The
first training weekend for Tanzania 2017 (T17) was held last weekend.
The three Romsey Scouts were off in different directions to meet their
new team mates. It was very successful weekend and a lot of fun.
Everyone finally found out who was in the smaller project groups and who
they would be spending 4 weeks with. There were so many people at the
selection weekend in November that it was hard to remember anyone, there
are 25 of Scouts & Leaders in each of the smaller teams so it took a
lot less time to remember everyone’s names.
Ollie Taylor from 6th Romsey
was with Team Swala Pala (a type of impala), they will be redeveloping
the Tanzania National Scout Campsite. They learnt 2017 is a very
important year for Tanzanian Scouts as it will be the centenary of
Scouting in their country. The Tanzania Scouts have been given land for a
new national Scout campsite and Team Swala Pala will provide a new
clean water well, build a new HQ building as well as a large shelter and
toilets and showers. The development of the national campsite enables
Tanzanian Scouts to hold Leader & Patrol Leader training events,
hold national camps and will also help them earn an income from allowing
tourists and other Scouts to camp there.
Kathleen Beaman from 3rd Romsey and Will Richards from 4th Romsey
were in Team Tembo (Elephant in Swahili) stayed in a Scout HQ in
Lyndhurst. The first thing was a quiz where everyone fits on the fact
sheet but a name can only be used once, matching up each fact to a name
meaning everyone actually had to talk to each other and learn small
amounts of information to finish the quiz. It was great fun even if it
did get very competitive by the end. The weekend was spent playing team
games and getting to know a bit more about Tanzania. The school that is
being re-built is, at the moment, in very bad condition. There are about
8 benches and a few poles holding roof above their heads, not a good
environment to try and learn in. The class ranges between the ages of
5-12 and each of them have to learn whilst in a very cramped area. There
was also the chance to learn some Swahili. Kathleen said “It was really
exiting to learn some of their language as we will be out there for a
long time we should try and speak a bit of their language. One of my
favourite words we learnt was “Pipi” which translates to sweets!“
After
brain storming fundraising ideas, swimming, dodge ball and a very muddy
game of ultimate frisbee they all sat down together watching none other
than Toy Story! The bonding worked, they all got to know each other by
the end of the weekend and had a great time doing some silly team games
before it was time to go home. Will said “I can’t wait till the next
training weekend were we get too see each other again and learn some
more about our trip to Tanzania in 2017!“
If you would like to sponsor these three Romsey Scouts or donate towards the cost of the project please contact scouts@
