Josephine Kweka,

 Today’s speaker was Josephine Kweka and her topic was “ Faraja womens aid” .

Faraja village is located on the side of Mount Kilamanjaro in Tanzania.Josephine was born there and after her education moved away and now lives in Grimsby with her husband.She explained that the village has its contrasts in the social hierarchy and she supports women who are at the bottom of society.Josephine  said that the women had formed a self help group and provided catering eg for festivals .Originally they had to hire plates,cooking implements and chairs,but by providing monetary aid these items had been purchased.By helping Josephine and her husband were putting something back into the village.

The men from the village worked in the nearby town leaving the women behind to tend the vegetable patch,cook and fetch water from a mountain stream.By providing a source of water in the village  this reduced the working day for women.TThey have also helped by installing toilets. 

There is very little money left after purchasing food ,about £5 per family per week,but a cow costs £100.

Josephine and her husband visit Faraja at least once a year  and any help eg clothes,seeds are gratefully received by the women.