|
Copy of Jesca James Paulo’s email to Mr. Dunford Makala
Commissioner for Social Welfare, Tanzania
19th August 2011
Dear Mr Dunford
My name is Jesca James Paulo. I am currently twenty two years old and undertaking a Lancaster degree in BA (Hons) Education Studies at Blackburn University Centre in England. As you may have guessed, I am one of the Bethany children studying in the UK.
I have been studying in England for four years now. I was one of the first children from Bethany to come and Study in England. I first came to England to study in August 2007 along with seven other Bethany children; amongst of which Eva Joseph Sitta was one. We were three girls and five boys. I was eighteen years old then and had only completed my primary school education and passed to go to secondary school. However this chance to come to England was available then and I thought it was the best opportunity for me as it offered skills and practical experiences which will guarantee me a job in the future.
As Bethany stands for hard work and good behaviour, promoting honesty and integrity amongst the children, it hopes that the children hold this motto even when they are outside Bethany. Therefore when we went in England we had to abide with this motto, not forgetting that we were ambassadors for both Bethany and Tanzania. However, Eva Sitta proved that she was finding it difficult to comply with Bethany’s motto due to her continuous bad behaviour and dishonesty. Thus, she was returned home before completing the course. However, neither the college nor Bethany gave up on her; they helped her complete the course as she only had one month to go and they even found her a job at an International school in Mwanza called Isamilo.
I and the other girl Rehema completed our twelve month studying the Child care and Education course at Accrington and Rossendale College in June 2008 and returned in Tanzania in the beginning of July 2008. As we worked very hard at college and proved that we were committed to the work, the college offered three more places for other girls to study the two year diploma course in Child care and Education. Therefore I was one of those three girls who came back and studied for two years. We did really well the three of us and accumulated three A’s which are equivalent to three A levels. Although I did not do my secondary education at home I wasn’t at all disadvantaged as I was able to complete five O, level subjects which included Maths, English, Science, English Literature and R.E.
Furthermore, after completing the two years in the diploma course, I along with another girl who has completed secondary school in Tanzania named Emmakulatha Robert Bujiku were offered the chance to do the degree course at Blackburn University centre. We have completed the first year of our three years course and we are hoping to start our second year in early September 2011.
Even without going to secondary school, I feel the knowledge and experience I have gained while Studying in the UK is beyond what I would have obtained with four years at Secondary school considering the standard of teaching and facilities available in typical Tanzanians schools. Also, we are getting this education, not for England’s or Bethany’s benefit, but for our country, Tanzania to benefit. As a way of proving this point, I and Emmakulatha did a three day seminar to our Bethany care workers and also to other twenty seven care workers from four different children’s homes in Tanzania. They all commented on how good the seminar was and our passion for passing on the knowledge we have gained from England. You may want to contact these four orphanages and find out whether what we are doing in England is worthwhile and will someday benefit Tanzania. The orphanages homes are ‘Tumaini children’s home, Starehe, Forever Angels, and JBFC.
Moreover, the reason I am writing this email to you Sir, is to help you appreciate and see the benefits for studying in England. I personally feel it is very cruel denying these three girls, Mpelwa, Deborah and Rehema such an opportunity which will guarantee them and Tanzania a bright future. Although I am not experienced enough to understand your position, I still strongly feel that by refusing the girls this opportunity is like denying them their entire future. As a ‘commissioner for social welfare’, I believe your paramount obligation is to ensure that justice is served to the best interest of the children. However, justice cannot be for one side alone, but must be for both. I am aware of the evidence Eva Sitta has given to the social welfare office in Magu regarding this issue, however, should you not be investigating the truth of the matter as well as accumulating evidence against them? Making a decision based only on one person’s word, isn’t that unprofessional?
I understand that sometimes in our country it is very difficult to do what it is right because of the lack of honesty. However in most cases what one regards as "right" is determined by consulting the majority. Therefore, I would really recommend that you contact some of the other Bethany students who have studied in England and now are back in Tanzania working to see their views on this issue. Their names are, China Paulo, Rehema Kassimu, Minza Makoye, Fatuma Mfaume Mwita Marwa and many more. Mr Wambura, the social welfare in Magu District should know these people very well.
Thank you very much Sir for what you are doing and I hope that you will have the continued effort to do what is right and really look into the truth. I’m afraid I am starting to think you have an ulterior motive by refusing to consult other people who are involved and basing your decision solely on information received from just one of the several Bethany students who have studied in England.
Yours sincerely
Jesca James Paulo
|
