MINCHINHAMPTON - NKOKOTO LINK
Nkokoto is a village in Tanzania, Africa.
It has been linked to Minchinhampton since 1979 and over the years Minchinhampton School has raised money for various projects in the village of Nkokoto in many different ways.
It has been linked to Minchinhampton since 1979 and over the years Minchinhampton School has raised money for various projects in the village of Nkokoto in many different ways.
A Visit to Nkokoto, western Tanzania
It was only when the Boeing 777 descended to land in Dar es Salaam that I realised that I was in a different continent. To me, having lived in the Isle of Wight and in Gloucestershire for the vast majority of my life, Dar es Salaam was a different world. Yet the next day, on arrival in Nkokoto, what I saw could have been on a different planet! The extremes of comparison between our lives here in Minchinhampton and those of the villagers in Nkokoto are difficult to describe in a short article such as this, yet the happiness, warmth of welcome and willingness to make me comfortable and to do anything for me was greater than I have ever experienced at anytime, anywhere!
Nkokoto is a village an hour from Urambo, which is two hours on a hot, dusty rough road from Tabora, the capital of the western region of Tanzania. Tabora itself is between three and five hours flying time west of Dar es Salaam. Tanzania is a big country! The dry season in Nkokoto this year has been long and seemingly ever-lasting, and the wells are almost dry. The one well in the village which has some water is a kilometre from the centre of the village and is an unlined well. The water has the appearance of the water in my sink at home after I have washed up the Sunday lunch dishes yet this is their water for washing, cooking and drinking. The villagers boil the water before use, and attempt to keep everything clean, but this is no easy matter under such circumstances. The newly installed pump taps into a water supply for the present time.
The school is simply walls and an aluminium roof. Walls are unplastered, the floors are dirt floors, windows are just spaces in the walls, there is hardly any furniture for the 350 children, resources and materials are very, very few, yet the villagers regard the school with pride, and value education as important above all things, (and they have to pay for it). The children wear a uniform which in so many cases has seen many better days, yet they are immaculately clean, go willingly to school, and understand the importance of attending regularly. Many teachers in Tanzania have only received a primary school education themselves, so there is a programme of up-grading the teachers' skills, knowledge and expertise taking place at the present time. Mrs. Loyce Chilemeji, the Headteacher, had bare walls in her office - with the exception of pictures of Minchinhampton School, our children and the official opening by HRH the Princesss Royal in December 1999!
It was only when the Boeing 777 descended to land in Dar es Salaam that I realised that I was in a different continent. To me, having lived in the Isle of Wight and in Gloucestershire for the vast majority of my life, Dar es Salaam was a different world. Yet the next day, on arrival in Nkokoto, what I saw could have been on a different planet! The extremes of comparison between our lives here in Minchinhampton and those of the villagers in Nkokoto are difficult to describe in a short article such as this, yet the happiness, warmth of welcome and willingness to make me comfortable and to do anything for me was greater than I have ever experienced at anytime, anywhere!
Nkokoto is a village an hour from Urambo, which is two hours on a hot, dusty rough road from Tabora, the capital of the western region of Tanzania. Tabora itself is between three and five hours flying time west of Dar es Salaam. Tanzania is a big country! The dry season in Nkokoto this year has been long and seemingly ever-lasting, and the wells are almost dry. The one well in the village which has some water is a kilometre from the centre of the village and is an unlined well. The water has the appearance of the water in my sink at home after I have washed up the Sunday lunch dishes yet this is their water for washing, cooking and drinking. The villagers boil the water before use, and attempt to keep everything clean, but this is no easy matter under such circumstances. The newly installed pump taps into a water supply for the present time.
The school is simply walls and an aluminium roof. Walls are unplastered, the floors are dirt floors, windows are just spaces in the walls, there is hardly any furniture for the 350 children, resources and materials are very, very few, yet the villagers regard the school with pride, and value education as important above all things, (and they have to pay for it). The children wear a uniform which in so many cases has seen many better days, yet they are immaculately clean, go willingly to school, and understand the importance of attending regularly. Many teachers in Tanzania have only received a primary school education themselves, so there is a programme of up-grading the teachers' skills, knowledge and expertise taking place at the present time. Mrs. Loyce Chilemeji, the Headteacher, had bare walls in her office - with the exception of pictures of Minchinhampton School, our children and the official opening by HRH the Princesss Royal in December 1999!
The Dispensary, a small building which serves Nkokoto and the surrounding villages, has one bed, several empty shelves (which should hold equipment and medical supplies) and a desk, on which was a register. I was asked to register by the midwife - the reason being that my wife has also trained in midwifery! I am not sure what I have signed myself as possibly the first white pregnant man to visit Nkokoto! Discussing the problems that face the villagers was not difficult ( malaria and AIDS are the most dangerous killers ) and Tanzania has not yet begun to overcome these two killers. I asked what happens if the situation arises when a woman cannot get to the dispensary in time to have the baby - the answer was simply that she delivers on the side of the road, then goes home!
The children and villagers welcomed me, the first white man to visit the village this year, with fervent and enthusiastic singing, dancing, chanting and whistle blowing! The Village Chairman and Committee stayed with me the whole time, ensuring that I was well looked after, that everything was in order, and that I was fed well - typical meals included meat, either beef or goat, but tougher than my old school satchel, greens (pleasantly like spinach), bananas cooked in oil with onions and peppers, and a filler - rice, millet or maize. Drinks would be tea, coffee or bottled drinks. On the evening we dipped into our backpack and produced a quantity of bottled beer ( Safari Beer and Kilimanjaro Lager ) the faces lit up as if it was Christmas! On the occasion of being offered fish head with the rice, I looked cautiously at the eye peering up at me from the plate, but was in a situation when I could not refuse and my stomach didn't let me forget that meal for several days!
The kindness that was expressed to me during my stay was overwhelming. The journey to and from Nkokoto was difficult, but I had a truck and driver at my disposal the whole time, plus the services of an interpreter. The little children followed us everywhere, and when I found a packet of Rowntrees Fruit Pastels in my pocket and handed these out, you would think that I was offering a meal from the Hilton! And the joy on a little girl's face when I gave her the silver paper, brought tears to my eyes. She took it to play with it, never having seen silver paper before! Whenever we sat down to talk or eat a meal in a house in the village, every window was full of little black faces watching every move I made! If I said anything inappropriate, my interpreter translated it appropriately so that it wouldn?t cause offence! He was extremely concerned about my safety in Tabora when we were in areas where possibly a European could be in danger, and took every precaution necessary. I was introduced to everybody he felt was important - from the Member of Parliament for the area, Regional Commissioner and Regional Planning Officer (and their wives) to their personal friends and the family hens. I was taken to experience life in Urambo, Tabora and meet the Principal of the Folk Development College, where Minchinhampton sponsors students learning skills such as mechanics, carpentry and needlework. Wherever we went, everyone was at great pains to ensure that I understood and was happy!