Newsletters

We start at the beginning, with the very first Newsletter setting the scene and welcoming the arrival of solar power on Chole. And then very quickly the next Newsletter highlighted a constant theme - the vital importance of education - noting a big increase in students and telling the story of Athuman Tawakal, the first person from Chole ever to attend university.  Athuman later wrote a heartfelt and touching 'thank you for believing in me' letter after he graduated.

And education on Chole has not just included conventional facilities.  Most of the population never had any schooling, so a Learning Centre, equipped with computers powered by Tanzania's first Solar Nexus solar power installation was opened to provide adult learning.  The value that the whole community places on education was emphasised in a series of interviews that Bede and Yolanda Hesmondhalgh, whose father is a trustee, carried out when they visited Chole.

Continuing the theme of education, we published a letter from Fatuma Ahamadi who was only able to complete her education when the Trust stepped in to replace a previous funder that abruptly cut off support, and at the same time reported on a remarkable social development project - Talk to your Baby.  And then the Trust's Chairman reported on a visit to Chole, and we also had the story of the fishmongers of Clapham who wanted to fundraise for the Trust by climbing Kilimanjaro, but for practical reasons had to settle for the UK's Three Peaks Challenge - over half the  vertical height of Kilimanjaro in 24 hours!

And then Chole Mjini Lodge won a World Responsible Tourism Awards Gold Medal!

At around the same time Sarah and Cliff Dixon, past tourists on Chole returned for a second holiday and recorded the enormous progress that had already been made.

From time to time generous people have stayed on Chole to help by teaching.  One such was Ben Dewfall, who summed up the lessons he learned by saying that the experience taught him how little 'stuff' one needs to be happy.  Ben was soon followed by Jo Moberly, who also lived in the village and principally taught English.  Other practical help was offered by young designer Nicole Mitchell who volunteered for seven weeks to help design new craft products.  Nicole was in Chole during Ramadan, and includes a fascinating description of the experience.

Our latest newsletter charts the challenges faced by the Trust over the last two years, and yet the ongoing success of the Trust's activities in raising educational standards, aspiration and attainment amongst the Chole community. Many of our alumni are now working in the public sector– as civil servants, teachers and public health officers and private sector- mainly in tourism on Chole, Mafia and Zanzibar, but also for NGO’s. This success has begun to make a contribution towards an improved quality of life on the island,