TAYO Committe Meeting and National Youth Conference

At the end of April we held our first meeting with the new TAYO committee. We were able to discuss our vision for the future and make plans for the coming years. We also were able to meet with the General Secretary of ACT and discuss the future of TAYO with him. Since this meeting we have developed a new strategic plan for TAYO for the next 3 years. The picture shows the committee together with the General Secretary, ACT and the youth projects officer, ACT at Kemmy Lodge in Dodoma where the meeting was held.

Mwishoni mwa mwezi wa 4 tulifanya kikao cha kwanza cha kamati mpya ya TAYO. Tuliweza kuongelea kuhusu maono yetu na kuweka mipango ya miaka ijao. Pia tulikutana na Katibu Mkuu wa KAT na kujadiliana naye kuhusu TAYO. Baada ya kikao tumeandika Mpango mkakati mpya wa TAYO kwa miaka mitatu ijao. Picha hii inaonyesha kamati tendaji ya TAYO pamoja na Katibu Mkuu, KAT na Afisa Miradi wa Vijana, KAT. Tulifanyia kikao Kemmy Lodge, Dodoma.

This year we are planning a national youth conference which will be held on the 13th -17th September at St. John's University. Young people and youth leaders from every diocese have been invited and we expext to have over 700 participants. The aim of the conference is to encourage the young people and to increase unity. The conference will include bible teaching and teaching in a range of different subjects relevant to young people in Tanzania. There will also be a chance for the youth choirs to sing and praise God and a sports competition. The key bible verse for the conference is Romans 12:18 ".... live at peace with everyone". Please pray for all the preparations for this event and for God's blessings on it.

Mwaka huu tunapanga kufanya Kongamano la Vijana la Jimbo litakalofanyika tarehe 13-17 Septemba katika chuo kikuu cha St. John. Vijana na viongozi wao kutoka kila dayosisi wamealikwa na tunategemea kuwa na wajumbe zaidi ya 700. Lengo la kongamano ni kuwatia moyo vijana na kujenga umoja. Tutakuwa na mafundisho ya neno la Mungu na katika mada mbalimbali zinazohusu vijana wa Tanzania. Pia kutakuwa vipindi vya uimbaji na mashindano ya michezo. Neno kuu la kongamano ni kutoka Warumi 12:18 ".... mkae katika amani na watu wote". Tunaomba maombi yenu katika maandalizi yote na tunaomba baraka za Mungu kwa ajili ya kongamano hilo.

We are currently trying to raise funds for this event. Each participating diocese will contribute but after this we will still have a deficit of around £2,500. We would be grateful for any contribution you are able to make on our just giving page http://justgiving.com/ACT-Youth-projects  Please indicate that your contribution is for the youth conference. The pictures show our youth conference in 2009 which was the last time we were able to put on a national conference

Sasa tunatafuta fedha kwa ajili ya tukio hili. Kila dayosisi itachangia lakini bado tutakuwa na upungufu wa kama TSh. milioni 5. Tutakushukuru sana ukiweza kuchangia kupitia "just giving"  http://justgiving.com/ACT-youth-projects  Ukichangia uonyeshe ni kwa ajili ya kongamano. Picha hizi zinaonyesha kongamano la vijana la mwaka 2009, mara ya mwisho tulipoweza kufanya kongamano la jimbo.

Music and Worship Seminar, Songea and TAYO elections

From the 14th - 17th March, 2012 we held our second music, praise and worship seminar, this time in the Southern zone of Tanzania, including 6 dioceses. The seminar was held in Songea in the diocese of Ruvuma, and nearly 40 participants attended. The seminar was aimed at songwriters and leaders of church youth choirs to help them develop their musical and song-writing skills and also to help them develop spiritually and deepen their understanding of the importance of music and choirs in the church and how to use their skills to really worship God in Spirit and Truth.

