Urambo FDC

In response to a special request at the beginning of the year, the College has produced 40 desks funded by FUM for Kiloleni Secondary School.

In March Mr Gulmay informed us that the College had been successful in its application to the Tanzania Forest Fund for a bee keeping project, to involve upgrading the FDC forest and improving the livelihood of the local community.

The highlight of this year was the visit by FUM’s Project Officer in August.  He stayed in Devon House for three nights which gave him some time to meet students as well as to be the first FUM officer to meet Mr Gulmay since his appointment.  It gave the opportunity to see the new buildings and refurbished facilities built in recent years.

The re-furbished welding and metalwork workshop is being put to good use since the College was successful in obtaining a tender to supply desks and chairs to secondary schools in Urambo District.  This is giving appropriate students the opportunity to continue their training and assist in useful production too.

The motorcycle was finally purchased and is being put into good use.  On occasions it is used to take sick students to hospital.  

Poor rains caused real difficulties in water supply, both for day-to-day use by all College members, but also to maintain the crops which have been planted on College ground.  Faulty piping within the College campus was identified by Lucky Mgeni and was repaired.  However, poor supply from the town remained a problem.  At times the students had to collect water from off campus.

In addition to the funding provided for new buildings, the College was successful in a bid to the Tanzania Education Authority for funding the refurbishment of the welding and metal fabrication workshop.  It took some time for this work to be completed, affected in part by the Covid pandemic.

Because of the difficulty in sourcing spares for the College vehicle, it was agreed that a motorcycle would be purchased.  FUM could not consider the expense of replacing the College Tempo Trax vehicle.

Late in 2018 we heard from Mr Nestory, Principal at Urambo for five years, that for health reasons he is moving to Sengerama FDC, in Mwanza Region. He has been a very good leader of the FDC and will be greatly missed by students and staff. The new Principal, Mr Elias Gulmay, started in January.

As a result of Urambo FDC's strong performance under Mr Nestory's leadership it was selected by the government to be in the first 20 out of 55 FDCs chosen to be upgraded. Work on male dormitories, the dining hall, kitchen, latrines and a classroom for the popular Electrical Installation course is already nearing completion. Female dormitories, the motor mechanic and carpentry workshops and the computer room will follow shortly.

Visitors
Devon House at the FDC recently hosted visitors from the longstanding Minchinhampton Nkokoto link.

In March and April the FDC will again be hosting UK doctors doing their elective training at nearby Urambo Hospital.

In April/May 2017 three UK doctors from UCL spent their 'elective' at Urambo Hospital providing much needed extra support there, as well as gaining hugely themselves from the experience.

FUM organised their time in and transport from Dar es Salaam on arrival from UK. They stayed at nearby Urambo FDC, hosted by the long-standing housekeeper Mama Morro who is well used to overseas visitors such as FUM Officers Jo and Richard in November 2016.

Read Adam and Jane's reports of their 2017 Elective Placement

Due to poor winter rains the 2017 dry season was the worst for 10 years and water had to be rationed. Fortunately the autumn rains were good and came early so the maize and other crops are now growing well.

The downside was that an unusually bad autumn storm damaged the roof of Devon House, used by guests at the FDC, and cut off the electricity supply. Both these have now been repaired.

Nick Vinall
FUM Treasurer

New water supply For many years the FDC has not had a reliable supply of clean water. With the help of the local water 'boss' Mr Lucky Mgeni FUM has paid for the FDC to be connected to a new town borehole.

This has made a big difference to students and staff in terms of sanitation and hygiene and the vegetable garden is now thriving.

Students update Mr Nestory has reported that student numbers are excellent. The·great popularity of domestic electric installation and motor mechanics reflects the growing demands of the local economy. 25 students from poor families receive support from FUM. There are still the traditional courses in tailoring, masonry and bricklaying, and carpentry. Eight students are registered for the 3-month short IT course.

Kindergarten This is thriving with 30 children now attending daily, supervised by a local young woman. Parents pay Tsh.3000 (about £1) a month for breakfast for the children.

Devon House for accommodating visitors has had the bathroom upgraded and a new fridge and wi-fi router installed. FUM chairman Richard Pratt and Jo Taylor stayed there in November 2016 and three UK doctors are there in April/May 2017 while spending their 'elective' at nearby Urambo Hospital. They took some laptop chargers for the FDC computers.
 

Huruma Centre is a nearby refuge for orphans and children with albinism. FUM is now supporting the centre by providing specialist sun hats, much needed to reduce melanomas.

Di Cooper
FUM FDC Co-ordinator

The Principal, Mr Herman Nestory, arrived in 2014 and has shown much initiative in taking the college forward with self-funding initiatives. As well as the farming business there is now a college crèche.

The college was the first to produce modern bee-hives, more efficient and far more environmentally friendly than the traditional bark-ring style which kills the tree from which the bark came.

To complement the hives tailoring students at the college use the sewing machines (from a FUM partner Workaid in UK) to produce bee-keepers' outfits for sale.