Africa is a beautiful and inspiring place full of natural wonders; it is why people travel there. But it’s also a place where many people are struggling to improve their living conditions, gain access to education and protect the environment in which they live.
The African Space Trust exists to support the work of local development and conservation initiatives, in the areas in which African Space groups stay, through fundraising and active involvement. With all administration costs met by African Space, we can guarantee that all monies raised are spent in Africa.
Formed in September 2009, the Trust aims eventually to support organisations wherever African Space travellers can be found, but for now our efforts are focused on the Itete Medical Centre Project, in the Kilombero Valley, Tanzania. This information page introduces the Trust and the project and will, in due course, be replaced with a full website in which you can follow the progress made by the projects we support.
Project 1
Name:
Itete Medical Centre Project
Project Location:
Ulanga District, Morogoro Region, Tanzania
Background: Itete is a large rural village of 7,200 people, comprised predominantly of WaPogoro farmers and WaSukuma pastoralists. Apart from farming, the only formal employment is with the Kilombero Valley Teak Company. This means that the village is completely dependent upon rainfall and a good harvest for its ongoing prosperity. Despite this precarious situation, the village has a good history of community action, fundraising and operating with outside agencies. The best example is the successful construction of a gravity fed water system, which pipes water from the neighbouring Mahenge Hills to the village, eradicating cholera and amoebic dysentery.
Challenges
Medical
The remote location of Itete makes the supply of drugs logistically difficult and basic facilities are also severely limited. The need for improved medical services is drastic. The major challenges are:
• Insufficient stocks of medication
• Inadequate general medical equipment
• Physical infrastructure in a dangerous state of repair
Education
The level of education is relatively high in the village due to the commitment of the teaching staff. However their efforts are hampered by a lack of funds and equipment which results in:
• School buildings in a dangerous state of repair
• Lack of basic teaching materials
Actions
Medical
Led by the local priest, the community are planning to rebuild a section of the old mission church to be used as a fully equipped and staffed hospital ward. To support the community in achieving this aim is our long term challenge, but in the short term we are doing the following:
• Supplying enough malarial treatments to meet the fluctuating seasonal need
• Funding an ongoing programme replacing existing beds, mosquito nets and basic diagnostic equipment
• Working in partnership to initiate and to complete the phased re-development of the old mission buildings
Education
In co-operation with teaching staff and local government to support the ongoing achievements of Itete’s schools, the Trust will:
Facilitate the development of links between schools in the UK and Itete to raise awareness of cultural differences and alternate ways of living
Raise funds to support the purchase of educational materials
Update – May 15 2012
Only 3 months to go until the Grand Opening of the Itete Medical Centre and we have received the fantastic news from our partners the Hampshire Scouts & Guides that the project has been awarded a grant of £20,000 from the Guernsey Overseas Aid Commission to be used to complete the building phase of the Medical Centre.
This wonderful donation will enable us to add the accommodation required to house government doctors, an essential goal if the centre is to operate to its full potential. As the Trust website develops we will be adding additional photos, but for now, please share the good news and keep an eye on this or the Trust Facebook page for continuing updates.
Update – September 12 2011
Wow! Where did the summer go? Ah well, it flies every year. However, the great news to come out of it is that 2 Trustees accompanied the Aspire to Africa trip to the Kilombero Valley and used the stay in Itete Village to catch up with the progress of Project: Itete. Photos will follow on the updated website soon to be launched, but we are very pleased to report that the project is on schedule and just under budget. The most recent transfer will finance the construction of the walls up to the roof plate level and our new target is to have the roof up and finished before the short rains due at the end of November. This will require an extra £10,000, but with ‘Walking For Itete’, the November Curry Night at The Mint, contributions from the Scouts & Guides, plus the proceeds of Dar es Salaam’s best Halloween Party, we are confident it can be done.
The big news is that Jamie, Mark, Brady and Peter – The Indomitable Four’ – from 18 to 24 January will be walking 145 miles from London to Birmingham along the Grand Union Canal, to raise money for the Itete Medical Centre. To follow their progress, please check out the blog found on this link.
We also want your money: walking is nice an’ all, but we want cash to do it please! All donations are welcome, to donate, please visit the Walking For Itete team page on Just Giving and part with what you can. If you prefer to donate cash, then grab a trustee and cheques, made payable to African Space Trust can be sent to The African Space Trust, 181-183 Summer Road, Erdington, Birmingham B23 6DX Thank you in advance; without your support, nothing will happen.
June 27 2011
June has been a busy month in the life of the African Space Trust. 8th June saw an extremely successful London Fundraiser hosted by our friends at King’s College London. The current amount raised is as yet unknown as donations are still coming in, but we were very happy with the support and would like to thank everybody who turned out to hear stories of Africa and to try their luck in the charity auction. Thanks to Philip Mosely, Artistic Co-Ordinator of the Royal Ballet, for his donation of a truly special auction lot. London will see the Trust back again, probably in the winter, so please keep an eye out on this site and Facebook for future events.
We are also entering the summer fundraising season for schools and across the West Midlands charity ‘Walks to Africa’ in aid of Project: Itete will be treading down a playing field near you soon. We look forward to getting the hard earned cash out to Itete. On Thursday 23 June, the Chair of Trustees, Carol Lyndon, was also honoured to receive a cheque for £1,200 from the School Council of Barr Beacon Language College. With friends like this that medical centre will soon be built.
Aspire to Africa take their combination of sports equipment, lesson plans and bags of enthusiasm to the Kilombero Valley in August, so check back here in September for more shots of how the construction of the medical centre is progressing.
But best of all, the Trust has been awarded registered charity status by the Charity Commission. We are now officially The African Space Trust Reg. Charity No. 1142524. Happy days and well done to everybody who helped us get this far!
June 6 2011
In Tanzania, the long rains stretch between the end of March and the end of June. In the village, tools have been downed, but here in the UK the fundraising continues. May saw the extremely successful re-run of thee Minted Fundraiser in Birmingham, which raised over £2,000. On 8th June, the Trust will be taking its work to King’s College London for a London Fundraiser. With stunning support from our partners int he Seychelles and the Royal Ballet, the night will offer a charity auction unlike any other, plus a presentation on the work and the progress of the project.
Watch this space and like our Facebook page to keep a track on progress in Itete as the skies clear and the site comes to life once more. August 2012 is our target completion date. Help us get there.
Update- January 6, 2011
Down in Itete the old year drew to a close amidst much activity. Where the old mission building once stood now we have firm footings from which the external walls are beginning to rise.