Tarehe 14-17 Machi 2012 tuliendesha semina ya pili ya muziki, sifa na kuabudu, katika kanda ya kusini ya Tanzania ambapo kuna madayosisi 6. Semina ilifanyika Songea, dayosisi ya Ruvuma na wajumbe karibu na 40 walishiriki. Semina hii ililenga watungaji wa nyimbo na viongozi wa kwaya za vijana za kanisa, kuwasiaidia kuboresha ujuzi wao katika muziki na pia kuwasaidia kukua kiroho na kuelewa zaidi kuhusu umuhimu wa muziki na kwaya kanisani, na jinsi ya kutumia vipaji vyao kumwabudu Mungu katika Roho na kweli.

The seminar was a huge success and a great blessing to all who attended. We are now preparing for a 1 month music school which will take place in Dodoma in August 2012 and well as a further 2 seminars in the remaining 2 zones of Tanzania. The pictures show some of the participants of the seminar and teacher Musa Njagamba, a musician and evangelist from Singida. We were also joined by evangelist Canon David Haj who taught and ministered at the seminar.

Semina hiyo ilikuwa na mafanikio makubwa sana na wajumbe wote walibarikiwa sana. Sasa tunaandaa shule ya muziki ya mwezi mzima itakayofanyika Dodoma mwezi wa 8, 2012, pamoja na semina 2 katika kanda 2 za Tanzania zilizobaki. Picha hizi zinaonyesha wajumbe wengine pamoja na mwalimu wao, Musa Njagamba ambaye ni mwanamuziki na mwinjilisti kutoka Singida. Pia Mwinjilisti Canon David Haj alikuwepo kufundisha na kuhudumu katika semina.

On the 27th March 2012 we held elections for a new TAYO committee which will lead the organisation for the next 3 years. We are very pleased that a dedicated committee of 8 youth leaders from different dioceses across Tanzania have been elected, led by chairman Mr. Johnson Mgimba of the diocese of Ruaha. We ask for your prayers for them as they begin their work and we pray that the work of TAYO will be strengthened and blessed. We also thank the retiring comittee who have led TAYO for the last 4 years.

Tarehe 27 Machi 2012 tulifanya uchaguzi wa kamati mpya ya TAYO itakayoongoza TAYO kwa miaka 3. Tumefurahi kwamba kamati nzuri ya viongozi wa vijana 8 wa madayosisi mbalimbali ya Tanzania imechaguliwa, ikiongozwa na mwenyekiti Mr. Johnson Mgimba wa dayosisi ya Ruaha. Tunaomba maombi yenu wanapoanza kazi yao na tunaomba kazi ya TAYO ipate nguvu na baraka. Pia tunawashukuru kamati ya zamani ambayo imeongoza TAYO kwa miaka 4 iliyopita.

The elections were led by the Most Rev. Dr. Valentino Mokiwa, archbishop of Tanzania and Rev. Canon Dr. Dickson Chilongani, general secretary of the Anglican Church of Tanzania, and we welcomed a special Guest, the Rt. Rev. Bill Atwood from Nairobi. Delegates attended from 20 of the 26 dioceses of ACT. The pictures show some of the delegates being addressed by the Archbishop, and the new committee receiving his blessing.

Uchaguzi uliongozwa na Most Rev. Dr. Valentino Mokiwa, Askofu Mkuu wa Tanzani, na Rev. Canon Dr. Dickson Chilongani, Katibu Mkuu wa Kanisa Anglikana Tanzania, na pia tulimkaribisha mgeni Rt. Rev. Bill Atwood kutoka Nairobi. Wajumbe walishiriki kutoka madayosisi 20 kati ya madayosisi 26 ya KAT. Picha hizi zinaonyesha baadhi ya wajumbe wakimsikiliza Askofu Mkuu, na kamati mpya ya TAYO wakipokea baraka yake.

The new committee together with members of the retiring committee and ACT  youth officers

In front: TAYO Chairman, Johnson Mgimba; Rt. Rev Bill Atwood, Most Rev Dr. Valentino Mokiwa, Archbishop; Rev Canon Dr. Dickson Chilongani, General Secretary

Small Loans and Recording Studio

We praise God that the small loans and savings project in Mpwapwa diocese is progressing well. We had a 2 day training session in January, initially training the committee who will help us to run the project at the diocese and then training leaders from all the groups who will be developing small projects. 11 groups are participating from the diocese and are developing a variety of projects such as pig and chicken farming, agricultural buisness and vegetable gardening, brick making, selling bibles and prayer books etc.

