The 1.5 degree warming goal died at Cop27 – but hope will not in Tabora!

The seasons are about to change in Tanzania and the rain has just started this week – but slowly as yet. Please pray that it will continue and in suitable quantities!
Last year’s water has gone in most of our ponds. October was very hot and what little water there was is now all but dried up. But in some places there was until quite recently, still enough for people to be able to grow some food. And where there is water [or the promise of water], there is work which will allow some people to earn money to allow them to feed their families. Now is the time when the fields are being prepared ready for the next year’s growing season.

The pond building work of Familia Moja and the work being done to improve the soil by making [and showing others how to make] good quality compost, has made a big difference in the lives of those who live around those ponds. And as global warming continues and famine stalks parts of Africa, the risk to the people of Tanzania increases.

One of Dr Ruth’s former guards has one of the ponds next to his home and has been able to continue to earn a small living. He has now also been able to help support one of his neighbours – a single mum living nearby with 2 children she has been struggling to feed.

Mama Ndugu – our ‘chief nurse’ – also lives next to one of the ponds. She has a garden where she is able to grow food to help feed her family and neighbours. Her garden has been doing OK, but the last crop failed to ripen properly because the water ran out. But she has continued to feed those in need around her – about 50 local children every day! She feeds them ‘rice pap’ which is a mixture of well-cooked rice and ground peanuts. She is also able to provide them with some fruit two or three times a day. Some of these children will get nothing else to eat. Food prices are rising and it is now costing about £75 a month just to buy the food. Thankfully, she has several volunteers who are working with her to collect wood for the cooking etc, so there are no other overhead costs.

Many of our ‘clients’ are receiving food aid, as many are too poor to feed their families or two old, ill or disabled to do this without help. If you wish to donate then the easiest way is via our CAF Donate page at www.cafdonate.cafonline.org/11331