and there was no hiding in Urambo, the only white man in a town of 29,000 Tanzanians!!)
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© - Minchinhampton-Nkokoto Link Programme - 2017
© - Minchinhampton-Nkokoto Link Programme - 2019