Today was a “rest day” for us though I will use that term loosely as we were pretty busy. Robert is keen to have an “ACTT team” here in Dodoma so wanted to meet up with a few people who he would like to get involved in this.
We have a good nights sleep and a leisurely breakfast. Our room is good and has cost us Tsh 80,000 per night.
Around 10ish we meet up with Robert and his son Peter who arrived in Dodoma from Dar late last night. We then pick up Dido, a young man who is a relative of Roberts who is in his final year at St John’s University in Dodoma studying Teaching with an interest in IT. Robert has then arranged to meet up in town with Albert, who has previously done work experience at ACTT in Moshi and is now in his final year studying IT at the University of Dodoma (UDOM).
Today I am the one taking photos, at least to start with. Dodoma is a busy city with lots of traffic. On the drive we pass by the Parliament Buildings. I also rather like the plant pots in Tanzanian colours. Dodoma seems to be big on plums, they are being sold everywhere, even in the road when you have just stopped at traffic lights.
We stop at the Job Ndugai Central Market to have a look around. It’s a strange place as it’s half empty. It’s by the bus station but I think its too far from town to get as much use as hoped.
The final person Robert wants to meet up with is Japhet who is an old friend of Roberts who was a Head Teacher for many years before then moving to work in the Ministry for Education. He has recently retired but is a good source of information and contacts. He is now involved with the building of a new International Primary School in Dodoma.
Japhet meets us at a restaurant near to the school. It’s a good chance for everyone to get to know each other. We get lunch for 8 of us for TSh 59,000 (under £20!!)
After lunch we go to visit the school Japhet is involved with. At present the school is still being built and they want some advice on setting up a computer room. Robert thinks this would be a good project for the boys to start with if they want to.
We visit the Directors Office and then walk around the school. There is already an English Medium Primary School on the site which is open and the International School is being built next door. Even without pupils you can see the enormous difference to the Government schools that we support.
It is very hot at the school and after listening to the discussions about the computer lab for about 45 minutes Peter and I sneak away, back to the car to get some water and wait with Shabani.
On leaving the school we go to have a look at “ Government City” where all the offices for all the different Ministries are located. It started being built about 5 years ago. Many of the offices are now in use but a few are still under construction.
Robert’s brother Charles works for the Minister for Water and has his office here. We believe the Ministry for Water is the building below.
Our last bit of sightseeing for the day takes us to the University of Dodoma where Albert is studying. This is up on a hill out of town and offers good views of the city.
Our hotel is located right in front of the hill in the middle of the photos.
We have a nice evening with the family who make us very welcome. It will be interesting if ACTT do end up with a presence in Dodoma as we may well return to support some schools. It’s nearly 10 by the time Robert drops us back at our hotel so it’s been a long day.
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