The Gates Project-Ololosokwan

 A few years ago three incredibly generous families-Mike & Mary Terry, Jennifer & John Gates and Kitty Jenkins donated $16,000 towards setting up a computer room, solar and printers at Ololosokwan Primary School, near Nduara in Loliondo.  The project was a HUGE success with a number of teachers and individuals getting totally hooked on learning about computers. 
This year they have decided to take the project a step further and have contributed an incredible $20,000 for 20 new computers, and an upgrade for the solar system. 
A HUGE thank you from all at Ololosokwan Primary, but especially Gabriel and myself, Lali.  You have truly made a difference in the lives of the students and teachers of this small village.  I am so looking forward to watching the project develop.

Wild for Learning at Greystoke

Today 18 students and 1 teacher from local secondary schools came to visit Greystoke, Mahale to spend the day chimp trekking with our Nomad guides.  This is a yearly project we have in order to try and teach the kids about the chimpanzees as well as their habitat.  It is an incredibly rewarding experience for all, the students go back to their class mates and have to do a small talk on what they learnt and saw.

 The students heading off into the forest.

 All visitors to Mahale National Park have to wear face masks so as not to transfer any human germs or bugs to the Chimpanzees

In the Greystoke mess.  Unfortunately it was a grey and wet day out for the students, however they did at least get to see a chimpanzee!

My first ever half marathon

I am thrilled to say I managed to finish the race on Sunday the 26th of Feb in 2hrs 17 mins.  It was a lovely course, 10 km uphill through a coffee estate, and then down the same road back into Moshi stadium.  It was incredible to watch the elite runners zoom by, lap me and finish a full marathon before I finished my half marathon!

 the start of the marathon

 Me setting off in my pink Nomad Trust hat.

Done!  Thrilled!  After the race I said I would never do another one, and today I wrote to Lewa to find out about entering for the Lewa Safaricom half marathon-so maybe the running bug has bitten after all.

Unfortunately I have still not raised the funds I need for the new solar system so please help contribute to this good cause by going to:    http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LaliHeath

The Kilimanjaro Marathon

The countdown has begun for the Kilimanjaro Half Marathon on the 26th of February.  I am training away-my guide to running marathons and half marathons suggests that three weeks before the event one tapers one training down-I seem to be doing the opposite in a bid to do my longest run of 15 km on Saturday and next week one run of 17/18km! I don't think my wonderful trainer understands that I am running to COMPLETE the race, I think he wants me to compete-he has obviously never run against Kenyans and Tanzanians!  Apparently our next stop is the Olympics.
 I am running for a great cause and when the burn and exhaustion sets in I just have to keep reminding myself that I am running for a solar system for the Usevya community center that Nomad Trust is building in partnership with Rotary International , The Besom Foundation and Professors from UC Davis, California.  Usevya, in Western Tanzania, has a population of about 14,000 people.  It is a very poor area, with one primary school and one secondary school.  There are no books in the secondary school, only chalk black boards. Teachers are often not paid for three months at a time, and when they are they have to travel to the distant district capital to collect their wages.  Students often study in shifts (either 7am-11am or 11am-3pm); after classes are finished they have little if any incentive to study further-they just don't have the facilities.  This youth center will assist in serving a critical need for recreational and educational support to this Tanzanian community.   
 There is currently no power in the village and solar is our only option for the Environmental Education Center in the Youth Center.  Initially we are hoping for a system to run a few evening light, DVD showings and funding permitting a set of laptops with internet connections.  Our quotations so far for a basic stand alone system without laptops start at $4,000 and with laptops goes up to $11,000.  It goes against what one reads about solar becoming increasingly available to people in the developing world.  So I am running for light.  To contribute go to:   http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LaliHeath.
   

The Stearn Calendar Girls

Stearn Electric have created the most amazing calendar in support of the ‘NOMAD Trust’ and Charities supported by ‘AMET’  (Associated Manchester Electrical Traders).

Nomad Trust is a charity that Stearn Electric Company has a close association to sponsoring a number of projects in Mahale.  Stearn have been incredibly generous to the Nomad Trust.

  Nomad Trust would like to thank the lovely ladies Christina, Alesha, Anna and Joe ‘The Stearn Calendar Girls’ without whom none of this would have been possible.

100% of the funds raised from their calendar will go to the charity’s.

Nomad Trust Latest News

Dear All

Here's the Nomad Trust Newsletter and wrap up of what we've been doing to the end of 2011 - download the PDF here.

Cheers
Lali

Kalolwa Vegetable Garden

Greystoke Camp in Mahale National Park is supporting a small business enterprise based at the Kalolwa Airstrip.  The Tongwe Trust lend out land to Pai who grows vegetables for the camp.  Greystoke buy Pai's vegetables at Arusha Market prices.  Nomad Trust supports this initiative by providing a water pump, pipes,  Foliar feed fertilizer, vegetable seeds and better farming practice training to Pai free of charge. 
Since Greystoke re-opened in June for the new season the vegetable garden has made 817,460 Tsh in profit (at current exchange rates this amounts to over $500).  This is hugely exciting as the garden struggled to make a profit for a number of years.  Well done to Pai!