On 31st January we returned to the diocese to give out the loans which had been agreed. Loans of between 400,000 and 600,000 Tanzanian Shillings were given to each group (around £260-£440) and we have also taught the groups to make their own savings so that their projects will be sustainable in the future. Please pray that the individual projects will develop well and the groups will be able to return their loans on time as well as making a profit. These pictures show the training course in Mpwapwa cathedral, with our project officer, Justine Sabe, teaching.

(Tunamshukuru Mungu kwamba mradi wa kuweka na kukopa katika dayosisi ya Mpwapwa unaendelea vizuri. Tulifanya mafundisho wa siku 2, mwezi wa kwanza, kuanzia na kamati amabyo itatusaidia kuendesaha mradi dayosisini, na halafu mafundisho kwa viongozi wa vikundi vitakavayoshiriki katika mradi. Vikudi 11 vinashiriki, katika dayosisi hiyo na wanaendelea na miradi mbalimbali kwa mfano ufugaji wa nguruwe na kuku, biashara ya kilimo na bustani, kufyatua matofali, uuzaji wa biblia na vitabu vya sala, nk. Tarehe 31 Januari tulirudi Mpwapwa kutoa mikopo. Tulitoa kati ya TSh, 400,000/= na TSh. 600,000/= kwa kila kikundi, na pia tuliwafundisha kuweka akiba za fedha ili miradi itakuwa endelevu. Tunaomba maombi yenu ili miradi ya vikundi iendelee vizuri na vikundi vitaweza kurudisha mikopo kwa wakati pamoja na kupata faida. Picha hizi zinaonyesha mafunzo katika kanisa kuu la Mpwapwa, na Afisa Miradi, Justine Sabe, akifundisha)

We are continuing fundraising for our project to develop a recording studio in Dodoma for youth choirs to use. This project will be a huge benefit to youth choirs who like to record their music to spread their Gospel message and to raise money for their groups. It will also provide a source of income for the youth office. We desperately need more funding for this project. If you are able to make a donation to support this project please donate on the just giving page above. Or if you would like to buy a CD of local choirs, or feel you could sell some of these for us please contact us at TAYO@anglican.or.tz

(Pia tunaendelea kutafuta fedha kwa ajili ya mradi wetu wa kufungua studio ya kurekodi hapa Dodoma, kwa ajili ya kwaya za vijana. Mradi huu utasaidia sana kwaya za vijana kwa sababu vijana wanapenda kurekodi ili wahubiri injili zaidi na wapate chanzo cha mapato kwa vikundi vyao. Pia studio itasaidia kupata fedha kuendesha ofisi yetu ya vijana. Tunahitaji sana kuongeza fedha katika huu mradi. Ukiweza kuchangia tunaomba mchango wako katika "just giving" hapo juu. Au ukipenda kununua CD za kwaya mbalimbali, au utaweza kutusaidia kuziuza unaweza kuwasiliana nasi kwa email TAYO@anglican.or.tz)

Small Loans Project in Mpwapwa Diocese

We have recently begun our small loans and savings project in a 4th diocese, the diocese of Mpwapwa. This project aims to support church youth groups in the development of income generation projects which benefit the group, individual members, church and community. We give small loans to provide capital to develop their projects and also encourage group members to make regular savings to ensure the future sustainability of the project. We also offer training to group leaders in project and financial management so that they are able to run their projects effectively. These pictures show the diocesan committee which has been formed to run the project in Mpwapwa. We have met with the committe and together have selected the groups which will take part in the project. Next week we will be going to Mpwapwa to begin the training of group leaders.

We still need more funds to enable us to continue this project. If you are able to support us please visit our just giving page above to make a donation.

We have also started planning for a national youth conference which will take place in September 2012, and will involve youth groups from each of the 26 dioceses of ACT. The event will include bible teaching, praise and worship, music, games and teaching on interfaith relations in a Tanzanian context. Please pray that God provides the resources we need for this event, and again if you are able to contribute please visit our just giving pages.

"Mwamba Salama" Youth Bible Study Training

We have a new project officer in the youth office, who started work on 17th October. His name is Justine Sabe. He is pictured here working in the office. Please pray for him as he continues to settle in to this role.

Last week we completed a seminar for youth leaders from dioceses all over Tanzania. 21 out of 26 dioceses were represented and 45 people attended. The seminar was is the use of a youth bible study guide called "Mwamba Salama" or "Solid Rock".
It is important to encourge the youth of Tanzania to read and study their bibles together and this book enables them to do this. The youth leaders who attended are keen to return to their dioceses and train others to use the book and engage in bible study with their groups. We have distributed 800 books around the dioceses and are now fundraising to enable us to print some more so that they can be used widely.

These pictures show the group at the seminar and trainers Rev. Joshua Mkoga from Ruaha diocese and Rev. Samweli Magawa from Morogoro diocese.

We also held a meeting of youth leaders which was the first for some time and it was useful to renew contacts and to hear what each diocese is doing with their youth, and to make plans for the future. We will shortly be holding elections for a new TAYO (Tanzania Anglican Youth Organisation) committee and ask for your prayers for this process, that the right people may be chosen to take things forward effectively.

Music and Worship Seminar

We have just finished a 3 day music and worship seminar for youth choir leaders and songwriters, and we praise God that it was a great success. 36 people from 4 different dioceses in the central zone of Tanzania took part. The picture above shows the whole group. We covered subjects such as "What are church choirs for and why do we sing";   "how can we use music to worship God and help others to worship";   "how to read the Word of God and write meaningful songs", as well as some basic music theory and song writing techniques. 3 talented musicians and evangelists, Musa Njagamba, Canon David Haj, and Amani Shabani taught the seminar together with myself. The picture above shows Musa Njagamba teaching.

It was a wonderful time of spiritual refreshment and fellowship as well as learning together. Participants said that they found the seminar was a huge blessing and encouragement and they have never seen such a seminar available before. As well as learning a great deal everyone met with God and many people renewed their commitment to Christ. They are desperate for more training and encouragement in this area. Many of those participating, as well as being leaders in their choirs, are also leaders in their parishes, deaneries and even dioceses so we encouraged them to take home some of what they have learnt and teach and encourage others. We also made a video of the event to help them in this.

We held the seminar at St. John's University, as the students are currently away there was space available for accomodation and teaching.

We are now keen to hold a similar seminar in the remaining 4 zones of Tanzania, as it is something which is very much needed. There is huge talent amongst the youth choirs in Tanzania but there is a great need to improve skills and understanding in the areas of music and worship. Musical training is need as well as spiritual and theological training as all songs are written by the choirs themselves.

We need to raise more money to make this possible. As the participants contributed to this seminar themselves we only needed around £400 to run it. We would need a similar amount for each of the other zones. Please consider whether you are able to contribute to help us in this work. You can contribute on our "Just Giving" page above. You can also donate to this page by text message - just text  ACTY77 followed by the amount to 70070 - for example ACTY77 £10.   We would be really grateful for any assitance you are able to give us.

We are also grateful for your prayers for this projects and all our work within the youth office.

In the last post I said that we had found a new staff member, though unfortunately he has been unable to take up the post. Please pray as we look for another person to fill this role. We have selected a diocese to take part in the next stage of the small loans and saving project and now just need a project officer to run it!

Welcome to our blog!

Welcome to the ACT Youth Office blog! My name is Christine Salaman. I am a mission partner with CMS (Church Mission Society) UK and work as a Youth Development Consultant for the Anglican Church of Tanzania.

I aim to use this blog to keep you up to date with some of the activities and projects we are working on in the youth office. The video below should give you a bit of a flavour of our work and some of the projects we are doing.

Please pray for us in our work and please also consider supporting us financially in any way you can. We have 2 "just giving" pages (links above) on which you can make donations. These pages also give you more details about the projects.

Also we have just appointed a new project officer, Geofrey Njama, who will start work on 12th September. Please pray for him as he settles into this role.