Makuyuni (Primary School)

The village of Makuyuni is situated at the junction/turnoff to Mto wa Mbu and when we were there it was an important fuelstop for the trip on to Karatu or Babati. At least to Karatu, the fuelstop is no longer important as the road is so good (and the vehicles are much better).

We were not directly working with Makuyuni Primary School, but the next village North is Mswakini, where we had worked intensively.

It was pointed out that Makuyuni Primary School was in real need of assistance because of a large roll and meager resources. It was an opportunity for me to deliver a few trees that would otherwise not have been planted in the area, so I called in with a few.
I could offer no assistance because the school was not within the programme, but I took a note of what was required and gave my word that I would try to help.
Luckily there was some few funds remaining and Mo & Jo agreed that some assistance could be provided to the school.

We were able to send them fifty desks, some text books and blackboard paint. Not enough really but at least a token to show that we shared empathy there.

As a footnote to this story: There is a project running presently to grow Mpingo, African Blackwood. This is the black wood that is used for traditional carvings - it is beautiful wood and very slow growing. Becoming rare too!
It is encouraging that there is a project to grow this tree and I anyone from that project sees this, they may be interested to know that we used to collect from the other side of the gully at the start of the Mto wa Mbu road. Seedlings have been planted in most of the villages we worked at and in the Meru area where (largely) I have not yet mentioned.