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Copy of Emmakulatha Bujilu’s email to Mr. Dunford Makala
Commissioner for Social Welfare, Tanzania
19th August 2011
Dear Sir,
My name is Emmakulatha Bujiku, I am one of the Bethany students studying in the UK. I was born in Magu, Mwanza on July 1989. At the moment I'm in England doing my second year of a Lancaster degree course in Education studies at Blackburn University Centre. I am hoping to be a teacher one day because this is what my country needs the most, well qualified teachers.
I came to England to study three years ago. Before that I was at Sogesca Secondary school from 2004 to 2007. Studying at Sogesca Secondary was very hard as we did not have enough resources and the teachers were not motivated to do their job . To this day I regret studying there due to the fact that I never had much input from my teachers.
Therefore when the chance to come to England came, I was very happy and decided to take the opportunity without hesitation. This is because I felt that this was and still is the only way I can have a better future.
Coming to England was the best thing that has ever happened in my life because it gave me hope for the future and I regret wasting my four years at secondary school. The Education system here is so great compared to what I have experienced in Tanzania. Teachers are supportive and because of that I was able to achieve high grades in my studies. While in England I'm not only doing college work, I also do subjects like English, Science, Maths and History. Therefore if these girls come to England they won't be doing only Childcare and Education but on top of that they will be doing secondary education subjects. This will provide them with a secondary education certificate that you think is important to have.
Personally, I'm so disappointed with you and all the social welfare in Magu, How can you possibly think that bringing children to the Uk is a waste of time. Don't you know that England is one of the best places for Education. Instead of wasting your time worrying about secondary education for orphans, shouldn't you be grateful for what Bethany has done for these young people? In Tanzania nobody can afford sending their children to the UK for Education and you know that better than I do because I do not think if your children are studying in the UK. I'm sorry for saying this but it is just an example, if they are abroad studying, then good for you. But what about these Bethany girls?
I know you have been told that coming to England is the waste of time and that everything that Bethany students are learning is not beneficial. But to tell you the truth what I have achieved here is so great that I can not even put it into words for you to understand, but to make it short, the things I have learned whilst in England are very relevant to my country and they will help me to make a difference in my own country. Also if I hadn’t come to England, I wouldn't have gained this knowledge that I have now. With the knowledge I have, I can teach and I am able to continue with my degree in Education.
I am also aware that you have been told that whilst in the UK the we are not well looked after and that we go around singing for money. Well, Sir this is totally wrong, absolutely ridiculous. We are well looked after and we receive the best care. When in England we live with a family, I 'm sure you are aware that we live with a couple ( Graham and Sheila Pountain). These people take good care of us and I could never wish for more. We have good healthy food and a good place to sleep. Whilst in England we don't integrate with other young people as we wish to stick to our own African Culture, this includes dress style. We enjoy singing and to show how grateful we are because we can’t give anything back to our sponsors who give money to Bethany we sing for them. Well, Sir is that a crime, or is that being abused. We are not forced to sing and of course we DO NOT go around in the streets begging for money due to the fact that we do have better things to do, we do sing because we love singing. Put yourself in my shoes for a minute or two, what will you do for someone who has done so much in your life and have nothing to pay him/her back for her/his generosity? Sir, I have nothing to pay these people for what they have done for me, do you think singing for them two or three songs is abuse? or are we abusing the word abuse?
Not allowing these girls to come to study to England is not fair because your judgement is based on Eva Sitta Joseph's testimony which is a load of lies. If you really want to get to the bottom of this issue can't you interview some of the students who have been to the UK and are now back in Tanzania? Doing this will make people feel that your judgement is not based on discrimination but on facts. I have lived with Eva for years and I know her character very well more than even your Mr. Wambura ( social welfare Officer in Magu). Eva enjoys telling lies and because of that everything is in a mess. Eva is not the only one who has been to the UK there are other people, for example there is one girl called China Joseph who did the Diploma course in Childcare and Education for two years and she is now working as a teacher in a school (JBFC). China had the benefit of doing secondary education, but there are also two other girls who are STD seven leavers ( Fatuma Mfaume and Minza Onesmo). They came to England did the same course as China and are now working at Bethany primary school as teachers. Therefore if Rehema Joseph, Mpelwa and Deborah come to England without any secondary education, they won't miss anything in fact they are better off coming here. My argument is not only based on our successful stories of people who have been to England, but I also know that the possibility of these girls passing to go to high schools is very very low because for the four past years there have only been two girls who passed to go to high school at Sogesca Secondary school, and this is where Mpelwa, Rehema and Deborah go. This is because girls face prejudice in school and of course poor teaching. Do you really wish to see these girls end up with a secondary certificate with a division four, which is worthless.
Adding up to what I have been saying, The Bethany supporters are people who are involved in looking after Bethany students in the UK are not doing this for their own benefits but it is for our benefits, I mean you and me because we are Tanzanians. They give up a lot to provide better education for us so that we can come back and work in our own country and make changes. Coming to study in England does not mean immigrating to the UK, it means a better future for young Tanzanians. We come here, we study and we come back to work in Tanzania and England does not benefit anything form us coming here. For example when I finish my degree and hopefully more than that, I am definitely coming back to Tanzania to work. Therefore in that case England is not going to benefit anything as I will be using all the knowledge I have gained to make Tanzania a better place in the world. What do you think? I think is great, don't you?
I believe your work is to work in the best interest of the children and ensure that they have the best care, education and welfare but denying this opportunity for these girls is that acting in the best interest of the children? I believe one of your responsibilities is to stand for the children's rights and ensure that they make choices. Well, Sir these girls chose to come to study in the UK, are you not going to ensure that they get what they have chosen. Please do think about this matter carefully because the chance is provided now and not in one or two years to come, who knows the chance may not be there tomorrow. That's why they need to take the opportunity now and not waiting for when it suits Mr. Wambura.
Like I have said, I have gone through it myself and I know what I am talking about as I have been there and I know what these girls will benefit from, this chance is the best option for these girls and I'm sure that one day you will be glad that you did the right thing.
I know that you are doing your job, but please think about these children, if they don't come to England, there will be no good future for them, because the possibility of them to continue with high school is limited. I am absolutely sure that you want the best for these children. Just imagine if they were your own children, what would you have done? Please Sir, think again about this policy that you have put in place about secondary education for orphans. Do you really think that Bethany does not want the best for these girls? Look at China Joseph, Minza Onesmo and Fatuma Mfaume, they are all doing well because of the opportunity they had.
I hope that you will think about this matter carefully and base your judgement on the facts and not on Eva Joseph's testimony because doing this will show that you are not acting like a professional but a person who discriminate against orphans whom you are supposed to ensure that they get their rights, ie. right to the best education in the world! I will appreciate it if you will approach this matter with consideration and that you interview more people.
I wish you all the best and good health.
Yours faithfully,
Emmakulatha Bujiku
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