After so many meetings at Meserani over the past few days, (albeit necessary ones), it was good to meet up with some our sponsored pupils and students at last, and start making actual visible progress.

We met with the seven students who have just completed their first year of A’ Level studies, and spent some time talking about their progress, and about their second year. We discussed their reports, and then began sorting out what was needed for them to start their second year of studies (this begins mid-July).

The next task was to visit the bank in Monduli to pay the school fees into the various bank accounts, and then start buying the usual personal requirements such as toothpaste, soap, polish, stationery, etc.

While this was going on Diane was in Arusha visiting a University to continue her research into what we need to do should any of our students gain a university place. She also visited the VETA Hotel & Tourism Training Institute, and spent some time with the principal, Flora Hakika, looking at the possibility of some of our students doing courses at Levels Four to Six.

We met Naurey Levaani who is currently teaching a nursery class at Sokoine Primary School, and discussed the possibility of her undertaking a course that would allow her to teach all age groups at a government primary school.

A big surprise was waiting for us when we returned to Meserani on Wednesday afternoon – Paulina Loibanguti was waiting for us. We have not seen Paulina since she completed her secondary education in 2012 and went to Tabora to pursue a nursing course. Things have gone badly wrong for her since, and we are now looking at what support we can offer to give her some sort of positive future.

This afternoon we took a consignment of baby clothes and blankets to the clinic here at Meserani – made for us by the ladies who attend the Community Hub in Thornaby on Tees. Diane handed them over to the nurse, and also fitted out a Maasai toddler called Mary with a new dress. Images below: