Immediately after the Canterbury conference (23-31 January) as reported long ago on this website, Bishop Mwita Akiri of the Anglican Diocese of Tarime, Tanzania, spent the rest of his time in the UK (1 February to 31 March) at Ridley Hall, Cambridge University as a post-doctoral scholar.
His scholarship was co-funded by Langham Partnership International (UK and Ireland) and Ridley Hall, an Anglican College at the University of Cambridge. Mwita used this opportunity to start writing a book on the indigenous agency in the growth of the Anglican Church in central Tanzania, 1876-1933. He made use of a specialist mission library at the Henry Martin Centre within the University.
Mwita was also able to travel to parts of the UK, mostly at weekends to meet with partners such as the Diocese of Wakefield, the Scottish Episcopal Church and Crosslinks – an Anglican mission society in the UK, as well as introducing his Diocese to potential partners. He also paid a visit to His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace, and the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion.
On January 5, 2012, Bishop Mwita Akiri gave more mosquito nets to the clergy and catechists for their children. Many of the clergy and catechists in this new and young diocese earn very little stipend or nothing at all and struggle to buy medicine when their children suffer from malaria attacks, which can occur frequently. Sleeping under treated mosquito nets goes a long way to reducing malaria among the children and adults as well. As it is often said, 'prevention is better then cure.'
The funds for the mosquito nets were donated by individual Christians in various churches in the Diocese of Wellington, New Zealand. The Diocese of Tarime owes them a great deal. Archdeacon Bernard Faull who is both the Registrar and the Administrator of Wellington coordinated the appeal shortly after Bishop Mwita's visit to New Zealand in July and August 2011.
This is the third time that the Bishop has given the mosquito nets to the priests and catechists since May 2011, and concludes the first phase of project. The second phase will now target low-income mothers with babies and young children. One treated mosquito net (bed net) costs between $4-5.
On January 16, 2012, the Mothers Union - our women's organization - started a sewing class in Tarime town for young girls. The project is part of the Diocesan plan, namely, empowerment of women and girls. This is achieved by providing them with skills and thereby creating opportunities for employment. Sixteen unemployed girls who have completed seven years of primary education but could not proceed to secondary school are enrolled. They will learn and practice the sewing skills that will help them to earn income. The project also has a social dimension in that it delays early marriages for young ex-school girls so common in the wider district. The girls pay a concession fee of $15 a month. The course lasts for six months.
Three immediate challenges are facing the sewing class that have to be addressed quickly. First, the shortage of sewing machines. At the moment the class has 10 only sewing machines for 16 girls! These were donated to the Diocese by the Christians from Canada who visited and participated in mission in July 2011. A basic sewing machine costs $100. Bishop Mwita appeals to all people of goodwill to support this initiative that has a huge potential to give many young girls a better future. Secondly, there is a need for a larger classroom to accommodate more students. Finally, a hostel is needed for the girls from the rural areas. More girls from the villages applied to join the class but could not do so because they could not afford accommodation in Tarime town. "This is one of the major challenges that the Diocese has to address", says Bishop Mwita. When asked how the diocese would address the matter, the Bishop replied, "we will have to raise funds to build and furnish a hostel with beds and other essential facilities and services such as electricity and water. However, to make this a sustainable project, the Diocese will have to charge a reasonable but affordable fee to cover some overhead, maintenance and service costs."
Bishop Mwita together with other 25 Bishops in their early years of the episcopal ministry from around the Anglican Communion have been attending a course on 'On Being A Bishop' at the Canterbury Cathedral Study Centre since 23 January 2012. Bishop Mwita says "this has been a valuable time for prayer, reflection and fellowship with other church leaders from a wider Anglican family. I feel refreshed and challenged, and thank God for the organizers, especially the course director Canon Ed Condry and the course administrator Cathi Martin." The conference is an annual program of the Canterbury Cathedral, England. Canterbury Cathedral is a unique and historic place, not least because the Archbishop of Canterbury has his seat or chair there. In this way, it connects the Archbishop of Canterbury and indeed the Church of England with the rest of the Anglican Communion. The conference ended on 31 January.
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