RECEIVING A MWA CONTAINER - THE TANZANIA CONTAINER

Receiving a container by our partners is an exciting and demanding time. It often involves organising the land transport of the container from the port via train or truck inland to its ultimate destination. Once there, the container is unpacked and the goods distributed. Here the example of sending a container to Mbeya in Tanzania is described. Our partners for the container were the Shukrani International College run by David and Chris Watson of the Salvation Army. The 20 foot container was sent in 2004. It included 6 bales of compressed clothes, 50 school desks and chairs, school lockers, 18 bicycles, 8 typewriters, plumbing supplies and over 400 cartons of goods.

Australia to Mbeya - a long way

The truck with the 20 foot container arrives at Mbeya

Opening the container and starting to offload

A load of bicycles etc

Extracting the bicycles was hard work

Some of the hundreds of plastic bags with clothes

How to get the compressed bales off without a forklift? - they weigh 300 kg!

Well, that's the bales unloaded! 6 bales in all

Some of the 50 school desks

Typewriter, chairs, books, books and more books!

Chris Watson and a helper take a breather from the unloading

Rewards for the helpers

Chris and some of the sheets

Unpacking in the classroom

Families select clothes

Mbeya and its region where goods were distributed - up to 200 km away

One of David’s very sticky trips to the Umalila Hills..

This bridge collapsed two days later!

But we got to Idunda - two bags more to the officers at this tiny corps

David Watson at Mtanila school, 200km from “home”, our furthest “clothes drop”

Some of our disabled children are in this crowd

David’s “fan club” at Dimbwe village

May . . . and it’s getting cold now especially in the Umalila hills . . .

This paraplegic girl in Shilanga appreciated the knitted jumper-cardigan

Sewing machine used at iunga VTC with Catholic sister

And these rugs will keep many children warm at Maendeleo

Delighted to receive the sewing machine and dressmaking materials

Some of the orphans looked very smart and sophisticated in their uniforms

Some clothes, an exercise book, pencil, and a soft toy

Sheer delight !

Distributing exercise books and pens with Amon Mwangosi, one of their very dedicated teachers

Some of the 18 bikes . . . what a treasure !

Meshacha, Joshua and Isaya, proud new bike owners

Even one extra computer means more learning opportunities

The whiteboard gave a lift to our new Teacher Training Faculty

as did also the desks and chairs

Students appreciate the lockers to store their supplies and utensils 

The staff are proud of their principal’s office with the carpet on the floor !

David and Chris Watson of Mbeya, Tanzania

For the patient efforts, prayers and the sacrifice of
time and energy which went into arranging to despatch
these precious resources all the way from Adelaide to
Shukrani College we can only offer our very sincere and
heartfelt thanks . . .

    On behalf of our staff, students, parents, youth, and
children who have either received them, or will continue
to experience the benefit of their use in future days . . .

     The people of Tanzania in the Mbeya Region, Shukrani
International College, and we, say: 

“Asante sana”  (Many thanks),  and

“Mungu akabarika”  (May God bless you)

Chris and David Watson  (Majors)