Jonathan Visits the Mijale Area

Another full on day visiting many different projects within this area. As always we had to see the government representatives, on three occasions this time, to be given permission to proceed. Rather tedious as a speech needs to be given at each place, but it is important to engage with these enablers. On this occasion one stated their gratitude because in this area there are very few partners delivering aid and they appreciate CRESS greatly. We visited groups with wonderful names such as God with us, Friendly group and Pamugun (meaning Self Sacrifice ) CRESS has been in some of these communities since 2018 so they are well established.

The CRESS Community Process Facilitators (CPFs) have worked hard to form groups of about 10 members who farm larger plots for income as well as their own gardens for food. They have a constitution and we were proudly shown the vision diagram by one of the lead farmers who head up each group, along with plans to achieve their goals. They have mottos such as “Build each other” another challenge for the CPFs being to create harmony amongst peoples from different tribes. They have made significant savings over the years but challenges such as a changing climate with drier springs, distance to markets and limited transportation, high illiteracy, and pressures of crop pests and diseases. One challenge we particularly need to work on is longer tenancies of land. Owners often take land back after one year when the groups have done all the hard work of clearance, and only had a limited time of production. However they are generally happy and certainly welcoming. In one village I was asked to take a seat as they had a present for me.

They placed a large bundle on my lap which felt rather warm! They howled with laughter as I then proceeded to unwrap two live chickens and then had another two thrust upon me. Such generosity from those with so little. A long journey back but I have always been entertained by the CRESS staff as they find much joy and laughter from such ordinary topics as politics or bus journeys etc.

Jonathan