Newsletter for MS-Tanzania

For MS partners and development workers in Tanzania.

January 2005

Editor: Information worker Tina Loevbom Petersen and Michael Bech
Editor-in-chief: Director Finn Petersen

A fresh one ahead

It ended on a very sad note – the old year 2004. For the world as a whole, for Asia especially and also for MS-Tanzania. The devastating Tsunami has killed more persons than one can apprehend and destroyed infrastructure and houses that the poor Asian countries will not be able to reconstruct for a long time to come. And at MS-Tanzania the tragic death of our valued friend and colleague Michael Lund Soerensen has darkened and overshadowed all the positive things achieved in 2004.

Now a new year is emerging from the ruins. A fresh and fragile one to be taken care of, be nursed and also challenged. May it be a good and more positive year than 2004!

And by the way – you have all been involved in a small test. We didn’t send out a newsletter in December as we wanted to test how valuable this flow of information really is. Nobody noticed – except for two development workers. So that makes one wonder, if you really appreciate the newsletter. Do you – or should we close it?

News from the director

First of all, Happy New Year to all of you. As mentioned in the first chapter, the MS-Tanzania programme had a great loss in the end of last year. Two DW’s had a car accident, in which Michael Lund Soerensen lost his life. Michael was working with the MS partner Uvuki in Kibaha District. Michael was very happy with his professional and social life in Tanzania . He was very hard working and his inputs were very much appreciated within the partner organisation. Michael was an easy going, optimistic person, with a clear view of which direction to take. He was well liked by staff and colleagues in the programme. Michael was only with us in the programme for seven months, but he left an everlasting legacy behind. At the funeral in Hobro church, more than 100 people participated in the last farewell ceremony. Michael, you will be missed!

The Annual meeting 2005 is coming up. Invitations were sent out before Christmas and according to tradition it will take place at TCDC and in the third week of February (16^th to 19^th February). The main theme for the Annual Meeting this year will be Code of Conduct of Good Governance and general election monitoring. A PAB task-force is presently working on a draft Code of Conduct based on your partners responses to the questionnaires regarding the same.

News from CO

The country office is changing its appearance right now. A new reception is being constructed and doors and walls are getting fresh paint.

DW news

Rune Fuglsang Pedersen from CBRP in Ukerewe, Andreas Salomonsen from UVIMTA in Njombe, Kjeld Silkjaer and Karen Krüger Rasmussen from TRC in Mugumu have all ended their contracts in December. Bodil Moeller Joergensen has extended her contract for six months and will be working with TRC Coalition in Dar es Salaam . And Bodil have married Clive in December – warm congratulations to the couple! Karen will be returning for three months in 2005 (March-May) to finish her work and her book on teaching learning materials. Tina Loevbom Petersen has ended her contract with LHRC in Dar es Salaam and will be working at CO till June 15^th as an extra information DW.

Contact for the Newsletter: michael_bech@net.dialog.dk – mobile 0744 - 87 40 80