Agriculture
During a short holiday in Tanzania, Levina visit the Upendo women group in Korosanga on the 23rd November '07.
The women were called for a meeting in the church, together with the priest and the headmaster.
The priest, father Maruru, is the coordinator of the group, while the teacher, Mr. Wakwesa, is assisting the women with the administration, most of the women have hardly any education.
The women group has increased from 8 the 30 members; any of the members pays Tsh 2,000.- as an entrance fee.
Up to now the group has not done much more than having meetings, assisting each other financial by illness, among other small things.
They also have a piece of land which the cultivated in order to grow cotton, but they didn't have the money to buy seeds and hire oxen and a plough.
On the 25th November '07 Levina had again a meeting with the ladies where Levina gave them an amount of Tsh 52,500. - (€ 32.25) for the seeds and hiring the oxen and plough.
During this meeting they also agreed on how, where and when to buy the oxen en plough. Unfortunately it is too late to use these oxen this season, the time for ploughing and to plant is usually in November/December.
The 30th November Pieter transferred an amount of money, via Western Union, a total amount of € 1,265.73.
This is equal to Tsh 2,060,000.00.
The same day Levina went with a group of women to buy 4 oxen in Korosanga. The next day they went to Bunda to buy another 2 oxen and a plough.
See HERE for some pictures.
Here an overview of the total cost:
| Article | In T.Shillings | In Euro | |
| Seeds and hiring plough and oxen | 1,500,000.00 | 52.00 | |
| 4 oxen | 970,000.00 | 595.85 | |
| 2 oxen | 500,000.00 | 307.14 | |
| 1 plough | 95,000.00 | 58.36 | |
| Chains, U-bolt and spacer | 51,000.00 | 31.33 | |
| Transport, hiring a car | 120,000.00 | 73.72 | |
| School fees, books | 272,000.00 | 167.08 | |
| Total | 2,060,000.00 | 1,265.73 | |
The women, if necessary, have to be trained in using the oxen, they will take care of this themselves.
Next season they should be able the cultivate a bigger area, also they will plough for non members in order to obtain the necessary money.